LOXLEY, Ala. — Loxley Elementary School recently earned honors for its physical education program, winning the “Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports Champions” award. Loxley Elementary was one of four schools across the state to win the honor.

According to a release from the GCOPF, each students from the school will receive a patch and certificate. The school will be awarded a plaque.

This is the “14th time we have had children make the top percent in the standards,’” said Anthony  McCullough, a PE teacher at the school.

This is McCullough’s fourth year at Loxley. He credits the late Ann Sturm, who passed away Oct. 9, with getting “the ball rolling” on the program.

“(The students) really put a lot of effort into it,” said McCullough. "It’s one of the things they really take pride in.”

Loxley Elementary principal De Ann Ramey was also pleased with the award.

“Loxley Elementary students have a long tradition of excellence in physical fitness,” Ramey said, adding, “Our students have earned the Governor's Award of Excellence 14 times over the years and our school is designated as a President's Fitness Demonstration Site. I am very proud of my students’ and teachers’ commitment to continue this legacy of excellence.”

The youngsters took the test last spring, and the students who are now seventh-graders and in middle school will have their certificate and patch mailed to them.

Students have to work hard to excel in the five-battery test. Students must run (the distance is scaled to be age-appropriate) do curl-ups (sit-ups) a “shuttle run” standard-style push-ups or pull ups and “sit and reach.”

The “shuttle run” is about 120 feet in length, says McCullough, and “is a measure of agility.”

McCullough has seen the standards for the exercises change over the years.

“These were established in the 1960s,” said McCullough, adding that the standards have been changed as more was known about how children grow and develop. “Right now, 6-year-olds run 1/8 of a mile and another age group runs 1/4 (mile).”

The students begin preparing for the spring time test in March.

“They have PE everyday,” said McCullough “And we are going over this all the time, but we make it fun.”

While the program at Loxley Elementary is “pretty active,” McCullough added that gym teachers start introducing the exercises that may not be familiar to the students and start increasing the distances they run in March.

While gym might seem to be a “frill’ to some, McCullough believes that it is important. “There are so many things out there now (that make it dangerous to go out), but children still want to play,” he said.