At Brock Elementary School in Slidell Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama applauded the efforts of the St. Tammany Parish School System saying the district was “being accountable and getting results, all of you at this school and in this district are setting the standard for schools and school districts across the country” in fighting childhood obesity.

The St. Tammany Parish School System gave a warm welcome to the First Lady as she kicked off the next phase in her Let’s Move Program to fight childhood obesity and increase nutrition education and exercise.

“Thank you all for hosting this, for inviting me here, welcoming me with such warm greetings,” said the First Lady. And I want to thank you for your leadership and your commitment to our young people. It means so much, not just to the kids in this community, but the kids in this country.”

First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama greets Isabel Flettrich, 4, at Brock Elementary School in Slidell. Obama was presenting her “Let’s Move” program to fight childhood obesity through nutrition education and exercise. (Staff Photo by Debbie Glover)

In the auditorium, invited guests, including the principals and cafeteria managers of the 25 schools that have been awarded the Gold Awards of Distinction from the HealthierUS Schools Challenge, listened intently to her words and accolades, clapping and cheering when she appeared. Also included in the group were principals from 20 schools in Alabama that all received the award. Elected officials, including Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan, Covington Mayor Candace Watkins, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and others were also in attendance.

She went on to tell the crowd what a success St. Tammany Parish Schools are in this program. The district has won 25 awards of the 59 that have been given throughout the nation, almost half.

The First Lady continued her accolades. “Right here at Brock Elementary, this isn’t just a school that demonstrates a commitment to academic success. This isn’t just a school that’s a model of determination and resilience, having rebuilt this beautiful school from the ground up after Hurricane Katrina. It is a wonderful facility, and congratulations on that success. But we’re here today because this school is a model of excellence in teaching our children healthy habits right from the beginning.”

She explained that the HealthierUS Schools Challenge is the way the Department of Agriculture is recognizing schools that are doing the very best to keep kids healthy, including providing healthy school meals and ensuring the children get regular gym classes.

She said that by receiving the Gold Award of Distinction, “Brock Elementary is among the very best of the best.” She recounted the ways the goals are being met in the parish. “I hear that the students here participate in food-tasting parties and they work with the cafeteria manager to teach other children, their peers, about healthy eating. I’m also told that you’ve even started a jump rope club.

“I might try that. I think I’m pretty good at jumping rope,” said Obama as the audience laughed and applauded.

She acknowledged the district had 25 schools reaching this goal and said it is an “extraordinary accomplishment” that is accomplished because there are principals and food service managers that have made a commitment.

She cited studies that show nutrition and exercise affect academic performance. She also said that kids need time and space to run and “get all that energy out” before they can sit down and concentrate,

Many children that participate in the federal school lunch program and breakfast programs get up to half their daily calories in school. “The nutrition education they get at schools like Brock Elementary sometimes might be the only guidance they get on making healthy decisions about what they eat,” said Obama.

In presenting her new plan, the First Lady said the first goal is to double the number of school receiving the award by June 2011. In the next two years, they would like to see an additional 1,000 schools each year.

To accomplish this goal, a streamlined application process will allow one application per school district instead of the individual schools. The application process will also move online. Better technical assistance will be provided to the schools as well.

In the “Chefs Move to Schools” Program, the First Lady has garnered the support of 1,800 chefs nationwide will give nearly 1,300 schools the expert advice they need.

Cash rewards will be given to schools that reach the goal.

The St. Tammany Parish School System was presented with a check for $50,000, representing a $2,000 incentive for each school that achieved the goal.

To help stamp out hunger and increase nutrition, Obama said they are reaching out to increase the number of children in the school lunch program by two million and the breakfast program by three million children by the year 2015.

“I think we can all agree that no child in this country should be starting school hungry each day,” Obama said. “No child should be going without the basic nutrition they need to learn, to grow, to succeed, not just in school but in life.”

Activity levels also need to increase, with a recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day. The First Lady is beginning another program that will try to increase the numbers of kids receiving the President’s Active Lifestyle Award. To receive the award, students will need to engage in physical activity five days a week for six weeks. The hope is that it will encourage parents and adults to get more exercise as well.

The chairmen of the President’s Fitness Council is Drew Brees and Dominique Dawes, who will help promote the program.

The First Lady said she is going to participate in the program and will posting her progress online. “If I start falling behind, I want everybody to be checking on me and making sure that I’m not slacking,” she said.

“I want the country to look and see that this parish has great things even with great challenges. You’ve been able to manage to do this as you built a new school and recover from one of the greatest devastations that this country has ever seen. So if they can do it here, than all the schools out there can do it,” said Obama.

Before entering the auditorium at Brock Elementary to kick off the next phase of her Let’s Move Program, First Lady of the United States Michelle Brock stopped first in the school yard to meet her most important constituents—the school’s 315 students.

Her warm smile and handshakes coupled with high fives easily won over the crowd of youngsters and their teachers. She even took time to hug and hold some of the students.

After the First Lady’s presentation, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said, “I want to get with the school system here to get their help. I’m all for best practices and I look forward to them teaching us (New Orleans). The number of schools, 25, is fantastic. I congratulate them.”

Bill Ludwig, regional administrator for the U. S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service agreed with what the First lady said. “This program started six years ago in St. Tammany. Hungry children can not learn. In addition, 60 percent of Americans are overweight. The childhood obesity rate is at 20-25 percent, but in Louisiana, 35 percent of children are obese,” Ludwig said.

Malik LeBlanc, a fifth-grader at Brock Elementary, had the honor of introducing the First Lady. Poised, confident and dapper in his suit, the young man was beaming at the end of the visit, having met her and getting her autograph on his speech. “She complimented me on my suit,” he said. “She shook my hand and then said she was happy that I was introducing her.” The autograph on the speech read, “To Malik, great job! Michelle Obama.

Supervisor of Food Services Pat Farris also got to meet and greet the First Lady. Her impression? “She has very soft hands, and a firm but gentle hand shake.”

For more photos of First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit, please see Community Section.