Top Stories

First Lady Michelle Obama visits Clinton Middle School

First lady Michelle Obama and Food Network star Rachael Ray visited about 400 students at Northside and Eastside Elementary Schools in Clinton Wednesday in celebration of the third anniversary of Mrs. Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign.

As part of the celebration, Mrs. Obama highlighted change happening across the country to keep children healthy – from new school lunches nationwide to localities where the childhood obesity rate is declining.

Mrs. Obama praised these changes, and called on leaders from across the nation to keep working to improve our children’s health. […]

Education

High school obesity rate drops in Miss. students

Mississippi’s obesity rate in high school students has dropped, knocking the state’s teens out of the number one spot down to number five in obesity nationwide.

A 2011 survey finds the rate of obesity among Mississippi high school students down to 16.5 percent from 18.1 percent in 2009. […]

Education

Campaign employs fitness to improve test scores

Mississippi elementary and middle school teachers have a new tool to improve academic performance in the classroom.

The Mississippi Department of Education has launched a new campaign to help teachers incorporate physical activity into lesson plans. The “Move to Learn” campaign is based on two academic studies that show a correlation between increased fitness and improved test scores, as well as fewer absences and fewer disciplinary incidents at school. […]