The Governor's School and Family Fitness Awards Program honors schools which conduct varied activities that encourage Maryland students and teachers to become personally involved in combating the epidemic of inactivity found to exist in America today. The program also fosters positive interaction beyond the school day within communities. Parents and organizations are involved as volunteers, and participate in the development and maintenance of personal fitness initiatives. With the growing statistics that document the dramatic decline in physical activity during adolescence, the Maryland High School Dance Showcase acts as a vehicle to keep Maryland's youth active. Dance demands the discipline and vigorous athleticism of sport, combined with the creativity and expression of the performing arts.
Participants share a dedication for their craft, and an appreciation for working as a team.
Statewide, the Maryland Council on Physical Fitness and the Maryland State Department of Education, this annual event can hone creative skills and contribute to cultural understanding, in addition to being an alternative for those not drawn to sports activities. They include an action plan for aligning classroom practices with the latest research on physical activity, and the national recommendations for curriculum and instruction. The prioritized list of recommendations, to ensure that Maryland delivers a research proven physical education program, will clarify physical education's role in Maryland's School Reform effort in the new millennium. The assessment includes body composition, grip strength, flexibility measurements and cardiovascular endurance as well as lifestyle benefits and risks. The program has been ongoing for two decades.