On October 12, 590 middle school students and staff performed a minute of jumping jacks in the Blackford quad, hoping to be part of the National Geographic Kid and First Lady Michelle Obama Let’s Jump effort to break the world record for most people doing jumping jacks at the same time.

Chrissy Chang, the PE Department Chair for grades K-8, felt the experience of attempting to break a world record was a valuable one.

“It was a great opportunity for the Middle school community to come together and be part of history,” she said in an email. “Seeing 590 people performing jumping jacks for 1 minute was awesome and incredible! We are anxious to hear whether or not a new world record was set.”

Let’s Jump is a part of the initiative Let’s Move, launched by Michelle Obama and with the goal of “fostering environments that support healthy choices […] and helping children become more physically active,” according to the Let’s Move website.