ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — — Rockingham County Board of Supervisors member Joel Hensley and School Board member Hilary Irons have announced the launch of a new student fitness initiative, Rockingham Moves, a 30-day pilot program designed to encourage daily physical activity among local students.

The voluntary program, which is being introduced in participating schools across the county, reportedly focuses on helping students build lifelong fitness habits rather than simply meeting standardized benchmarks.

According to a release, the idea for the program originated with Hensley, who developed the concept over the summer as part of a broader effort to promote community well-being.

“As a Supervisor, I believe our role goes beyond budgets and land use decisions,” said Hensley. “We also have a responsibility to support the overall health of our community—especially our young people. This program is about encouraging kids to take ownership of their physical well-being in a way that is simple, positive, and sustainable.”

Hensley later partnered with Irons, who serves on the Rockingham County School Board and is a fitness instructor currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Fitness and Health. Irons helped refine the program structure and worked directly with physical education teachers as part of her graduate work.

“This program is designed to help students begin at an appropriate level for their current ability and to build progress over time,” said Irons. “It’s not about competition or comparison—it’s about helping students understand that movement can be a normal and enjoyable part of their daily lives.”

The Rockingham Moves pilot program challenges students to track their daily activity over a 30-day period, with three participation levels:

  • Movement Starter – 20 minutes of activity per day
  • Habit Builder – 40 minutes per day
  • Fitness Leader – 60 minutes per day

Students are encouraged to count a wide range of activities, including playing outside, participating in sports, walking, biking, and helping with physically active tasks at home.

The program was introduced to physical education teachers across Rockingham County, where it received strong initial support—particularly at the elementary and middle school levels. Participation is entirely voluntary, and the program is designed to minimize additional workload for teachers.

“Our PE teachers already do an incredible job,” Hensley added. “This program is meant to support what they’re doing, not add to their workload.”

Additional information will be shared with families through participating schools.