Auburn’s Ilalko Elementary is the only school in the state that has run a structured physical education pilot program, directing two third-grade classes into P.E. Everyday.

That pilot program, which ended this week, paid off big time, said Ilalko P.E. teacher Dee Dee Goodspeed.

Demonstrably paid off in better test scores and a lower total body mass index for the kids who took part in the program than they had when they started. Those kids also had better test scores and lower BMI than the students who did not participate in the program.

Students, parents and educators are already singing the program’s praises.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, several school districts’ worth of school superintendents, even Blitz the Seahawk mascot, converged on a gymnasium full of students to celebrate the conclusion of the successful pilot program.

“Elementary children need P.E. Everyday,” Goodspeed said. “One in three children are obese or overweight. We need to stop talking about it and do something about it.”

Goodspeed said she hopes that that “something” includes making P.E. Everyday not just a pilot program but also part of the daily school curriculum.

Inslee talked about the importance of exercise the next generation.

“Exercise is fun, and kids are more likely to continue exercising the muscle that is between their ears as well as their biceps,” Inslee said. “We know that if you exercise regularly, you’re more likely to maintain a healthy weight. Being active, and eating healthy foods and maintaining a healthy weight are ways to avoid obesity. There are a lot of health problems associated with that.”

Unfortunately, Inslee noted, more and more obesity-related problems are showing up in today’s kids.

“Folks like Mrs. Goodspeed and principals like Mr. (Tim) Carstens are leading this effort right in this school,” Inslee said. “Everybody here in this gym is a champ. Your participation makes programs like P.E. Everyday successful in getting other kids involved in it. My hope is that when you’re no longer in Mrs. Goodspeed’s class, and you go on to middle school and high school and eventually graduate, you’re still going to be exercising and make it part of your life, every single day.”

Retiring Auburn School District Superintendent Kip Herren said research shows that early literacy, good nutrition and physical fitness play essential roles in student’s lives.

“We get a payoff all along the line in the lives of those students,” Herren said.