DEDHAM – Ask junior high school pupils to list their favorite classes and most would put physical education at least in the top three.

Pupils at the Dedham school are no exception.

“I haven’t been to any other schools, but I would say we have the best gym class around,” said eighth-grader Mike Deschaine, 14.

“We get to do a lot of things that other schools don’t get to do,” added classmate Robyn Handley, 13.

Sure, snowshoeing and in-line skating are welcome respites from book work, but the middle school pupils in this northern Hancock County town take gym class seriously, and they have the hardware to prove it.

Dedham was one of only four schools in Maine to be honored by the state in 2006 with an Outstanding Leadership Award in Physical Education and Physical Activity.

“We were real fortunate to get that award and that recognition,” Dedham physical education teacher Tim Pierson said during a recent interview. “We’re real proud of our school and these kids.”

The recent award isn’t the only recognition coming Dedham’s way, either.

The Dedham school’s commitment to physical education as an integral part of the curriculum will be part of an upcoming television series hosted by Maine first lady Karen Baldacci.

“It’s kind of an honor for such a small school,” Deschaine said.

The “Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids,” series will feature seven 30-minute television programs to be aired on Time Warner Cable, Channel 9, later this spring. The dates and times have not been announced.

Two of the seven spots will focus on physical education and one of those will star the pupils and educators at the Dedham school.

The first lady spent a day last week filming footage in Dedham and talking to pupils and educators there.

“What we’re really trying to do is to share the successes about what’s going on in schools because schools reflect society,” Baldacci said Tuesday in a telephone interview. “What I wanted to do was have the school tell their own story, especially the kids. I’m more or less the introductory; the stories aren’t about me.”

Dedham seems to be a perfect example of schools blending education with activity. Sixty-one of the school’s 69 middle school pupils, or 88 percent, participate in some sort of extracurricular physical activity.

“I don’t know if a lot of us would be interested in after-school activities if we didn’t learn about them in gym class,” Handley said.

One of the reasons physical education has become so popular – and so successful – at Dedham is because of the educators’ abilities to integrate activity into the classroom.

And vice versa.

“I’ll go home some nights and my parents can’t believe that I have an essay due for [physical education],” Handley said.

The first lady, who also is a registered dietician and kindergarten teacher, said she was quite impressed with the Dedham school.

“I had driven by that school a number of times but had never been inside. It’s really a wonderful school,” she said. “Right when I walked through the door, they offered to give me a tour. They are so proud to share their school.”

Baldacci even made good on a promise toward the end of her visit in Dedham.

The students had just finished a lesson in line dancing and wanted to show her their steps. They even convinced Baldacci to join in.

“They were great, everyone out there dancing. We got some great footage,” she said.

As to whether the dancing will end up on television, Baldacci added, “I have no idea what’s going to come out of the editing room.”

The “Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids” series is funded by the Healthy Maine Partnership and sponsored by the state Department of Education and the state Department of Health and Human Services.