Students at Alliston Union Public School got active, and everyone turned out to be a winner as a result.

Two classes at Alliston Union successfully finished the Go Active! Fitness Challenge and won $400 in credits for gym equipment at the school. For the program, students completed exercises in the fall and recorded their fitness level at the time. The same students recently repeated the exercises and improved by an average of 12.17 per cent in all areas.

Because this was the first year doing a challenge like Go Active, Alliston Union gym teacher Lynette Holiday said she was feeling out the program. Next year Holiday aims to have all her gym classes taking part.

“It was a lot of work, but it was fun,” said Grade 5 student Kennedy Shannon. “We feel more conditioned and we can run farther.”

With the credits, Holiday said the money is going to help buy equipment for intramural activities held during lunchtime, such as floor hockey and dodgeball. “We’re trying to get more children involved in physical fitness who aren’t on school teams,” said Holiday.

In the program, students did sit ups, push ups, standing long jump, shuttle run, an endurance run, and a 50-metre run. Throughout the year the students worked towards increasing their fitness level.

“These programs provided the resources and ideas, which are really what teachers are needing,” said Holiday.

The Go Active! Fitness challenge is sponsored by McDonald’s Canada  with support from the Canadian Olympic Committee.