Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.For many of us, the traditional high school gym wasn’t a decidedly “high tech” space. But the low-fi world of our parents’ school gyms are nothing compared to the technology available in the new millennium, and Fort Thomas schools are embracing those changes fully.

Since last year and with support from the Fort Thomas Education Foundation, both Highlands Middle School and High School have found new ways to take fitness to the next level using cardio heart rate monitors to boost health goals. During workouts, students’ activity levels are tracked using the monitors, which coordinate to a large screen in the fitness center for them to gauge their physical output during class. From the color blue associated with resting, to red signifying exertion, the monitors help display classes real-time results to their workouts.

By gaging how certain activities affect their bodies, students can get a more visceral account of how their activity levels affect their overall wellbeing.

“They’re so cool, motivating and challenging,” says middle school P.E. teacher Juli Neace. “The students’ activity levels gets better and they’re applying what they’re learning in the classroom to a new level, so when they reflect they can become advocates to help themselves and others.”

The data recorded can even potentially help pinpoint and sound alarms for heart issues in students, and the program starts in the middle school so it can continue gathering data through a students entire high school run.

As the technology is only currently available in the fitness center, the current wishlist for high school P.E. teacher Jill Taylor includes a very large screen in the gym for students to continue their workouts there as well. Nease would love to see a crossfit area for students to track personal fitness goals in new areas.

“The Fort Thomas Education Foundation helps provide really fantastic learning tools that can last kids a lifetime,” says Nease. “ The Foundation allows us opportunities to give these students tools to become a better version of themselves as they leave high school.”

Taylor fully agrees. “These grants can help to take us to new places, bridging the gap between giving students what they have to have in class and the next steps for their lives,” she says. “The FTEF sees the value of looking ahead, and where this can take us.