No pain no gain: Rooty Hill High School students such as Dean Grima wondered what they had signed up after their first gruelling session with ONE55 fitness trainers last week. Picture: Mike Sea
STIFF and sore students at Rooty Hill High School may have wished they were back in the classroom instead in the playground last week.
Thirty-two students from years 8-10 are part of the student health and fitness program.
Trainers Brad Goodwin and Darren Boyd from ONE55 Gym at Rooty Hill RSL will come to the school twice a week to run hourly fitness sessions as part of a club grant.
Day one was last week, when students did a series of pre-fitness tests, including the beep test.
Students will redo the tests at the end of the eight weeks to find out how their fitness improved.
It won't be all be push ups and cardiovascular exercises.
Team games and hill running are also included in the routines.
This is the second time the program has run following its success last term.
Three of the inaugural intake remain to be student leaders.
The first group was selected by teachers while this intake was based on student interest.
"I had to turn a few kids away this time around," physical education teacher Sarah Andrews said.
"They saw the program last time and were begging to be part of it. They can talk to fitness trainers they wouldn't normally have access to."
While some participants felt it afterwards, most enjoyed it.
"This group has a higher fitness level than the first lot," Mrs Andrews said. "They encouraged each other, especially during the beep test. It improves healthy lifestyles and students feel they belong to a group. They also learn about the different pathways in the fitness industry."
Many success stories came out of the inaugural group.
"It improved school attendance as students looked forward to the sessions," she said.