Lake Park High School consists of Grades 9-12. They have two buildings one each of 9-10 and 11-12 respectively. Students are required to take Physical Education each of the four years they are in high school.

In 1994, Lake Park High School began a plan to improve their technological capabilities, facilities, and curriculum development in the direction of grades 9-12 for electronic profiles.

Lake Park's school district has allowed them to accomplish their vision with the purchase of two TriFIT systems, a 20 station high tech Life Lab, a 45 station Cardio-Fitness Center, a three year plan to update their weight room at their East campus with 20 new selectorized machines complete with individual computers to monitor workouts. In addition, their district has purchased 95 heart rate monitors.

At the freshman level, students are assessed both manually and using the TriFIT system. Their goal is to teach the components of fitness to freshman as they physically test in each TriFIT component. A 20-page TriFIT Personal Profile Report can be sent home to parents at the completion of testing. All freshmen have thus begun their four year fitness/wellness profile.

Sophomores are assessed manually on crunches, push-ups, 1.5 mile run, sit and reach, and pull-ups. At the completion of the assessment, each teacher will take their students to a general computer lab which is networked with the TriFIT system and the students will enter their own data. This completes year two of the health assessment profile.

Junior and seniors are tested manually also, and will follow a similar procedure to complete their profile. However, a number of classes will be using the system for additional learning which will allow an expanded portfolio at this level. Classes that are developing curriculum in this direction are Personal Wellness; Nutrition and Exercise, Strength Training, Strength and Conditioning, Cross Training Aerobics/Wellness, and Science classes.

The TriFIT system will be networked to all general computer labs, both East and West campus. Any student will be able to access their portfolio at any time. Staff will be able to access all student health assessments, generate teacher reports, district reports and develop labels and letters to send specific information and reports home to parents.

Lake Park's Health Assessment program is meant to be an assessment of each student's health. It is not meant to be an athletic physical skill competition. Assessment is done in all areas as a modified assessment, if the student is unable to do the full skill. An example of this would be a modified push-up, if the student is not able to complete a full push-up.

Instructors work on cardio-fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility throughout each semester. Physical activities are taught with improved health as the objective. Students should demonstrate an improvement in their health assessment at the end of the semester, if the instructor has met his/her class goal.

Lake Park feels that in addition to a student being assessed graphing their assessments, setting goals in each area and writing personal plans that students should be recognized for their hard work.

Lake Park's goal for each student is to achieve a level of good to excellent health while in their program. Lake Park awards certificates in each of the categories assessed. Two overall certificates are also awarded. The "Healthy Lifestyle" certificate is given to students who achieve a good to excellent level of health/fitness. A "Physical Best" certificate is given to students who achieve an excellent in all five areas. (The "Physical Best" certificate is not related to the AAHPERD Physical Best program.)

Response from the students and the teachers have been very positive. Some students who achieved certificates had never won a physical award certificate before.

In October, 1998, Lake Park High School was the proud recipient of the Illinois AHPERD Blue Ribbon Award. Their program has been recognized as being exemplary in the state of Illinois. Lake Park was one of only four schools in the state to receive the Blue Ribbon Award for outstanding Physical Education Programs. The recognition period for programs awarded Blue Ribbon status is three years from the date of recognition. Since the criteria used to evaluate their program reflect state and national professional standards and those of the Illinois State Board of Education, their program will provide a model in the State of excellence and encouragement to all Illinois schools for program development.

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