Orlando Health South Lake Hospital sponsored the purchase of 130 heart rate monitors for Cecil E. Gray Middle School in Groveland, Florida, to help educate students on the importance of understanding heart health.

“We here at Gray Middle School are very excited that Orlando Health South Lake Hospital has agreed to partner with us in the education of our students in regard to heart health,” said Principal Pam Chateauneuf. “Through the hospital’s generosity, students taking one of our Physical Education courses are able to track their progress on heart monitors donated by the hospital.  Both of our P.E. teachers, Coach Jimmy Conard and Coach Stephanie Hauff, will now be able to create and implement lessons that are not only engaging for their students, but also connect how physical activity impacts one’s heart health.”

This new partnership will have a direct impact on the school’s students in some of the most critical areas of healthcare needs including obesity and heart health. According to Orlando Health South Lake’s most recent community health needs assessment, Lake County’s middle school rates for diabetes and obesity are still rising.  This program provides an engaging tool for the physical education staff to help address childhood obesity and heart health.

Physical education instructors will track these results over the next three years to highlight the positive health outcomes of participating students. Lake County Schools is the 19th largest public school district in the state serving approximately 42,000 students. With more than 5,800 teachers, administrators.

 Nearly 500 students will be tracked based on the rotation of students in and out of the physical education classes each semester.  Many of these students do not have access to recreational facilities or gyms outside of school. Through this program, students will develop a personal fitness plan, learn how to track their own heart rates and increase their ability to make healthy choices.

Orlando Health South Lake is proud to be a part of this opportunity to help provide students at Cecil E. Gray Middle School the training and tools to improve their health and wellness.