![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
When students think of fitness testing, many think about the PACER test from middle and elementary school. But this ‘progressive aerobic cardiovascular’ test hasn’t been implemented in Silver Creek since before the pandemic. Now, the physical education classes are gearing back up for fitness testing, but this time it isn’t the PACER test.
With the return of fitness testing for high school students, there is something new coming with it; the MetCon test. This test includes a mix of running, jumping, push ups, sit ups, and squats over the periods of 8 minutes. But why is it being reintroduced now? And how is it better than the widely known PACER test?
Sara Whitely, coach and PE teacher at Silver Creek spoke on why the fitness testing is making a comeback.
“Because of the covid years, you know, there really wasn’t a lot of physical activity going on,” Whiteley said, “We know kids could lie on their [tests], ‘Oh, I did this for so long.’ It’s just getting back into its physical education.”
During the years students spent at home during the pandemic, PE classes were at an all time low. Students could easily fake their fitness tests, and they decided to suspend the tests for the time being. But now that students have fully returned to in person school, they are finally deciding that it is time to bring back the tests.
“We used to do the Pacer Test … we realized, maybe not everybody is a good runner, so we should switch it up and do something that encompasses more of the whole body versus just the cardiovascular,” Whiteley said.
The PACER test has more recently been replaced with the MetCon, a fitness test developed by Pl4tm, a fitness organization that creates lessons many of the PE classes follow. This test includes a mix of running, burpees, squats, and crunches over a period of 8 minutes. Beyond the test itself, the MetCon is better than the PACER test for student’s personal growth and comparing their growth to themselves, not their classmates.
Students opinions on this new test vary, Senior Evan Coons talks about his opinions on the test and how it would or would not show growth.
“I do not believe so. I feel like it’s not aggressive enough,” said Coons.
Coons did soccer for the school, which he had to leave after an injury. However, he still values the fitness that PE can provide.
Bennett Meyers, a Junior at Silver Creek that does baseball outside of school, agreed with the idea that it wouldn’t improve his fitness for his sport.
When asked if he thought it would help his fitness, Meyer said, “Probably not, since we only do it like twice a year.”
But not everybody feels that way, sophomore William Johnston spoke his opinion on the testing.
“I have really enjoyed the fitness testing this year. Yeah, because it’s been a way to record efforts and see the differences, see the improvement well.”
Specifically, Johnston said that he valued how he is able to see his improvement for wrestling, which he does for Silver Creek, especially with the new introduction of more full body fitness, instead of just cardiovascular health.
Physical Education is refocusing on the physical side of things, and showing growth is a big part of that. Fitness testing might not be everyone’s favorite, but it is coming back to Silver Creek, and in a new form.
