Salisbury Middle School officials were pleased to learn they were awarded a 2014 Highmark Creating a Healthy School Environment Grant to fund their "Fitness through Fitbts" program recently.

The Highmark Foundation has "a long history of supporting schools with a strong focus on encouraging adoption of best practices," according to the foundation's website.

"The overarching goal is to work in partnership with schools and communities to determine what needs to change in schools to bring about systemwide improvement in children's health. Between 2006 and 2011, through the Foundation's Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge, approximately $13 million was awarded to schools throughout communities served by Highmark.

"Through these grants, hundreds of school-based programs to address nutrition and physical activity were developed and implemented. Since that time, Highmark Foundation has continued to provide substantial technical assistance and grant funding to schools and school districts to promote lasting and positive changes in school environments."

The grant application and proposal were designed and completed by Assistant Principal Ken Parliman and Health and Physical Education teachers Mark Allinson and Patricia Magann.

The $5,000 grant was used to purchase 125 Fitbit activity trackers which were distributed to sixth grade students.

Fitbit was developed in 2007 when the founders, Eric Friedman and James Park, both of San Francisco, Ca., "realized sensors and wireless technology had advanced to a point where they could bring amazing experiences to fitness and health."

Their mission is "To empower and inspire you to live a healthier, more active life. We design products and experiences that fit seamlessly into your life so you can achieve your health and fitness goals, whatever they may be."

The Fitbits track steps for the day, calories burned, total distance covered and time spent in activities.

The Fitbits were worn 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Magann said each student was set up with an account online.

All Fitbit activity was tracked online for the students to check their activity electronically.

"The students set goals, entered their calorie intake and the amount of water they had each day," Allinson said.

"We wanted to piggyback on the healthy habits the students began using at the elementary school," Parliman said. "We wanted the students to continue their healthy habits.

Magann said some of the students were very vigilant, entering their data everyday.

The data was synched every Friday and Magann, Allinson and Parliman were able to see the data for up to a month, pulling data daily, weekly or monthly.

The school also held competitions for the students who had the most steps, homeroom versus homeroom and the student who wore the Fitbit the most on a consecutive basis.

"Because of the "Fitness through Fitbits" program, students were more aware of steps they took every day in comparison to steps taken by other students," Parliman said.

In addition to students, Parliman and some of the teachers wore the Fitbits.

"The goal was to make the students more aware and to get them up and moving," Magann said.

Allinson said the majority of the students were interested and some family members inquired about the program.

The Fitbit trackers were returned at the end of the school year and data will be evaluated over the summer at which time they will plan for the 2015-2016 school year.