Over the summer, Niles West has had some significant changes in not only school policy, but student health.

As some of you have noticed, Niles West is going “green,” and healthy. “Lean Green Healthy Vending” is the new vendor for District 219, which has replaced soda and candy, with granola bars and canned apple juice.

“Students will see healthier food options as well as a change to the beverage options,” said assistant principal Kendall Griffin. “In the district’s efforts to continue its sustainability initiatives, Lean Green was chosen because they could provide healthier… options.”

The school is creating continuous efforts to change the lifestyle of its students with healthier options and more fitness in physical education classes.

According to director of physical welfare Joaquin Stephenson, this year, the freshmen and sophomores are receiving a Polar heart rate monitor to be used every day as a way to encourage them to get to their heart rates up. Their grades are now based upon whether or not they kept their heart rate in the “targeted zone” for the class. This transmitter is supposed to help guide students towards a healthier lifestyle. The monitors are supposed to be that extra push to put students in a healthier direction.

“I don’t think it’ll make people work any harder,” said freshman Elissa Hoffman. “I think it’s an interesting thing to try out but for people to… be physically active, they have to want to do it… not because they’re being graded.”

The district is striving to influence students to become more active in physical activities and to start making healthier choices in the new school year. This year they have been focusing more on influencing the student lifestyles and trying to motivate for more physical activity and healthier choices. 

“[The polar heart rate monitors] ..kind of keeps me motivated,” said freshman, Jenna George. “It has me reaching for a higher goal.”