Princess Elizabeth Public School in Orangeville and Shelburne's Hyland Heights Elementary School have earned themselves new gym equipment by completing this year's Go Active! Fitness Challenge.

The schools won $500 in Wintergreen phys-ed credits to use toward purchasing new gym equipment.

More than 28,600 students from 378 schools across Ontario have successfully completed the Challenge. The Go Active! Fitness Challenge, presented by McDonald's Restaurants of Canada with support from the Canadian Olympic Committee, was designed to promote physical activity amongst students.

"McDonald's is extremely proud of the accomplishments students across Ontario made to improve their physical fitness levels," said Jacques Mignault, Senior Vice President, Ontario Region, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited. "The Go Active! Fitness Challenge is one way we are demonstrating our commitment to encouraging a balanced, active lifestyle among young Canadians. We are thrilled that Ontario students continue to rise to the challenge and have improved their fitness levels an average of 6.31per cent this year."

By participating in the Go Active! Fitness Challenge and exercising regularly, Ontario students were able to improve on all six compulsory exercises, including crunches, push-ups, 50-metre dash, shuttle run, standing long jump and an endurance run. Participants' scores were measured in May and combined with those achieved in September to determine their level of improvement.

"The Go Active! Fitness Challenge is a great program," said Sarnia teacher Laurie Hardy, whose school earned $500 of credits toward new gym equipment. "The students really enjoy the activities and it's amazing to see their fitness levels steadily improve throughout the year."