Students at Dellwood Middle School will now be able to incorporate rowing into their physical education classes.

The Argus Group sponsored six of Dellwood's eight indoor/outdoor rowing machines and, with a partnership between the school, Argus and Bermuda Rowing Association, the students and teachers have learned to use the machines properly through both physical education classes and a twice weekly after school rowing club.

The other two machines came from the support of the Dellwood Parent-Teacher-Student Association. Janette Musson, principal of Dellwood Middle School, announced yesterday: "As part of the Dellwood Middle School Pilot Rowing Programme, all of our 186 students will have the opportunity to use rowing machines during their physical education classes and in a new after-school programme."

Ms Musson believes that this "eclectic approach" to exercise will make children more willing to participate in physical activity and as a result, want to live healthier lives.

Within the physical education classes, the students are being tested monthly so that they and their teachers can monitor their progress.

Ms Musson said: "Students will undergo the O'Neill Fitness Test, which will assess students' fitness levels by measuring how far they can row in four minutes. Each score will be compared to the previous month's to measure how each student has progressed."

Gerald Simons, president and CEO of The Argus Group, said: "If we are able to tackle the problem of inactivity, we must be imaginative in our approach."

Dellwood still offers all of its usual sports but has adapted their programme to include rowing and other unusual sports such as rock climbing. Ms Musson said: "When learning is fun, young people participate."

Mr. Simons explained that: "One of the things that Argus recognises is that schools do better when they have a partnership with the community. "The government can't do it all."

The eight machines are wireless and Michael Swain, president of the Rowing Association explained that using the Internet, the students can race against anyone in the world.