Physical education is not the same as it was 20 years ago, said Taf Morphis, assistant principal at Hilldale Elementary School. It's a whole lot more fun -- particularly for Hilldale students who received a grant from the City of Muskogee Foundation for a climbing wall, dancing game complete with big-screen television, dance "pads" and a Railyard.

"It's unbelievable. It was like Christmas in July ... June ... August," said P.E. teacher Beth Wells. "It's just a dream come true." Morphis is delighted with the new equipment too, dancing with the students and checking it all out himself.

Nonetheless, the children were the most excited. "Sweet," said one student, seeing the dancing game for the first time. "You can just tell by the looks on their faces they are so happy, so excited," Wells said. "We've been introducing one big thing to them at a time." The gymnasium at the upper elementary building now boasts a climbing wall that covers one entire end of the gym.

Hoops can be placed at various heights and angles to create a climbing obstacle course. In the center, students can dance to music, standing on pads and watching a big-screen television for their "moves." At the other end is the "Railyard" -- an obstacle course of various heights and designs that students use for lunges, "stork" stepping, pushups and much more.

The students also have giant stabilizing balls on mats to stretch and bounce on. The kids already have their favorites picked out. "We didn't have any of this last year. I like it better," said Caleb York, 10. "I really like the rock wall 'cause you can climb and go through hoops. But the stabilizing balls too 'cause I can bounce on them." Last year the students played traditional games and sports, said another student, Jackylin Carlin, 10.

They had hula hoops, exercise mats, basketball, volleyball and more, she said. While she is introducing all the new items right now, the students will continue to do all of those things as well, Wells said. She and Morphis couldn't thank the City of Muskogee Foundation enough. "There's a trend change in physical education now towards life-long fitness goals. This helps," Morphis said. We are the luckiest school around," Wells said.