The San Francisco 49ers are visiting today as a part of a program that awarded ATLAS and ATHENA grants to five Bay Area high schools, including Lowell.

“The ATHENA program for girls is more ‘nutrition based’ and the ATLAS program for boys is more anti-steroid-use based,” according to P.E. teacher and cross country coach Michael Prutz.

The school’s sports teams received a $50,000 grant in supplies, educational materials and products from a program aimed at steroid-use prevention, as well as providing athletes “with information about their health, fitness and lifestyles,” Prutz said. The 49ers “are here to make sure we are following rules and guidelines.”

The 49ers chose these schools based on factors such as the level of enthusiasm and commitment from the principal and athletic directors, according to the 49ers Web site (www.49ers.com).

ATLAS and ATHENA grants have benefited more than 4,000 student athletes in over 50 high schools, according to the 49ers Web site.

Students are still required to pass the test to graduate, despite the temporary closure of Charlie Sava swimming pool, where classes and tests are held. “The pool is being demolished due to its age of 40 years,” P.E. teacher Terence Doherty said.

“The swim test is currently on hold, but it doesn’t mean that we are waiving it,” Doherty said, adding that the administration is still deciding where the test will take place.

The administration’s decision to retain the swim test requirement differs from the policy at Washington High School, where students do not have to pass the swim test due to a lack of facilities nearby.

“We were told by the school district that we could waive the swim requirements for seniors this year because of all the closures,” Washington vice principal Susan Fonders said.

Doherty said that the policy does not apply to Lowell because of the “different standards at each site.”

The lack of swim classes may cause problems for seniors needing to fulfill the graduation requirement, so those in need of instruction should seek it independently, according to Doherty. He suggests private lessons at the YMCA or classes at public pools such as Rossi or Garfield.

The school may offer swim courses in the spring, possibly using St. Ignatius’s pool, according to Doherty.

The swim test will take place in February during the California High School Exit Exams.