The Health and Wellness curriculum provides students with the information necessary to be healthy individuals throughout adolescence and adulthood. The courses in Classes VIII through XI are designed to help students make informed, healthful decisions and responsible analyses of the culture in which they live. The challenges students will face in coming years may change, but the strategies for making healthful decisions remain effective. Class XII Ethics builds upon the foundations established in these courses.
CLASS VIII: HEALTH
This curriculum is centered on drugs (legal and illegal), alcohol and addictive behavior. Students are given an in-depth knowledge of the effects of drugs on the individual and focus on responsible decision-making. A segment of the course is designed to prepare students for the challenges of social life in high school. The course culminates in a project in which the students research the characteristics and dangers of various drugs and then present their findings to Class VII.
CLASS IX: HEALTH
This course focuses on the development of healthy relationships with peers and peer groups and with members of the opposite sex. Normal developmental tasks of adolescence are discussed, with emphasis on the impact this stage of development has on relationships. Party safety, sexual decision making, sexual assault, and eating disorders are discussed.
CLASS X: HEALTH
This course focuses on the multiple components of a healthful way of life. Counselors from the Freedom Institute discuss drug and alcohol abuse, decision-making, and peer pressure in high school. Other topics in the course include nutrition, exercise, pregnancy, labor and delivery, teenage pregnancy and parenthood, HIV/AIDS, and sexual assault. Emphasis is on good decision-making and on sound, critical analysis of the information available in the media. The course concludes with a health fair. Each student is responsible for producing a “Health Pamphlet” on a topic relevant to Upper School students. These pamphlets are distributed to the student body.
CLASS XI and XII: HEALTH/GUIDANCE
This weekly class is led by either a member of the Health and Wellness Department or by the College Counselor. The former introduces the students to career decision making, including completing a “strong interest” inventory and researching market trends in various career areas. The students also study methods of identifying and managing stress in their lives and mental health issues, including the signs, symptoms, and treatments for some of the most common mental health issues. The college counseling segment of the course gives students important information on standardized testing and prepares them for the imminent college application process. The College Counselor continues to meet weekly with students in Class XII as they go through the college process.