Mission statement:
Haverhill Public Schools has a responsibility to foster a school environment that helps students learn and maintain lifelong healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Many factors play a role in achieving a healthy school environment, including food and beverages available to students while at school, nutrition education, opportunities for physical activity and other school-based programs and activities designed to promote student wellness.
It is our common shared mission that all students, regardless of racial/ethnic background or economic condition or other dimension of identity or difference, receive equitable curricula, learning experiences and support that expand opportunities for growth and increasingly high levels of achievement particularly in the areas of health and wellness
The Goals of the Wellness Department:
Align Standards and Practice and implement skills based learning
Implement Mental Health Literacy Grade 8
Implement Vaping lessons for Grade 4
Implement additional sex education lessons for grade 5-8
NAN Project collaboration
Update and continue to develop the HPS Wellness webpage & brochure
Further develop the Wellness Committee: focus nutrition, physical activity with students and update policy
Useful & proactive PD
Wellnesss Clubs in middle schools
Continue to pilot programs: YWCA, 3 R's: Rights, Respect, Responsibility Grades 6-8
WELCOME STAFF LETTER 2025-2026
Understanding the new 2023 Massachusetts Comprehensive Health & Physical Education Frameworks
Wellness Curriculum
(Please refer to the HPS webpage (below) for links/information/videos. All folders in Shared Drives. If accesss is needed, please request.
High School Sex Education Information
Health Curriculum Presentation 5-12
High School Explanation of Health Curriculum
See shared drive for all family notification/opt out info
Middle School Sex Education Information
See Shared Drive for all Family Notification/Opt Outs
The 3 R's Rights, Respect, Responsibility
Grade 4 Vape Lesson Information
Grade 4 Vaping lesson notification
Grade 4 Vape Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Spanish
Lesson 2 Spanish Discussion Guide
Grade 4 Vape Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Spanish
Lesson 3 Spanish Discussion Guide
Curriculum Date Highlights 2024-2025
September 25-
Curriculum planning/alignment with new standards
October 23 -
Disability in Sport
ML support strategies
November 5 -
MAHPERD conference (Mass. Association for Phyiscal Education, Recreation and Dance)
November 13
CPR re-certification
December 11
Part 2 of CPR certification for MS/Elem staff
January 8th
Lighthouse Wellness - Trauma informed practices/humanizing pedagogy
March 12th
Collaboration curriculum work
April 9th
Lighthouse wellness - part 2: Trauma informed practices-setting goals, practicing self worth
May 14th
Need More Help?
District Health and Wellness Coach/Coordinator: Meghan Correll-meghan.correll@haverhill-ps.org
Athletic Director: Thomas O'Brien email: tobrien@haverhill-ps.org
Dean HHS Health, Wellness Health Teacher: DawnMarie Paradis Dawnmarie.paradis@haverhill-ps.org
Lead Health, Wellness & PE Teacher: Robin Vinci, Golden Hill PE Robin.Vinci@haverhill-ps.org
Supervising: Bonnie Antkowiak, Chief of Teaching, Learning and Leading
National Health Standards
The Physical Education curriculum is aligned with both the Massachusetts Health Literacy Frameworks and the National Physical Education standards. Physical activity is critical to the development and maintenance of good health. The goal of physical education is to develop physically educated individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.
The national physical education standards address five essential areas of a physically educated individual:
The NHES are written expectations for what students should know and be able to do by grades 2, 5, 8, and 12 to promote personal, family, and community health.
Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information, products, and services to enhance health.
Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.
Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.
Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.
Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.
Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.
CDC National Health Standards (click)
Wellness Showcase/Upcoming Events
Curriculum
Professional Development
Fun & Fitness
Elementary PE teachers at PD Day
Haverhill Exchange Club Fire Safety Day with Kindergartens
US Army Fitness Day HHS
PE class at Tilton Lower
Wellness Organizations attended the event
Such a powerful message!
Counselors with Chris Herren
PE teachers with Chris Herren
K. Sarfde, C. Barnard, M. Arivella
Kevin Murphy's health class at Silver Hill for Grade 4: Intro to Vaping
Chrissy Hickey has the students run a short race by class for the top 3 winners of each class
Teachers! A great chance to learn from professionals during these two online opportunities! Mental Health Collaborative is working with middle school health teachers to provide pro-bono training and a parent night. We will be implementing lessons in Grade 8 on mental health literacy. Nov. 15th Mental HealthCollaborative will provide a virtual workshop to adults on how to identify students that may having mental health difficulties. Standford University will host a webinar to provide information on what vaping is and how if affects children on Sept. 20th. This resource is providing our teachers with training and curriculum for Grade 4 vape lessons.
collaboration with new frameworks
presentation on gender identity
whole group collaboration
Allie teaches sexual health and asked students to turn & talk about how an unintended pregnancy can impact students' futures.