Health Education

Middle School

Seminar 7 Grade level: 7 (required)

Seminar is a required course for 7th grade students that addresses the school priorities of health and well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion, and global competence. Class discussions and instructional activities are designed to encourage behavior choices that will enhance physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being. Course units include total well being, skin care and sun safety, and drug and alcohol education. Students learn the importance of problem solving and decision making strategies for optimal health and analyze media messages that promote risky behaviors. The class is also designed to help students learn developmentally appropriate communication skills with teachers, parents, and other adults in their lives; to help students gain life-planning skills that are in harmony with their needs, interests, and abilities; and to help students develop responsible social skills. The class also focuses upon important character traits such as respect, trust, honesty, flexibility, and compassion.

Seminar 8 Grade level: 8 (required)

Seminar is a required course for 8th grade students that addresses the school priorities of health and well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion, and global competence. The curriculum is taught during 8th grade seminar by the Middle School Counselor and a member of the Health department. The first unit addresses topics related to social, emotional, and physical health. These topics include but are not limited to sleep, depression, relationships, stress, cultural diversity, and harassment. The second unit addresses the physical components of health. It is divided into two areas of concentration; 1) nutrition and 2) reproductive and sexual health. Nutrition topics include the My Plate, fad diets, a nutrient review, sustainable food systems, eating disorders and disordered eating, and bone health. Reproductive and sexual health education focuses on reproductive anatomy, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.

Upper School

Seminar 9 (1 trimester) Grade level: 9 (required) Credit: 1

Seminar is a required course for 9th grade students that addresses the school priorities of health and well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion, and global competence. This one-trimester minor course is divided into two units. Unit 1 is taught by the School Nurse and addresses a variety of topics including communicable diseases, STI’s; alcohol and its effect on the teenage/human brain; gynecologic and urogenital examinations, and birth control methods. All topics are addressed from a medical and scientific perspective only. Analysis of possible biases of Internet domains as sources of medical information is included. The second unit is taught by the Upper School Counselor and addresses the impact of personal behaviors on social and emotional health through discussions of body image and healthy eating, harassment and sexual decision making, substance abuse, the dangers of technology and cyber bullying, depression, suicide, and stress. There is also a focus on helping a friend with the above issues.