Wellness
Danielle Petrucci
K-12 Wellness Curriculum Coordinator
Wellness
Physical and mental health, emotional well-being, and positive development are critical to academic success. The mission of the Wellness Department is to develop responsible, independent humans who contribute to the greater good of the local and global community. Wellness Education at the high school is a two-fold program: Health and Physical Education following the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Frameworks and the National Health and Physical Education Standards. The courses are designed to enhance student social, emotional and physical health through a skill-based approach that is student-centered.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention six categories of health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults include -
- Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence
- Sexual behaviors related to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Tobacco use and vaping
- Unhealthy dietary behaviors
- Inadequate physical activity
In efforts to reduce the above risk behaviors, students practice the following skills through performance tasks and experiential activities in a traditional classroom setting and in the gymnasium classroom.
- Analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors
- Access valid information, products, and services to enhance health
- Use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks
- Use decision-making skills to enhance health
- Use goal-setting skills to enhance health
- Practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks
- Advocate for personal, family, and community health
- Improve concepts related to physical movement and fitness
Preparing students to be independent adults, wellness courses are designed to give students the drive to lead their learning and that of their peers through the following courses.
Adventure Leadership Education 1
The Adventure Leadership Education 1 (ALE1) curriculum provides essential knowledge and skills for students to become critical thinkers and creative solution makers. Opportunities in leadership, teamwork and self-esteem are developed through experiential-based learning in problem solving and community building. Learning experiences include noncompetitive games, initiatives and climbing challenges on our ropes course. These elements help groups explore communication issues and skills, problem solving techniques, dependence on others, patience, goal setting, and trust while developing 21st century leadership skills.
Upon completion of this course students will identify concepts needed to implement low level initiatives and challenges, explain the safety protocols needed for climbing and articulate the benefits of teamwork, problem solving, cooperation and leadership skills through a series of personal reflections.
ALE includes a skills-based health classroom component with recently updated curriculum that is inclusive to all students, non-bias, preparing students to think independently, problem solve, and make healthy life decisions. Students will practice a variety of physical, social and emotional skills which aim to improve health outcomes and reduce risk behaviors. These include practicing health-enhancing behaviors such as:
-self-management skills & stress
-communication skills & suicide prevention
-sexuality & social awareness, relationships, & communication skills
-analyzing influences & gender roles
-communication skills & digital citizenship.
All health lessons are aligned with the National Health Education Standards and the newly updated MA Comprehensive Health Frameworks. All units are developmentally appropriate topics and based on skill-building.
*This course fulfills the 9th grade physical education required Wellness credit.
10th Grade Wellness
Grade 10 Wellness provides diverse offerings to meet the individual needs of all students and to develop competency in individual, dual and team activities. Students will demonstrate the skills and knowledge, concepts and principles, strategies and tactics in order to effectively participate in lifelong activities This course will provide students with the knowledge to evaluate and participate in a well-balanced exercise program. The health component of the course will teach fundamental health concepts and skills that promote positive health and wellness behavior. A myriad of learning experiences are designed to prepare students for the demands of the 21st century. Students will take personal responsibility for making healthy choices which are physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually balanced. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to recognize enjoyable activities that implement the F.I.T.T principle in health-related fitness training, design and monitor workouts using target heart rate parameters and articulate their understanding of the components of health-related/skill-related fitness and personal health benefits.
10th Grade Wellness includes a skills-based health classroom component with recently updated curriculum that is inclusive to all students, non-bias, preparing students to think independently, problem solve, and make healthy life decisions. Students will practice a variety of physical, social and emotional skills which aim to improve health outcomes and reduce risk behaviors. These include practicing health-enhancing behaviors such as:
-Analyzing influences & substance abuse
-Decision making & vaping tobacco/marijuana
-Decision making & sexual health, contraceptives, STI’s
-Communication skills & healthy relationships
All health lessons are aligned with the National Health Education Standards and the newly updated MA Comprehensive Health Frameworks. All units are developmentally appropriate topics and based on skill-building. Students will take personal responsibility for making healthy choices which are physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually balanced.
*This course satisfies the 10 grade physical education required Wellness credit.
Yoga/Pilates
This course is designed to improve student’s physical, social and emotional health outcomes. Students will be introduced to basic postures, breathing techniques, relaxation methods, movements, and fitness benefits of Yoga and Pilates. Students will learn to monitor their stress levels, cope with life’s challenges, and live a more fulfilling future through Yoga and Pilates.
Students will learn the benefits of yoga and its impact on mind and body: improving social, emotional, and physical health outcomes. There will be a strong focus on breathing, stretching, muscle building, and self reflection. Students will practice proper form, posture, and design a professional yoga sequence following the proper format.
Students will learn about guiding principles of Pilates, build not only core strength but will work the entire body, focusing on proper alignment. Ultimately students will discover the benefits of gaining strength and balance, muscle development, as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints.
The health component of the course is based on grade level. Units are student-centered and teacher-facilitated. Students will complete projects, proving the transfer of skills preparing students for the demands of the 21st Century. Students will take personal responsibility for making healthy choices which are physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually balanced.
Both long and short-term projects/activities will engage students in dealing with numerous health risk factors. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate and explain the health benefits gained by participating in Yoga and Pilates, execute the various poses/asanas covered in class and be able to design a 30 minute yoga and Pilates workout.
*All abilities and fitness levels are welcome
*This course can fulfill the junior and/or senior required Wellness elective credit
*This course can be repeated as an elective credit for all students grades 9-12
Adventure Leadership Education 2
This course is designed for the student who is an outdoor enthusiast. Students will engage in activities that improve their physical well-being as well as their mental well-being as they develop an appreciation for outdoor adventure as they climb our highest elements on a regular basis. Students will be expected to build upon cooperation and team building skills from ALE 1. Leadership will be fostered by providing students opportunities to participate in our most challenging experiential-based activities involving non-competitive games, initiatives and challenges on our low to high ropes course. Students will be provided opportunities to climb elements not covered during Adventure Leadership Education 1. The health component of the course will teach health concepts and skills that promote positive health and wellness behavior. A myriad of learning experiences are designed to prepare students for the demands of the 21st century. Students will take personal responsibility for making healthy choices which are physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually balanced. Both long and short-term projects/activities will engage students in dealing with numerous health risk factors. Upon completion of the course students will have climbed a variety of high elements, be able to demonstrate and explain various belay techniques, and create a video identifying the concepts utilized to implement low level initiatives and challenges including GRABBSS assessment strategies.
*All abilities and fitness levels are welcome.
*Climbing is an intrical part of this course and will be performed on a regular basis.
*This course can fulfill junior and/or senior required Wellness elective credit.
*This course can be repeated as an elective credit for all students grade 10-12
Prerequisite: Adventure Leadership Education 1
Lifetime Activities and Competitive Sports
This course provides diverse offerings to meet the individual needs of all students and to develop competency in individual, dual and team activities. Students will develop proper techniques and skills associated with a variety of activities and sports as well as focus on team play, strategy and sportsmanship. Improved fitness is a goal through a variety of activities. Students will be provided with the opportunities to select and design a personal fitness plan for development of skill-related fitness: agility, balance, coordination, power reaction time, strength. Students will analyze their current level of fitness using different assessments such as calculating maximum heart rate, target heart rate, recovery heart rate and rate of perceived exertion. They will be responsible for setting and measuring their goals and reflecting upon their fitness development. The health component of the course will teach health concepts and skills that promote positive health and wellness behavior. A myriad of learning experiences are designed to prepare students for the demands of the 21st century. Students will take personal responsibility for making healthy choices which are physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually balanced. Both long and short-term projects/activities will engage students in dealing with numerous health risk factors. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to design a fitness plan, set and measure their fitness goals with specific activities for practice and play as well as self-officiate a game or contest using rules/modified rules of the game.
*All abilities and fitness levels are welcome.
*This course can fulfill the junior and/or senior required required Wellness elective credit
*This course can be repeated as an elective credit for all students grade 9-12
Group Fitness
Group Fitness will help students improve their personal level of fitness while working in a cooperative environment with peers simulating real-world fitness studio experiences for lifelong wellness. Exercise science principles such as dynamic warm ups, cool downs, calculating maximum heart rate, target heart rate, recovery heart rate and rate of perceived exertion will be covered. Students will learn a variety of techniques to develop muscular strength, endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance transferring lifetime habits and skills beyond high school. This course is high intensity activities for students who are committed to increasing their personal fitness levels.
Activities include: Spinning, circuit training, TRX, battle ropes, zumba, cardio kickboxing, bar, dance, fitness walking, yoga & pilates basics, cross-fit training, muscle conditioning, cardio HIIT, plyometric training, balance training, speed and agility, and core strengthening activities.
As with any well-balanced physical fitness plan, nutrition is equally as important to improve personal fitness. Students will assess their current eating habits and develop a nutrition plan to fuel the mind and body, improving physical, social, and emotional health outcomes.
Upon completion of Group Fitness students will be able to independently assess and improve their personal fitness using a variety of group fitness activities in and out of a fitness studio.
*This elective is available to grades 10-12
*This course can fulfill the junior and/or senior required Wellness elective credit
Adventure Leadership Education 3
This course is for self-motivated students who desire to develop 21st century leadership skills today that are important for the workforce of tomorrow. Students in Adventure Leadership Education 3 will need to be independent workers who are able to find internships in the community where they can apply leadership skills acquired during Adventure Leadership Education 1 and 2. By utilizing the experiential learning model and employing critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills, students will define goals and objectives and develop a comprehensive plan on how they will apply their leadership skills within their internship. Students will collaborate with community partners to work independently on assigned tasks and develop problem solving skills to become future ready.
At the end of this course, students will be expected to develop and present a multimedia presentation of their internship experiences, during which they will demonstrate acquisition of their goals and objectives, In addition, students will need to describe the impact the internship had on the development of their leadership skills. Students also will self-assess their acquisition and utilization of 21st century skills.
Prerequisite: Adventure Leadership Education 1 and Adventure Leadership Education 2
Environmental Leadership
The Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School Environmental Leadership course is a work-study opportunity where student environmental advocates collaborate with community members, staff, and each other on researching, identifying, developing and instituting reasonable, logical, environmentally sustainable and cost effective green initiatives district-wide. Leaders assist the district in becoming sustainable with their initiative management and are provided with the freedom and responsibility to achieve at high levels. Environmental programs managed by Environmental Leaders will help bring action to increasing individual responsibility and passion for sustainable living practices.
Prerequisite: This course is available to juniors and seniors only.
This course does not fulfill the physical education requirement for juniors or seniors.
On January 16, 2020 MA lawmakers passed The Healthy Youth Act which requires schools who teach sexual health education curriculum -shall provide medically accurate, age-appropriate and comprehensive sexual health education. Sexual health education shall be appropriate for students regardless of gender, race, disability status, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Healthy Youth Act ensures that sexual health education is inclusive of all students. Parents will be notified of the curriculum and given an opportunity to opt out.
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