Health and Wellness Curriculum
GSA Health Education Policy
At the Girls' School we believe that a thorough understanding of how our bodies work is empowering. We also believe that our girls should be well prepared to make healthy decisions, especially as they enter the pressure cooker of adolescence. This is why we employ a comprehensive health education in every grade that includes developmentally-appropriate information on human growth and development, nutrition and exercise, alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, body image, personal skills, relationships, sexual health and behavior, and cultural influences. We strive to create an environment in which girls are comfortable asking questions and engaging in age-appropriate and context-appropriate discussion on any topic.
Overview
GSA embraces the holistic approach in health and wellness education, engaging the mind as well as the body. Wellness is not only taught in theory, it is applied to situations as they arise. By incorporating the healthy lessons into daily routines, girls are more likely to understand them on a deeper level and apply what they have learned in the future, as they continue to mature and take responsibility for their bodies, mental health, education, and relationships.
Lower School
Lower School students learn about the following topics in their Physical Education classes: safety, nutrition, body systems and hygiene, dental health, harmful substances, human growth and development, and social and emotional health. The girls also develop skills such as volley throwing and catching, hand and foot dribble, shoot rhythms, cardiovascular/muscular strength and endurance, locomotor skills, and flexibility. Each of these topics will be introduced in the Physical Education classes at the kindergarten level and expanded upon each year thereafter. Handouts, worksheets, discussions, activities, and demonstrations will be used to teach various topics.
Middle School
Middle School Health and Wellness courses cover the following topics/skills: physical fitness, flexibility, individual and team sports, nutrition, personal safety, first aid and CPR, cardiovascular/muscular strength and endurance, hand and foot dribble, volley throwing and catching, and shoot rhythms. Throughout the program, sportsmanship and teamwork are emphasized.
GSA's small campus and class sizes allow the staff to respond quickly to situations as they emerge. Mini-workshops are conducted as needed, and advisory sessions are devoted to social/emotional development and other health and wellness related topics when appropriate. These forums in conjunction with Physical Education classes and once-a-week Health education classes in the 5th and 6th grades provide students with ample opportunities to address issues, concerns, and emerging questions such as “Who am I?” and “What is happening to my body?” At GSA, a girl also knows that she may approach her advisor (or another staff member with whom she feels comfortable) at any time with her questions/concerns.
Fifth Grade
5th grade students address issues such as stress management, communication skills like conflict resolution and resistance, responsible social behavior, and consumer awareness in conjunction with their study of body systems, weight management, life stages, basic hygiene/skin care/dental care, as well as communicable and chronic diseases. A special three-unit lesson adapted from the McGraw-Hill text The Body Book teaches the structure of both the male and female reproductive systems, discusses body changes including menstruation, and compares feminine hygiene products. Other topics include first aid, safety, and a nutrition component that reviews and builds upon the extensive Lower School curriculum.
Sixth Grade
Topics covered in 6th grade Health are: stress management; coping with emotions; body systems and weight management; male and female reproductive systems; pregnancy and birth; social skills including friendship/relationship skills and conflict management; preventing abuse and violence; body image and eating disorders, responsible social behavior; infectious and noninfectious diseases; consumer awareness.