Students are required to take one semester-long Health/Wellness course. Students may chose to take an additional Health course to replace one Physical Education course. All Health/Wellness courses will include the following Critical Issues components: human sexuality and diseases, drug and alcohol issues, and decision making.

Body Systems and Diseases

Number: 48011       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Health

This course is designed to help students better understand body systems and their functions. Students will understand the impact of personal health, behaviors and life-styles on body systems. Emphasis will be placed on such important diseases and disorders as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and AIDS. Students will become aware of the major communicable and noncommunicable diseases with the emphasis on prevention, treatment, and significant medical breakthroughs. Students will also learn how research and medical advances influence prevention, life-style, wellness and the control of health problems. Knowledge of the short and long term effects associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on reproduction, pregnancy, and the health and wellness of an individual will be emphasized. A preventative versus a curative approach will be taken in order to encourage students to take responsibility for their own life-styles and wellness.

Safety and First Aid

Number: 48012       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Health

This course is designed to help students become aware of their surroundings and how they can affect their own and other’s safety, and to help them deal with potential accidents and hazardous situations. The First Aid section will teach students what to do in a number of emergency medical situations. The course will follow American Red Cross Emergency Response programs for First Aid and CPR.  Besides becoming proficient in CPR and other immediate related life saving techniques, complete emergency response first aid training will examine the most common injuries and situations associated with sports and other activities. Students will receive Red Cross certifications in both First Aid and CPR. Additionally, a two week study review of Critical Issues will be included on the topics of drug use, tobacco products, alcohol, and HIV/AIDS.

Wellness, Nutrition and Physical Fitness

Number: 48007       Grade: 9-12         Length: Semester         Credit: Health

This course will provide students with current nutritional information, focusing on the interrelationships among diet, exercise and weight control. The effects of stress, as well as measures to combat stress in our daily lives, will be examined. The components of physical fitness, strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, agility and flexibility will be studied. The course will also examine training methods designed to achieve total fitness. Students will explore the relationship between healthy life-styles and the attainment of wellness.

Life Skills and Human Development

Number: 48010       Grade: 10-12       Length: Semester         Credit: Health

This course provides students with a solid knowledge base about important personal and social skills which will help them to make appropriate life-style decisions. Topics include the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs; human development, including reproduction, development of relationships, marriage and divorce; and sexually transmitted diseases, including behaviors that lead to them and how to avoid them. Active student participation in class discussion and projects is a key element for the success of this class. Students should be mature and forthcoming in their attitudes toward the subject matter.