Health and Wellness

High School

The Hopkinton High School Wellness program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive health/fitness education through both required and elective course offerings. Each course reflects a commitment to wellness and the pursuit of lifelong experiences. This commitment will carry itself to the family and community as the young person matures into his/her own adult family and community role.

Successful achievement in Wellness does not require that one be a natural athlete, but instead promotes students actively participating in classes to attain a level of proficiency that is proportional to their potential and the opportunity to examine and monitor one’s own wellness.

Our Comprehensive Wellness Program has been developed and aligned with the SHAPE America National Standards and the Massachusetts Health Education Frameworks by our professional staff and continues the efforts begun in earlier grades to promote wise and informed lifestyle decisions during teenage years and well beyond.

SEXUALITY EDUCATION POLICY

At the beginning of each school year, all parents/guardians of students in our schools are notified in writing of the courses and curriculum we offer that primarily involve human sexual education or human sexuality issues. This shall be done through distribution of the Program of Studies and/or the Student Handbook for each school, or in a separate written communication. Parents/Guardians of students who enroll in school after the start of the school year are given the written notice at the time of enrollment. If the planned curriculum changes during the school year, to the extent practicable, parents/guardians are notified of this fact in a timely manner before implementation. Each such notice to parents/guardians will include a brief description of the curriculum covered by this policy, and will inform parents/guardians that they may:

1. Inspect and review program instruction materials for these curricula, which are made accessible to parents/guardians and others to the extent practicable. Parents/guardians may arrange with the principal to review the materials at the school, and may also review them at other locations that may be determined by the Superintendent of Schools.

2. Exempt their child from any portion of the curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues, without penalty to the student, by sending a letter to the school principal requesting an exemption. Any student who is exempted by request of the parent/guardian under this policy may be given an alternative assignment.

Courses

Wellness 9 -9101/9102

(2) Semester Course 2.0 Credits/semester

Required: Grade 9 (4 periods/cycle) Prerequisites: None

Classroom topics include: What is Wellness, Labeling and Harassment, Understanding Stress, Nutrition, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Communication, Alcohol and Drugs, Skin Cancer, and Environmental Awareness.

Fitness Lab and Activity classes complete the grade 9 requirements.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Soccer
Team Building
Track & Field
Volleyball
Team Games
Yoga
Selected Games
Group Fitness Classes
Alcohol
Communication
CPR-First/AED-First AID
Environmental Health
Intro to Fitness and Safety
Fit Lab - Muscular Fitness
Fit Lab- Components of Health and Skill Related Fitness
Fit Lab- Developing a Personal Fitness Program
Fit Lab- F.I.T.T Principle
Fit Lab- Functional/Core training
Fit Lab- Introduction to Cardiovascular Training
Lawn Games
Nutrition
Skin Cancer
Stress
Surviving High School
Understanding Wellness
Aerobics/Dance

Wellness 10 -9201/9202

(2) Semester Course 2.0 Credits

Required: Grade 10 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

This one semester classroom course meets twice per cycle as an important part of your total grade 10 Wellness curriculum. Along with classroom participation in discussion, group work, and research, assignments outside of the classroom will be required and may include homework, papers, projects, and a binder of materials. A final exam at the end of first semester will cover material from your classroom experience. Second semester will be strictly an activity based class covering a variety of fitness and recreation games. This course is designed to respect students personal values as well as the values of others with a focus on overall safety.

First Semester topics in Wellness 10 include: values, human sexuality, relationships and emotions, sexual behavior, postponement, contraception, STIs and HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, dating violence, and positive relationships.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Values
Reproductive Anatomy
Contraception
STI/HIV
Sexual Violence
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
Soccer
Team Building
Track & Field
Volleyball
Team Games
Yoga
Group Fitness Classes

Wellness 11 and Wellness 12

Fitness through Games -9270

Semester Course 1.0 credits/semester

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

This activity course is for the upperclassman who want to continue being active through friendly team and individual play. Activities may include touch football, soccer, basketball, floor hockey, badminton, volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, golf and tennis.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Yoga
Team Games
Net/Racquet Games
Team Handball
Soccer
Volleyball
Lawn Games

Stress Management -9260

Semester Course 1.0 credits/semester

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

Got stress? Do you want to learn how to manage your stress and live a healthier, more balanced life? In this course, students will participate in a variety of stress reduction activities such as Yoga, Tai Chi, dancing, fitness walking, mindful walking, mindfulness training, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, positive visualizations, affirmations, and gratitude. Time management techniques, brain compatible learning style assessments, and the study of the physiological changes that occur in the body during times of stress and relaxation will also be explored. Mindfulness and meditation are now practiced in many of the most successful companies such as Apple, Google, Nike, and Yahoo! Learn what the leaders of these companies know: People who have the skills to manage their stress and live peacefully in the moment are also more creative and productive employees. Journals, participation in all activities and discussions, development of your personal stress management plan, and a final project are used for assessment.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Getting to know you. Self Evaluations
What is Stress?
Managing Stress through Self-Check and Breathing Techniques
Self Care
The Power of Positivity
Mindfulness and Meditation
Managing Stress through Various Forms of Exercise
Using Music, Art, Games and Hobbies to Manage Stress
Creating a Peaceful Environment to Manage Stress
Decreasing Stress through Time Management Strategies

Personal Fitness -9294

Semester Course 1.0 credit

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

Want to do your own workouts? Advanced strength training? Yoga? Group workouts? If you answered yes, this class is for you. The course is designed to combine cardiovascular training, muscular strength and flexibility with an emphasis on creating a personal workout program that meets the individual needs of each student. Meeting primarily in the fitness center, students will create, implement and make appropriate modifications to advance their fitness level while also enjoying a variety of group workouts.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Proper Warm Up
Training Heart Rate/Interval Training
Functional Training
Creating Personal Workouts
AMRAP Workout
Kettlebell Training
Tabata Training
The Value of Exercising

R.A.D. (Women’s Self-Defense) -9440

Semester Course 1.0 credit

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

Self-Defense for Women only - RAD – Rape Aggression Defense Systems is a realistic self defense class that focuses on avoidance and awareness techniques that will help a woman in the prevention of being attacked and becoming a victim. Along with real world safety planning, students learn physical self-defense techniques. The class culminates with a simulated attack. Women will feel more empowered and confident after completing this class. RAD is taught by certified instructors to teach your daughter the tools that may be needed to escape an attack.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Risk Awareness
Offensive - Defensive Positioning
Keychain Defense
Advanced Self Defense Strategies
Risk Reduction
Simulation Training
Ground Defense
Course Introduction

R.A.D. for Men -9450

Semester Course 1.0 credit

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

Participants will have the opportunity to: raise their awareness of aggressive behavior, recognize how aggressive behavior impacts their lives, learn steps to avoid aggressive behavior, consider how they can be part of reducing aggression and violence, and practice hands-on self-defense skills to resist and escape aggressive behavior directed toward them. This program is designed to empower participants to make safer choices when confronted with aggressive behavior.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Course Introduction
Gender Roles
Stances
Anger
Consent
Striking
Dangerous Male Stereotypes
Blocking
Self Defense and the Law
Gender Roles and Dating

Ballroom Dance -9295

Semester Course 1.0 credit

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

Learn a lifetime skill that you can enjoy anywhere in the country and throughout many parts of the world with people of all ages. No experience or partners needed! Enjoy learning this new skill while dancing with all of your classmates. You will learn how to lead or follow the East Coast Swing, Hustle, Merengue and Rumba along with the Waltz and Foxtrot. You will learn correct form, frame, and posture, understand the style, character, and themes of each dance and take away the ability to dance for a lifetime. Dancing is a challenging, joyful experience and research has shown that ballroom dancing also improves cognitive functioning. So have some fun, get some exercise, and improve your brain each day!

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Ballroom Dance - Foxtrot
Slow Waltz
Hustle
Swing
Merengue
Tango
Salsa
Ballroom Dance - Rumba
Ballroom Dance - Final Performance

Officiating in Sports -9460

Semester Course 1.0 credit

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

This offering will provide students the information, practical knowledge and skill-set to officiate in a sport of their choice. Students will learn and perform the fundamentals involved with fair play, rules knowledge, controlling emotional environments, and the training to become an effective official. Students will also walk away with information and contacts of certified athletic officiating organizations that they can utilize to pursue additional advancement.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Introduction to Officiating in Sports
The Culture Shift in the Rules of Their Sport
Let’s get 'Started'
Learning a New Language
Understanding and Applying the Rules (Rules Knowledge)
Learning from High Quality Officials/Interviews
Positioning and Working with Crew Members

Lifetime Pursuits -9470

Semester Course 1.0 credit

Open to: 11-12 (2 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

In this elective, students will develop leadership, teamwork and critical thinking skills through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. This will include group problem solving exercises, navigation, geocaching and exploring survival skills in the outdoors. In addition, this course will explore a variety of lifetime activities that an individual can participate in during their lifetime. These lifetime activities will include exercise and leisure activities such as golf, bocce, disc golf, archery, snowshoeing, tai chi, yoga, bowling, walking, hiking, and badminton.

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Tai Chi
Lawn Games
Badminton/Pickleball
Geocaching
Golf
Shuffleboard
Volleyball
Yoga and Relaxation
Walking and Hiking
Archery
Disc Golf

Optimizing Academics using Movement -9490

Semester Course 2.0 credits/semester*

Open to: 11-12 (4 periods/cycle)

Prerequisites: None

Would you like to be more focused, improve your memory, become more efficient at processing information, become more resilient, be better able to manage stress, improve your mood and confidence, improve your physical health and academic achievement? If the answer is yes, consider enrolling in this course which will focus on several strategies and activities designed to improve your social, emotional and physical health, as well as, improve your academic life. Exercise activities include but are not limited to: various types of aerobic activities that elevate the heart rate into your training zone, use of Polar Heart Rate monitors, fitness walking, mindful walking, ballroom dance, line dance, tai chi, yoga, flexibility training, positive visualization, relaxation techniques, studying while moving, positive psychology techniques, Brain Gym ® and more!

*Fulfills Junior and Senior requirements in Wellness*

*Hybrid Option: *2.5 elective credits includes the 4 class meetings and one outside assignment per cycle

Curriculum Units and Learning Outcomes:

Course Introduction
The Benefits of Cardiovascular Exercise
The Benefits of Outdoor Activities
The Benefits of Free Play
Using Movement to Anchor Memories, Improve Focus, Energize and Center Oneself
Using coordinated, complex movements
Practicing Mindfulness, Yoga, Tai Chi
The benefits of strength and flexibility training
Review, Repeat and Reinforce learning
Reflections, Demonstrations, Assessments and Celebration

Peer Mentor* -9910/9920

Semester Course 2.0 credits

Open to: Grades 10-12

Prerequisites: Special Education staff interview and approval

For the student interested in taking a leadership role to help facilitate social opportunities, build relationships, and broaden interests. Student mentors will work with other students in the building by helping to develop lessons, aid in teaching, and serve as a socially appropriate peer model. All students feeling they have something to offer are encouraged to take this course. Any student specific strengths, such as, art, music, drama, sports, technology may be incorporated. Students will collaborate with the classroom teachers to formulate their approach and goal within the program. *This course does not fulfill the Wellness graduation requirement.

Resources

Wellness Curriculum Resources

SHAPE America National Standards

MA Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks

Choose Love Program/Curriculum

Michigan Model for Health

The Importance of Wellness Education

Children ages 6-17 should be getting 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Three of those days should include vigorous intensity exercise and three of those days should include muscle/bone strengthening exercises. Children who meet these guidelines have better bone health, physical fitness, mental health, increased attention span and better academic performance.

The time spent in physical education classes plays in important role in meeting the activity needs of that day but in developing the skills our children need to successfully engage in activities. Developing competence in a variety of skills helps children become confident lifelong movers who find enjoyment in being physically active.