WHS WELLNESS

Sophomore students will participate in a wide variety of activities designed to improve fitness and develop a background of skills, knowledge, tactics, and ethical practices in competition. Students must take and pass the Physical Fitness Test that is mandated by the state of Connecticut. If the student does not pass all 4 components of the Connecticut Physical Fitness Test then they will be required to take the Personal Fitness Elective their Junior or Senior year in order to graduate. The students will be introduced to life-long activities such as archery, tennis and golf. In the health portion students recognize that human growth and development is an integral part of life. Topics to be covered include: Reproductive Systems – (Male and Female), Pregnancy and Birth, Childhood and Adolescents, Abstinence, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Healthy Relationships, Contraceptives, Exercise. Students will develop an understanding that physical and psychological well-being comes from a healthy body. Upon developing this understanding, students will articulate how the risks they and others take can affect them and how they can minimize these effects. If you wish to exempt your child from any portions of the Health curriculum, please write a letter to the attention of the school principal requesting such exclusion.

Freshman students participate in an intensive foundation in Health and Physical Fitness. The student will learn the fitness concept, practice exercises for developing proficiency in the component, and engage in activities which will further the development in a more positive, fun way. Department constructed health-related and skill-related fitness tests will be used to chart progress through the levels of fitness. As a result of this course, students will learn to accept their bodies and recall individual differences in growth and maturation. Topics will also include family relationships, nutrition and fitness. Students will determine their strengths and weaknesses, accept the feelings they experience at different times and learn to channel those feelings into appropriate behaviors. Students will appreciate their uniqueness and learn to accept themselves. Students will able to recognize how others influence their behaviors and decisions. Students will also learn the effects that tobacco and chewing tobacco have on the body.