Health and Student Issues
Learning Prep School’s Health and Student Issues courses are designed with a language based approach to the curriculum and comply with the MA DOE Curriculum Frameworks. We use both visual and auditory cues and tools, such as the Thinking Maps and other organizational strategies, to ensure that our students receive a comprehensive education. Pragmatic language skills and social skills are infused throughout the curriculum, giving students the opportunity to learn and practice them within the classroom setting.
The central focus of Health and Student Issues is on educating students about how to make healthy and safe choices. Students explore physical, emotional, and behavioral issues crucial to living a happy and low stress life. Mental health habits and coping skills are also addressed in order for students to learn how to face the challenges of adolescence and a growing sense of independence. Students gather and internalize information in order to take proper care of themselves, and to gain knowledge to increase positive social interactions.
The 8th Grade and High School Counseling staff teaches Heath and Student Issues classes. These small, psycho-educational classes give students a forum to gather information, ask questions, and to share and learn from each other’s perspectives. Our approach involves examining one’s own values and beliefs (including family and religious values and beliefs), decision- making (emphasizing the impact and outcomes of their decisions) and tolerance (you have the right to agree or disagree, but need to be respectful). One of the most successful elements of the curriculum is “The Baby Project.” This program provides older students with an interactive opportunity to learn about parenting.
If you have any concerns about your child participating in any portion of the curriculum, please inform your student’s counselor. The curriculum topics, goals and objectives (each Health class moves at it’s own pace and may or may not cover each objective listed), and possible activities and movies are broken down by grade level.
Physical Education
Students at the 8th Grade and High School level may elect to participate in some form of Physical Education. The three major objectives stressed in the PE Classes include physical/motor development, cognitive development, and social development.
Motor skills are developed through participation in various games, sports, and physical activities that require coordination, strength, endurance, balance, and kinesthetic awareness. By participating in a program of physical activities, an individual will increase their proficiency in routine tasks and activities of daily living.
Cognitive skills are developed as students are taught the rules and regulations of games and activities and given support and guidance to sequence and practice these skills in a non-competitive environment. The ability to think and interpret situations is developed through many experiences in games and sports.
Students are also encouraged to establish interest, appreciation and a positive attitude relating to physical education and physical activity. Students will develop social skills by participating in group activities where cooperation, team play and communication are essential for success in the game.
