The
Secondary Health and Physical Education curricula focus on helping each
student acquire the skills necessary to be healthy and fit. Our
programs promote the physical, social, and emotional health and safety
of every student through comprehensive programs and initiatives. These
programs and initiatives support academic achievement and a safe and
nurturing educational environment. This is accomplished by focusing in
two areas: comprehensive health and physical education curricula; and
school and community- wide prevention strategies and activities.
We
believe that Thomas Jefferson said it best when he so eloquently stated
that, "Exercise and recreation...are as necessary as reading. I would
rather say more necessary, because health is worth more than learning"
and M. Jocelyn Elders when the former Surgeon General stated, "You can't
educate a child who isn't healthy and you can't keep a child healthy
who isn't educated."
Physical Education
We
believe that Physical Education is critical for academic success.
Students who participate in physical activities programs have been
demonstrated to: reduce susceptibility to stress, decrease involvement
in disruptive behaviors, and increase concentration. A study by the
department of education in California concluded that students who are
more physically fit do better on standardized (math and language arts)
achievement tests conducted in their state than students that are not
physically fit.
Physical education is an essential experience in
human development and important life skills are promoted through
quality physical education programs. By participating regularly in a
broad spectrum of activities, students have a channel of learning that
allows each of them, regardless of ability, to meet physical challenges,
develop essential motor skills, assess individual abilities, appreciate
the fun and joy of human movement, and at the same time develop
strategies for improvement. The physical education curriculum encourages
participants to become aware of fitness and conditioning for a
lifetime, to accomplish tasks by cooperating as a member of a diverse
group, and to develop self-worth and qualities for leadership. They do
this by providing equitable treatment and access for all students
regardless of race, class, language, gender or ability levels and by
insuring a learning environment that stresses the ancient Greek
philosophy of the total body, mind, and spirit we strive to educate
students to work toward a balanced lifestyle.
Health Education
The
Health Education curriculum seeks to help young people achieve their
fullest potential by accepting responsibility for personal health
decisions and practices, by adopting healthy behaviors, by working with
others to improve the health of their school and community, and by
becoming discriminating consumers of health information, services and
products. The curriculum teaches fundamental health concepts, promotes
habits and conduct that enhance health, wellness and learning, and
guides efforts to build healthy families, relationships, schools and
communities.