An adolescent’s level of engagement in academic pursuits, meaningful relationships, and life opportunities depends on the sum of his/her physical, mental, social, and emotional health. The comprehensive Wellness curriculum, in conjunction with the Personal Counseling and College Counseling Programs, addresses each of these areas and teaches students to be health literate. The curriculum fosters a safe and healthy learning environment for all by building a culture of acceptance and positive regard for each person’s gifts, differences, and viewpoints, and by encouraging social inclusion and the healthy development of a conscientious community.

Wellness classes are offered once per week for a 50-minute period for four years. The curriculum is designed to be developmental in approach and flexible enough to accommodate contemporary issues and the changing needs of the students and school. Guest speakers contribute to the learning experience when appropriate. The key elements of the curriculum include: Transitions and Future Planning, Healthy Relationships, Communication Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Human Sexuality, Stress Management, Mental Health, Drug Education, Nutrition and Body Image, Peer Helping Skills, and Contemporary Issues and Current Events.

The specific content covered within each general topic is defined below. Elements from the Passage Works social emotional curriculum have been used with 9th and 10th grade students. The Transitions and Future Planning section is divided according to grade level, but the content offered in the other areas depends on what has previously been taught to that particular grade level and what the students in the class need.

Transitions and Future Planning

Ninth Grade

Topics include transition into high school and into the unique culture of WHSP, integration of new-to-Waldorf students, Student Success Team (SST) process, Council Process, how to host guest “shadow” visitors, self-advocacy to meet needs, how to raise concerns and questions, media literacy, and how to secure and analyze high quality health-related information on the internet.

Tenth Grade

Topics include transition into career/college planning, administration of PSAT and PLAN standardized exams, understanding results of standardized tests, using summers and breaks wisely.

Eleventh and Twelfth Grades

Topics include post-high school planning, college admissions process, SAT and ACT exam registration information, personality inventory for college/career planning, college/career search process, finding best match schools, college visit information, GAP year opportunities, college essay writing, resumes and requesting letters of recommendation, support for creating clubs and activities and taking on leadership roles.

Twelfth Grade

Students discuss transition to more independent living skills and legal adult responsibilities, responsibility for personal health care decisions, medicine philosophies, mental health care, personal finances and credit, laundry, food shopping and cooking, roommate/housemate issues or living at home post high school, personal safety and assertiveness, basic car and home safety and maintenance, wise and healthy choices in an atmosphere of freedom.

Healthy Communication Skills and Emotional Intelligence

This component includes qualities of positive relationships, authentic voice and speaking spontaneously from heart, comfort level with holding a minority or majority viewpoint while honoring others’ viewpoints without judgment, deepening understanding and practice of Council Process, non-violent or compassionate communication skills, “I” statements, direct communication, deep listening exercises, defining personal boundaries, healthy risks, healthy conflict, trust, empathy, blame, accusations, assumptions, forgiveness, gossip, rumors and relational aggression, play, humor and spontaneity.

Human Relationships and Sexuality

Students consider relationships, love, trust, intimacy, sexuality, sexual orientation, LGBTQ awareness, male and female anatomy, breast and testicular health, STIs, HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, contraception, abortion, acquaintance/date rape, personal safety, cycle of violence, emergency shelters, abuse, anger management, public displays of affection, and socially responsible choices.

Stress Management

This course includes meditation practices, connection to natural environment, silence, solitude and reflection to cultivate awareness, time management, healthy sleep, self-advocacy, developing internal compass and honoring personal inner strength of convictions (moral compass).

Drug Education

Students learn about and discuss alcohol, drinking and driving, tobacco, marijuana, stimulants, hallucinogens, club drugs, depressants, prescription drugs, dietary supplements, steroids, nutrition, drug use, abuse, addiction and impact on individuals and community, recovery, current brain research, refusal skills, legal issues, personal risk and safety.

Nutrition and Body Image

This course includes topics such as healthy eating, disordered eating, healthy amount of physical activity, media consumption, and body images.

Peer-Helping Skills

Students explore the limits of confidentiality, respecting privacy, knowing how and when to seek help for self/friend/relative, mental health, depression, suicide, grief, and loss. During eleventh grade, students further develop leadership skills by providing a student-led Peer Health Information Exchange on a health topic of their choice.

Contemporary Social Health Issues and Current Events

Students consider the propaganda underlying social structures that perpetuate fear, bias, stereotypes, scapegoating, economic, political, and social exclusion of marginalized individuals and populations; Universal Declaration of Human Rights; individual contribution to the healthy social life of a class, school, and wider world.