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Whitcomb School Health and Wellness Education
The K-12 vision of the Wellness and Physical Education Department is to empower our students to be knowledgeable, resourceful and respectful participants in the lifelong pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Health and physical education classes make up the middle school portion of our K-12 comprehensive Health, Physical Education, and Wellness program. Although each course is taught separately, they each embrace a multidimensional approach to understanding human health, wellness and fitness/exercise. Each course contributes to the students’ development of skills, knowledge and attitudes needed in an active, healthy lifestyle.
Health Education
Health education is required for students in grades 6 through 8. Students meet in health classes every day for one term.
The goal of the Health Education Program to use a comprehensive standards-based approach to curriculum to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles, and it is valuable for preparing middle school students for their high school experience. The major topics focus on the physical, social, emotional, safety/prevention, and personal health standards in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks. Other topics include communication, goal-setting, decision-making, personal health enhancing skills, advocacy, and accessing valid health information in the National Health Education Standards.
The curriculum is ongoing and planned out by the department through a progressive approach to ensure age appropriateness, grade-level outcomes, and variety of topics in grades 5-8 health classes. Teachers facilitate interactive lessons that focus on specific targets and outcomes through a variety of instructional practices that include group work, class discussions, projects, and presentations. This provides students with opportunities to learn and practice health skills and literacy, increase their knowledge, and work to develop healthy attitudes and lifestyles.
Physical Education
Physical education is required for students in grades 5-8. Students meet for class 2 out of 7 days per cycle throughout the school year. Students in grades 6-8 are expected to change for class in appropriate PE attire and athletic sneakers and be active participants. Students in grades 5 are required to have on athletic sneakers and be active participants. The goal of the Physical Education Program is to use a comprehensive standards-based approach to curriculum to promote a lifetime of physical activity and fitness. The middle school Physical Education Program builds upon the knowledge and skills learned and practiced in grades K-4, and it is valuable in preparing middle schools students for their high school experience. The major topics focus on the tactics and strategies in game play through team and individual sports/activities, fitness, fitness testing, movement skills, and cooperation and team-building activities outlined under the Physical Standard in the MA Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks, as well as the National Physical Education Standards.