Health and Wellness

Physical Education

Health and Wellness courses are designed to provide an opportunity to talk openly and thoughtfully about age appropriate issues for pre-adolescent and adolescent girls. The objective is to provide accurate information and to practice skills that will help girls be self-reliant and responsible for their choices. Topics focus on building trusting relationships and community, conflict resolution, sexual development, wellness and the body, and chemicals and the mind. Student input is always relevant to course design as they keep us aware of addressing their particular needs and questions. Winsor’s commitment to pay equal attention to the intellectual, social and moral development of students serves as the framework for these classes. Classes will include important facts and information, as well as time to grapple with quandaries of personal decision-making and ethics.

Health and Wellness Courses

Lower School

Class I students spend their year in Health class focusing on: building a safe, trusting community of peers; exploring healthy nutrition and fitness options; navigating the internet in a safe way; and understanding the basics of human development and puberty.

Class II students continue their exploration of puberty and adolescent development, with a particular emphasis on the development of social-emotional skills and healthy decision-making—both in real life and on-line. The girls participate in group projects, special class discussions in Council, and dialogues with adults in their families and communities.

Class III students prepare for middle school social life in Health Class, exploring healthy communication practices; moral and ethical peer interactions; and ways to prevent and stand up to exclusion and unkindness. Through safe discussions, group projects, and the use of current media and technology, the girls learn to participate in the world in a strong and responsible way.

Class IV Health allows students to delve more deeply into questions about their own development and life course, as well as develop important skills for taking care of themselves and advocating for their peers. Special emphasis is paid to media literacy and social networking; health and hygiene for teens; managing stress; and transitioning to Upper School.