Health & Wellness

Grade 5 Health & Wellness introduces students to the foundational concepts of physical, emotional, and social health. Students begin to explore how choices about nutrition, hygiene, sleep, and exercise affect their overall well-being. They also begin to understand their emotions, practice empathy, and learn basic strategies for communicating needs and forming positive relationships. This year lays the groundwork for students to reflect on their personal choices and their impact on themselves and others.

Overview of Topics

• Personal hygiene and body care
• Nutrition basics and food groups
• Importance of sleep and rest
• Understanding and expressing emotions
• Respect, empathy, and kindness in friendships
• Screen time balance and safe online habits

Skills Emphasized

• Self-awareness (identifying feelings, strengths, and challenges)
• Emotional regulation (naming and managing feelings)
• Communication (expressing needs, listening actively)
• Empathy and respect for others
• Nutrition and physical health basics
• Digital literacy (safe and balanced online use)

Grade 6 Health and Wellness builds on the foundations introduced in Grade 5. The course emphasizes how physical, emotional, and social health are interconnected and introduces strategies for building consistent routines. Students learn about puberty, the role of daily habits in long-term well-being, and stress management techniques. They also practice communication skills, explore peer influence, and develop digital literacy skills to balance technology use responsibly.

Overview of Topics

• Puberty and body changes
• Stress and coping strategies
• Building balanced daily routines
• Communication with peers and adults
• Peer influence and making independent choices
• Understanding personal boundaries
• Digital literacy and screen balance

Skills Emphasized

• Self-management and healthy routine-building
• Stress management and coping skills
• Communication (expressing needs, active listening)
• Decision-making in everyday contexts
• Digital literacy (responsible use, evaluating online content)

Grade 7 Health and Wellness helps students navigate the increasing independence and responsibilities of adolescence. The course emphasizes critical decision-making, understanding peer and media influences, and identifying healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics. Students practice conflict resolution, set personal boundaries, and develop advocacy skills for themselves and their peers.

Overview of Topics

• Self-image and peer influence
• Media and marketing influences on health choices
• Healthy vs. unhealthy relationship dynamics
• Conflict resolution and boundary-setting
• Critical decision-making in health and wellness contexts
• Online safety and digital citizenship

Skills Emphasized

• Advanced decision-making and problem-solving
• Media literacy (recognizing marketing and influence)
• Healthy relationship-building (boundaries, respect, trust)
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• Empathy and perspective-taking
• Resilience (navigating setbacks)
• Help-seeking (knowing when and how to ask for support)

Grade 8 Health and Wellness focuses on developing leadership, advocacy, and personal responsibility. Students integrate the skills they have developed to model balance, resilience, and empathy. They strengthen emotional intelligence, practice stress and conflict management, improve communication, and set healthy boundaries in relationships. The course also emphasizes goal-setting, planning for the transition to high school, and contributing to the well-being of their communities. 

Overview of Topics

• Identifying personal values & strengths
• Exploring personal leadership styles 
• Building self-confidence 
• Communication, collaboration and teamwork 
• Evaluating media
• Contributing to community wellness

Skills Emphasized

• Leadership and advocacy in health and wellness
• Emotional intelligence (self-awareness, empathy, stress management)
• Communication and collaboration (active listening, giving and receiving feedback)
• Decision-making and problem-solving in personal and community contexts
• Media literacy (analyzing influences, evaluating information, making informed choices)
• Goal-setting and planning for personal growth
• Responsibility for self and others in supporting community well-being

The Grade 9 Seminar helps students consider and learn more about their physical, social, spiritual, and personal well-being.

• Module 1 - Sacred Heart Traditions: Students will explore life at the Sacred Heart, past, present, and future. Building off of the introduction to life at the Sacred Heart during the Grade 9 Orientation Trip, students will study the shared traditions, history, and culture of Sacred Heart schools to better familiarize themselves with the “sine qua non.” Additionally, students will strengthen their understanding of and listen to their call to continue to give life to the Goals and Criteria. Through highlighting our founding mothers, both their stories and their works, students will analyze the characteristics, attributes, and values that started our schools and continue to unite our global network. 
• Module 2 - Finding Your Purpose: In the Finding Your Purpose module of the Grade 9 Seminar, students learn about how to navigate life—in high school, in college, and beyond—with a sense of purpose. They learn about the science of purpose (or eudaimonia), and engage in activities and reflections designed to identify their strengths, their passions, their mentors, and the ways in which they can give back to their communities. They will prepare to create their purpose portfolio at the end of this school year and start thinking about ideas they will draw on when applying to college and designing their senior projects in Grade 12.
• Module 3 - Purpose and Healthy Decision Making: Students will actively engage with Sacred Heart Goal V, Criterion 2, which calls all members of our community to “take personal responsibility for health and balance in their lives supported by a school culture that promotes spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional well-being.” We collaborate with partners from Pathways for Prevention, mission-driven prevention specialists who educate and empower students to make purpose-centered, informed decisions about their health and well-being. Pathways for Prevention strives to create a safe and supportive environment that increases protective factors, reduces the risk of substance misuse, and identifies and addresses factors that increase the risk of substance misuse. Our own Health & Wellness faculty will help students prepare for and process the Pathways for Prevention material, leading their reflection on how to apply the learning in their own lives. 

Required for students in Grade 9

The Grade 10 Health & Wellness course challenges students to think critically about the ways they can advocate for themselves and their health in a world inundated with influences. Building on the Grade 9 foundation of purpose and healthy decision-making, this course emphasizes developing the confidence, skills, and knowledge to make informed choices about one’s well-being, while cultivating the ability to communicate effectively with healthcare providers, peers, and trusted adults. 

• Module 1 – Understanding Influences on Health: Students begin by examining the many influences on their health and wellness, ranging from family, peers, and social media to cultural norms, marketing, and healthcare systems. They will explore the psychology of influence, including concepts such as social proof and the bandwagon effect, to better understand how subtle forces shape health-related decisions. 
• Module 2 – Building Skills for Self-Advocacy: In this module, students will develop practical tools to advocate for their health across a range of contexts. They will learn how to communicate clearly and confidently with healthcare providers, ask effective questions, and understand the importance of shared decision-making in medical settings. Emphasis will be placed on rights and responsibilities within healthcare, including confidentiality and consent. 
• Module 3 – Navigating Misinformation and Making Informed Choices: Students will turn their focus to the challenges of making health decisions in a digital world saturated with information and misinformation. They will analyze wellness trends, products, and online content that attempt to influence their health choices, learning strategies for evaluating credibility, identifying red flags, and recognizing manipulation. Students will be empowered to draw on evidence-based resources and critical thinking skills to make decisions that align with their values and health goals, further strengthening their capacity for self-advocacy.

Required for students in Grade 10

The Grade 11 Health and Wellness Seminar will help students consider and learn more about safety, independence, and social responsibility. 

• Module 1 - CPR, Basic First Aid, and Personal & Community Safety: In this module, students will gain practical knowledge and skills to respond effectively in emergency situations. They will learn the fundamentals of CPR and first aid, including how to assess a scene, provide immediate care, and seek appropriate help. Students will also explore strategies for keeping themselves and others safe in daily life, from accident prevention to community safety awareness. By practicing hands-on techniques and applying problem-solving skills, students will be better prepared to act with confidence and responsibility in moments that matter. At the end of this section each student will have the opportunity to obtain a two year CPR/AED HeartSaver certificate from the American Heart Association.
• Module 2 - Financial Literacy: In this module, students will build essential skills for managing their personal finances and preparing for future independence. Topics include budgeting, saving, understanding credit and debt, and investing. Students will also examine how financial choices impact both short-term goals and long-term stability, as well as the role of financial responsibility within families and communities. Through real-world applications and scenario-based learning, students will strengthen their confidence in handling money wisely and developing habits that support lifelong financial wellness.
• Module 3 - Healthy Connections: Recognizing, Respecting, and Responding: In this module, students will take a deeper look at what it means to build and maintain healthy relationships based on respect, trust, and communication. They will explore the role of emotional intelligence and power dynamics in relationships, learn about state laws related to consent and confidentiality, and discuss the importance of boundaries and mutual respect. Students will also develop the skills to recognize warning signs of unhealthy dynamics—such as controlling behavior, gaslighting, jealousy, and lack of communication—and learn strategies for responding to them. This module emphasizes fostering a culture of consent, empathy, and accountability, empowering students to make informed choices and contribute to healthier connections in their communities. 

Required for students in Grade 11

In the Grade 12 Health and Wellness Seminar, students engage in meaningful discussions and activities that promote lifelong well-being and healthy decision-making. This course is designed to prepare students for the transition from high school to adult life by exploring key topics that are essential for maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle as they move toward independence. 

• Module 1 – Preparing for College: This module will help students develop the skills they need to manage the college application timeline and thrive in a college setting. Students will explore how to build healthy relationships and support systems, and manage stress and lean into self-advocacy during the application process. Rooted in the Sacred Heart Goals, students will reflect on their identity and values as they prepare for greater independence.
• Module 2 - Preparing for Senior Project: Senior Project provides students with practical, real-world experience through a one-month internship or passion project. In this module, students will explore how their passions, skills, and desire to make a positive impact intersect to shape a meaningful project. They will also practice professional communication with potential mentors, plan logistics, and develop the guiding research question for their project.

Required for students in Grade 12