Health & Fitness

DEPARTMENT PHILOSOPHY

Maintaining a healthy balance in today’s world requires a great deal of skill, knowledge, and practice. The Health and Fitness curriculum is designed to emphasize the student’s responsibility for her own health and well-being. DSHA is committed to preparing students to become advocates for their own health and well-being. This program supports the academic mission of the school, whole person education, as well as the lifelong health and wellness of our students. A 2014 study by the Center for Disease Control states, “The academic achievement of America’s youth is strongly linked with their health.” There is myriad research showing students need adequate amounts of physical activity throughout the school day — not only to prevent obesity and obesity-related issues, but to perform better academically.

The goal of our program is to cultivate a positive attitude towards physical fitness and teach the values of health and exercise through enjoyable, challenging, and meaningful activities. Regular involvement in physical activity has been proven to increase academic performance, raise self-esteem, reduce the incidence of life threatening disease, and produce a positive impact on the social and emotional well-being of an individual.

COURSE OFFERINGS

List of 3 items.

FOUNDATIONAL FRESHMAN FITNESS/FRESHMAN WELLNESS
Freshmen begin their journey with Foundational Freshman Fitness and Freshman Wellness. This structure is implemented throughout their entire freshman year.

Foundational Freshman Fitness
- Students have scheduled fitness days with fitness instructors twice a week in which they work on their physical health goals.
- Students begin to understand about their current fitness levels and set goals for self-improvement
- Students develop a basic knowledge and understanding of health-related fitness (flexibility, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and cardiovascular endurance).
- Students participate in various activities offered in the Sarah M. Hegarty Fitness Center, the Mind-Body Studio, Chris & John McDermott Gymnasium, and outdoor fields.
Freshman Wellness
Students have Freshman Wellness twice a week. This program connects students with the people, resources, and opportunities at DSHA which are here to help each student make the most of their freshman year (and beyond). The freshman wellness program allows students time to focus on academics through a structured study hall, access to ALPHA, or working with our interventionist. It also provides a minimum monthly scheduled check-in with school counselors, campus ministers, teachers, administrators, or members of the Applied Wellness program. Through these monthly check-ins, we strive to allow students to engage in thoughtful discussions, work together on activities, build relationships, and learn more about themselves and DSHA.

Students will learn and practice:
- Finding the people and resources that work best for them.
- Exposure to a growth mindset and embracing meeting new people and learning new things.
- Creating and committing to a solid academic routine (time management, organization, etc.).
- Learning about policies, processes, and other guidelines at DSHA.
SOPHOMORE FITNESS/SOPHOMORE WELLNESS

Sophomores are enrolled in this course so they are still within a structured program but have some freedom to make choices within it. This program is implemented throughout their sophomore year.

Sophomore Fitness
Students will have two scheduled fitness days with an instructor each week. During this time, they will work on their physical fitness.

Applied Wellness staff will meet with sophomores at various times throughout the year during their fitness hour to slowly onboard them into the upperclasswoman Applied Wellness program that they begin as juniors. Students will engage in various wellness experiences, learn about the structure and requirements of the program, and will establish an Applied Wellness account. This process is intentional so that sophomores begin to understand how they will use their Applied Wellness hour during their junior and senior years. By the end of sophomore year, students will have the information they need to navigate the program as upperclasswomen.

Sophomore Wellness
Students will have Sophomore Wellness twice a week, typically Mondays and Wednesdays. As students begin sophomore year, they transition to the next level of practicing their use of autonomy and personal accountability. We foster this progress by continuing to offer a structured fitness class and Sophomore Wellness hour. Building upon Freshman Wellness, sophomores can use this time to study, meet with a teacher or interventionist, use ALPHA, visit Campus Ministry, see a counselor, or make up a test. They have the freedom to access these resources they learned about previously in Freshman Wellness.
HEALTH EDUCATION – 6700

Health Education is a required one semester course centering on wellness. The objective of this course is to provide each student with the opportunity to acquire accurate health information, practice decision making, and develop behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle. The following related topics are included: stress management, nutrition, body image, chemical substances, healthy relationships, and human sexuality. Activities include: lecture, small group and class discussions, group presentations/projects, and video. Grades are based upon daily participation, homework and assessments.

10th grade
1 semester
This course is required of all students. It can be taken sophomore or junior year.

The Fitness Center

The Fitness Center is available at various times throughout the school day, after school, and over the summer for students, faculty, staff, and alumnae. Classes and group fitness activities are held in the Mind Body Studio according to the schedule. Contact Director of Fitness Performance and Health & Fitness Faculty Brian Calhoun or stop by the fitness center for a more detailed schedule.