New Canaan Public Schools Details Health Education Curriculum

From New Canaan Public Schools: At the recent Board of Education meeting held on Nov. 5, 2018, Jonathan Adams, NCPS K-8 Health and Physical Education Coordinator, presented a Health Education Update to the Board that detailed changes in the district’s Health Curriculum in line with District Goals.

Mr. Adams explained that the ultimate vision for the NCPS Health Education Curriculum is for students to be equipped with the skills necessary to improve their health literacy. This will enable them to make informed decisions in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. Health-literate students who obtain and apply the proper knowledge and skills are able to address their own heath needs and the health needs of others.

“Research shows that a skill development program is key in supporting and educating the whole child.” explained Mr. Adams, who was joined by heath teachers Christine Orlando and Mike Tiscia. Also, in attendance was ELA Coordinator Sara Broas and Social Studies Coordinator Mary Hanna. “This is a skills-based program,” he said, “and our branding statement is ‘Skills. Build. Health.’”

In his update, Mr. Adams explained that new units of study are being implemented for students in Grade 3 to 5 at West School and will be transitioning to South and East School as the year progresses. Third and fourth graders are learning about decision making and personal safety through skill acquisition and development.

One of the tools to help students is the GREAT Decision Making Model (GREAT standing for Giving thought to the decision, Reviewing options, Evaluating outcomes and options, Assessing the best option, and Thinking it over once the decision is made). Students go through a modeling process with feedback and reinforcement to help them acquire their health skills.

Alligned with state mandates, the district’s health curriculum provides lessons to students in Grades 3 to 6 focused on recognizing the qualities of healthy relationships, communication and decision making skills to build healthy relationships, and acquiring skills that build healthy peer relationships.

“We really want students at those grade levels to understand that a decision has to be made, and that they have to identify that decision,” he said. “The more students at a young age realize they have options in the decisions that they might consider to be automatic - because of other influences and pressures around them – the more they will foster that skill of decision making, and it starts to become common practice.”

Mr. Adams communicates with parents via newsletters and has led two parent workshops on student health education this year for approximately 85 to 90 parents. The district also works with New Canaan Cares, whose workshops compliment those presented by the district.

Mr. Adams also described an initiative at Saxe Middle School called the “Happiness Is” Wall, in which students post positive affirmations on sticky notes that are affixed to a wall outside the classroom. “Health and happiness are undeniably and interchangeably linked. In order for
students to improve health literacy and build on the skills that will foster a healthy lifestyle, a positive and reflective mindset is needed,” he said.

The next steps for Health Education in the district will be to draft units of study for K-2, and identify revisions for Grades 6-8 and 9-12 while evaluating current staffing to determine the best models of instruction and scheduling.

Photo caption: The “Happiness Is” Wall at Saxe Middle School, where students post positive affirmations on sticky notes that are affixed to a wall outside the classroom, promotes a constructive mindset.

Photo courtesy of New Canaan Public Schools