Health Education

The K-4 health program is broad in its scope and utilizes a comprehensive education approach. Designated lessons have been identified from the major components of health education including: Personal and Mental Health, Family Life, Community and Environmental Health, Safety, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drugs, Nutrition and Fitness, and Disease Prevention. Within each of these main topics there is a focus upon life skills that emphasize building self esteem, assertiveness, personal responsibility, interpersonal relationships, decision-making, refusal, conflict resolution, bonding and resistance. The program recognizes that a truly healthy person is not only sound in body but also must be sound emotionally and have an awareness of safety for self as well as others. The grade 1 through 4 program may be delivered by the health and physical education specialists, school nurse, or classroom teacher, each utilizing portions of Health Promotion Wave, 2006, as a resource.

In addition, the health education program includes a comprehensive alcohol and drug education program for students in grades 1 through. The philosophy of the curriculum is that the incidence of alcohol and drug abuse problems among young people will decrease if youth have greater self-esteem; are better able to cope with life's problems; have current facts about alcohol, other drug and chemical dependency; and are more skilled at making decisions and handling interpersonal relationships. The premise is reflected through the four main components upon which the curriculum was built: information, decision-making, coping, and self-concept.