Personal Development

Adolescence is a distinct and very important stage of life that brings many changes and opportunities to a young person’s life. Keeping this in mind, the Upper School Personal Development program seeks to allow students to become more conscious about their decisions, enhance the quality of their interpersonal communication, and help them establish goals and weigh values. It consists of a seminar style class designed to address age appropriate, wellness-related issues such as interpersonal communication, management of conflict and stress, drug-abuse education, sexuality, responsible behavioral choices, and personal identity.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
One Semester - Grades 9 - 10

This is an interactive class that focuses on topics such as decision making, interpersonal communication, group roles, management of conflict and stress, and responsible behavioral choices. Students have the opportunity to participate in games and exercises that give them a chance to practice the reflective and critical thinking skills that will help them address life’s challenges.

Students can also select to fill this requirement via an approved online course option.

SPORTS PERFORMANCE
One Semester – Grades 9 – 12

This course is designed to enhance athletic performance through safe training practices, while also striving to instill physical and mental wellness. Wellness guidelines such as the importance of proper nutrition, rest, hydration and other lifestyle choices will be integrated on a daily basis. Students will also be introduced to basic anatomical and physiological terms and concepts.

Sports Performance satisfies one season of interscholastic athletics.

YOGA, MINDFULNESS, AND WELLNESS
One semester - Grades 9-12

This course will help you to develop the self-care skills and awareness that will help you manage the everyday challenges of being a student and simply being you. It will introduce you to various mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation so that you can learn how to integrate your intellectual fitness (your “school smarts”) with your physical and emotional fitness (the stuff that does not often get addressed in school). Each class will be a mix of physical practice (yoga, active stretching, and meditation) with some additional traditional “book learning” thrown in. The course is designed to satisfy the physical education requirement (for those not on a sports team) and is intended to help athletes cultivate and fine-tune their athletic abilities. The tools and skills developed here include greater body awareness with more control over your physical movement; and a more holistic sense of self, with increased mental and emotional control. These tools will help keep you healthy and productive both now and in the future. The ultimate hope is that by integrating mind/body awareness with academic knowledge, you will become a more mature, productive, and joyful citizen of the world.
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