Dr. Gardner Mrs. Loretan

Health

Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies

     For grades 5^th- 8^th, the first part of the year is spent teaching the Life Skills Training Program. Life Skills Training is a school based classroom intervention to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco and substance abuse. Recognized by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as one of the best practice programs, the students are taught self-management, social skills and skills related to avoiding tobacco and drug use.

     During the second half of the year, 5^th grade receives Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (DARE) through the Ephrata Police Department, while the remaining grades receive instruction in nutrition, hygiene, basic first aid and community safety. Diocesan guidelines are followed as changes and updates are added to the current curriculum. We are fortunate to have guest speakers talk to the children about topics such as dental care, cancer awareness and the diseases that result from smoking. Question and answer sessions, role-playing, and skits make learning fun. We aim to create an open environment to encourage dialogue to keep the children active in the learning process. Our goal is healthy minds and healthy bodies.

     Grades 1-4 also receive a weekly Health class. Grade 3-4 are taught the Life Skills Training Program which covers the same avoidance skills for tobacco and drug use as the older grades. Research shows the earlier these skills are taught, the better able children are to say "No". Also covered in grades 1-4 are traffic safety, seatbelt/car safety, stranger danger, bullying, household poisons, germs and good hand washing, dental care, and nutrition. The classes are taught through stories, skits, videos, experiments, and demonstrations. The same Diocesan guidelines are followed as we strive to teach about healthy bodies.