Health Education
Students in all divisions benefit from an integrated health curriculum focused on healthy choices.
GDS’s health curriculum provides students with developmentally appropriate information and resources to make informed, responsible decisions with respect to their personal health and fitness, to navigate their friendships and family lives both on and offline, to understand their own and others’ sexuality, and to responsibly cultivate their digital identity. The themes of personal responsibility, cultural identity, respect for the worth and integrity of each individual, and understanding and appreciating the diverse populations within our community run consistently throughout the program.
LOWER SCHOOL
Throughout the school year in the Lower School, counselors, the health teacher, and homeroom teachers conduct regular lessons to build students’ skills with the recognition and management of emotions, communication, conflict resolution, and healthy decision making. Students engage in interactive activities, listen to stories, have class discussions, and have opportunities to practice skills that are intended to build their capacity to navigate school and everyday situations successfully.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
In Middle School health, students dive into five dynamic units each year—each one tailored to their growing minds and changing lives. As they move through the grades, the content evolves to match their developmental stage, keeping things fresh, relevant, and real. With a strong focus on open, healthy conversations, our health education team helps students build self-awareness, make informed choices, and engage with accurate, inclusive, and up-to-date information.
HIGH SCHOOL
The High School Health curriculum is a skills-based approach to health education. Content areas include mental health topics like stress and anxiety, healthy choices like phone use and sleep, social justice issues like addiction and maternal mortality, drug and alcohol misuse, healthy relationships, consent, and human sexuality. These topics are taught by supporting skill development such as decision making, communication, advocacy, goal-setting, and resource finding.