Health Education

  • Health Education

    The Rush-Henrietta Health curriculum has been developed by R-H teachers based on the New York State Navigate By the Stars Health Curriculum. Students in Rush-Henrietta receive comprehensive health education each year from Kindergarten through 8th grade. In high school, a 20-week course is required for graduation.

    The K-6 classroom teacher and the 7-12 health teacher maintain primary responsibility for the delivery of health education. Additional instructional support may be provided by the school nurse teacher, physical education teachers, mental health professionals, and other staff.

    Students receive primary instruction in the following areas, K-12:

    • HIV/AIDS
    • Tobacco
    • Alcohol and Other Drugs
    • Violence Prevention
    • Family Life/Sexual Health
    • Physical Activity & Nutrition
    • Unintentional Injury
    • Internet Safety
    • Bullying Prevention
    The Rush-Henrietta Mission For Health Instruction and Learning is as follows:


    Health Instruction:

    • Is an ongoing process that continues throughout our students’ lives.
    • Provides a safe atmosphere which encourages individual student risk-taking in voicing opinions and offering potential solutions.
    • Incorporates real-life safety and survival skills.
    • Emphasizes decision-making skill development over content.
    • Provides opportunities for students to analyze healthy choices and set personal goals.
    • Demonstrates health as the cornerstone for successful living.
    • Is the perfect venue for the integration of other curricula (math, language arts, and social sciences).

    Student Learning Behaviors:

    • Are actively engaged in learning.
    • Understand the importance of goal setting for maintaining good health.
    • Apply knowledge to making healthy decisions.
    • Gain confidence in making choices for healthy living.
    • Accept responsibility for their own choices.
    • Develop communication skills for sharing knowledge and seeking help.
    • Share their health knowledge.

    Teacher Instructional Behaviors:

    • Review NYS and district standards and curricula.
    • Promote an open, safe environment for discussion of sensitive topics.
    • Support, encourage, and model communication, goal setting, and decision making.
    • Provide factual information in a non-biased manner.
    • Guide individual, small group, and whole class work/discussion.
    • Assess and build on prior knowledge of students.
    • Use a variety of materials and techniques including models, computers, demonstrations, and role-playing.
    • Administer authentic assessments to monitor student learning and plan for future instruction.
    • Celebrate student success.