READY Seminar

Emma Willard School’s health education curriculum is embedded throughout the READY Seminar program and provides students with knowledge about a variety of topics related to health and wellbeing. Through the use of open-ended questions, interactive activities, discussions and guest speakers, students explore the importance of personal responsibility and are given tools to gauge their levels of wellbeing, to identify areas for growth, and to examine how their beliefs impact their personal decision-making. In each year of the READY Seminar, the curriculum covers topics including healthy relationships, nutrition, exercise, stress management, emotional and mental wellbeing, sexual and reproductive health, drugs and alcohol, and addiction.

Grade 9: Emma READY

Emma READY supports students’ transition to Emma Willard School and helps them develop  skills that are critical and relevant in a students’ high school life. This includes finding balance as a healthy/well individual at an academically rigorous school, and helping students feel a sense of self and belonging in the community.

Topics Include:

• Navigating the transition to Emma Willard and high school
• What are my resources and how do I ask for help?
• Mental health and stress management skills
• Building relationships and navigating changing relationships
• Essential health skills (i.e. movement, nourishment, sleep, caring for my changing body)
• Effective communication
• Exploring identity  

Grade 10: READY for Impact

READY for Impact supports students’ progression from developing their roots at Emma, towards exploring what purpose means in our lives now and as a guide for the future. Students will also practice how to collaborate and work with people who hold multiple perspectives, particularly how to navigate challenging conversations. The end of sophomore year includes a deeper dive into our health curriculum

Topics Include:

• Defining and reframing purpose 
• Identify areas of personal growth, understand challenges, and identify skills
• Courageous Conversations and navigating conflict
• Understanding healthy relationships and finding purpose in relationships
• Substance use and abuse
• Sex-Education
• Building and maintaining healthy habits

Grade 11: READY to Envision

READY to Envision asks students to consider how they will engage in the world outside of Emma. Students will continue to explore our health curriculum adding in layers of cultural and societal context, as well as ethics and social justice. 11th grade begins the college exploration process, considering the values and priorities students will employ in finding a college match, and considering expectation and stress management throughout the process. 

Topics Include:

• Identity, culture and ethics in health education
• Managing leadership, pressures and responsibility
• Navigating decisions and expectations
• Building a college list
• How do my values impact my choices
• What does it mean to advocate for myself? 
• How do I find the right next step in my life? 

Grade 12: READY After Emma

READY After Emma supports students in their graduation year to finalize their college applications, and to prepare for  life at college and beyond. Students have the opportunity to reflect on their Emma Willard experience and consider what they are taking away from Emma, and what they are leaving behind.

Topics Include:

• Full fall semester of College Counseling
• Healthy and safe relationships
• Navigating new social scenes
• Navigating changing relationships with family/friends/teachers