READY Seminar

How to Human

At Emma Willard, we believe that in order to be ready to serve and shape their world, our students must learn to practice care and understand purpose for themselves, then envision and enact those skills in their communities, and the broader world.

The READY Program is a four-year curriculum designed to support this learning by creating a thoughtful and experiential practice on what it means to be human.

Taught by a team of instructors including Houseparents and Student Life staff, students participate in one 70-minute seminar each week that is a part of their regular academic schedule. READY seminars meet for a full year 9th-11th grade. Seniors have READY for College in the fall semester and participate in specialty READY After Emma workshops in the spring semester.

Download our course catalog for more details and graduation requirements.

Course Catalog

Health Education for All Grades

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

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

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

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

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: