Spotlight On the Curriculum: Health

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It has been a busy and impactful start to the year in the Health. Our focus across all year levels has been on equipping students with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and resilience they need to navigate the complexities of modern life.

Our Year 9 students began the year by building a strong foundation in personal well-being. Te Whare Tapa Whā: Students were introduced to this holistic Māori health model, exploring how their physical (taha tinana), mental (taha hinengaro), spiritual (taha wairua), and family/social (taha whānau) well-being are interconnected, just like the four walls of a house. The focus is now shifting toward Cyber Safety. Students are exploring how to keep themselves safe, secure, and respectful online as they navigate an increasingly digital world.

Meanwhile, our Year 10 students have been tackling some heavy but crucial topics in Drug and Alcohol Education. Classes have been researching and growing their understanding of different types of substances. A significant portion of this unit focuses on alcohol—statistically New Zealand’s most damaging drug. These lessons aren’t just about facts; they provide a vital, safe environment for students to ask important questions, challenge assumptions, and debate complex concepts.

Attitude Presentations: Inspiring All Year Levels

Last week, we were incredibly fortunate to host Tama from Attitude, who delivered a series of highly engaging, age-appropriate presentations across every single year level. The feedback from both staff and students was phenomenal, with Tama truly "hitting the spot" with his relatable and dynamic delivery.

Here is what each year level focused on during the presentations:

Yr 7&8 Safe and appropriate use of digital devices.

Yr 9 Online friendships, cyber safety, and digital citizenship.

Yr 10 Navigating drugs, alcohol, and resisting peer pressure.

Yr 11 Making positive decisions and thinking ahead.

Yr 12 Building healthy, respectful relationships

Yr 13 Mental health, stress management, and emotional well-being.

Next Thursday, our Year 12 students will be heading out to attend the RYDA Driver Safety Day.This highly regarded programme provides students with practical, expert advice on road safety, understanding risk, and making responsible decisions as both drivers and passengers.

All Year 12’s will also be participating in the Loves Me Not program on June 2nd. Developed in partnership with the NZ Police, the Loves Me Not program is a senior workshop focused on building safe, respectful, and healthy relationships. For our young men, this seminar provides an essential space to discuss consent, identify the early signs of relationship abuse, and empower them to step up as positive, active bystanders within their peer groups.

We encourage you to use these topics as a conversation starter at home. Asking your teenager what they thought of Tama’s presentation or what they are learning about Te Whare Tapa Whā is a great way to keep the dialogue going. The JMC Health Hub on our school website is also another great support for help and advice.

Tom Casey

Assistant Principal | HoD Health