Whole-Person Education

Applied Wellness

Wellness for the real world

This unique-to-DSHA program is designed to mimic how individuals achieve whole-person wellness beyond high school: through reflection, contemplation, planning, and action. We will provide students with the framework and a variety of opportunities to practice and internalize this process so that wellness becomes more than a requirement – it becomes a way of life. A four-year, school-wide commitment will allow students to grow into the ability to manage their own wellness — during the high school years and beyond. 
 
Areas of focus for individual student wellness: 
  • Spiritual Health
  • Intellectual Health
  • Physical Health
  • Mental/Social/Emotional Health
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

HOW IT WORKS | FRESHMAN YEAR:

List of 3 items.

  • First Semester | Foundational Fitness + Freshman Wellness Seminar

    During their Applied Wellness hour, freshmen are enrolled in Foundational Fitness and Freshmen Wellness Seminar. 

    Freshman Wellness Seminar:
    Designed to assist with the academic transition to high school and optimize individual and community wellness, this interactive classroom experience takes place twice each week. A faculty member will help students address the skills to help them thrive in a college-prep setting. Students will be introduced to the Applied Wellness educational framework and learn how to utilize the tools and resources needed to navigate their four years at DSHA. Throughout the semester, students will engage in the following:
    • Applying DSHA’s dimensions of wellness through self-assessment, reflection, and goal setting
    • Developing self-advocacy skills
    • Enhancing leadership skills
    • Learning effective study and time management skills
    • Understanding the impact of classroom etiquette on the DSHA community
    • Learning DSHA academic policies and procedures
    • Exploring and embracing diversity
    Freshmen Wellness Mentors:
    • 1st Hour – Social Studies Faculty Chris Cotey | Room 109
    • 2nd Hour – Theology Faculty Daniel Pavlovich Room 222
    • 3rd Hour – Social Studies Faculty Thomas Montgomery | Room 112
    • 4th Hour – Theology Faculty Judith Gillespie | Room 215
    • 5th Hour – Director of Salvatorian Service Catherine Pickart | Room 415
    • 6th Hour – Theology Faculty Lisa Metz | Room 218
    • 7th Hour – Social Studies Faculty Katie Leszczynski | Room 111
    • 8th Hour – Social Studies Faculty Dan Demeter | Room 107

     
    Foundational Fitness:
    Freshmen begin their physical wellness journey with Foundational Fitness, a course focused on foundational concepts as it relates to their physical health.
     
    Students will:
    • Have scheduled fitness days with fitness instructors twice a week in which they work on their physical health goals; these days occur opposite of the days they attend Freshmen Wellness Seminar.
    • Begin to understand their current fitness levels and set goals for self-improvement.
    • Develop a basic knowledge and understanding of each component of health-related fitness (flexibility, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition and cardiovascular endurance).
    • Participate in various activities offered in the fitness center, the mind/body studio, gymnasium, and outdoor fields.


  • First Semester | Freshman Study Hall

    In addition to Freshmen Wellness Seminar, all freshmen are required to take a study hall for one semester. The goal is to create space that allows for a more seamless transition into high school where students will learn to create balance in their lives, meet the rigors of DSHA, and optimize available resources such as the library for quiet study time or the ALPHA Center for help with math, science, or English. 

  • Second Semester | Foundational Fitness + Applied Wellness Introduction

    Foundational Fitness:
    Freshmen students will continue Foundational Fitness classes second semester.
     
    Applied Wellness Introduction:
    Second semester, after students have had the opportunity to transition into the high school environment, and have received the introductory Applied Wellness framework through Freshman Wellness, they will have the opportunity to engage in Applied Wellness experiences on days opposite of Foundational Fitness. 

HOW IT WORKS | Sophomore - Senior Year:

List of 6 items.

  • Customized and individualized.

    The Mission of the Divine Savior Holy Angels Applied Wellness Program is to allow students to explore their self advocacy and personal accountability through the process of assessment, choice, engagement, and reflection.  This experiential program offers students with a variety of wellness experiences allowing them to learn more about themselves and grow within their own wellness journeys.

  • Measuring and tracking.

    Students have the opportunity to engage in a confidential wellbeing assessment twice a year (Assessing Wellbeing in Education). They also have the opportunity to complete our customized school climate survey to share more about their personal, academic and social experiences at DSHA.  We can glean insight from surveys, student discussions and faculty suggestions to create programming that meets the needs and interest of the students. We then in turn can empower the students to make choices that will maintain or enhance their wellbeing.   

  • Dynamic.

    The high school years are marked with seasons of continual change, growth, and challenges. As a result, students will be able to choose their wellness experiences to accommodate the greatest need or interest at the time. However, we also encourage healthy risk taking where students jump out of their comfort zone and engage in something outside of their usual choices/interests. 

  • Applied Wellness Experiences | When and how?

    Applied Wellness Hour:
    • Every Students has an Applied Wellness hour in their schedule each semester. Applied Wellness experiences typically take place within this hour.
    • Students registered for a study hall may also use this time to engage in an Applied Wellness experience. 
    • Students utilize a customized application for this program.

  • Applied Wellness Requirements

    Applied Wellness is one unified program where students are encouraged to engage in multiple wellness experiences to learn about, support and promote their own wellbeing. The intention is to meet student interest, choice and need.

    This is an experiential and student focused program not bound to a curriculum. There is no letter grade but rather a PASS or INCOMPLETE. This program is grounded in the understanding that each student has different needs and will take different paths, so it is not connected to a traditional academic standard of grade achievement.

    The program requires student sign up and follow through for these wellness experiences. Sign up and tracking are housed within a customized Applied Wellness App.

    There will be semester requirements in order to assist students as they engage in structured choice. There is not a wellness domain that stands alone or should have a greater focus than the others. Students have the opportunity to engage in experiences that focus on their Social, Emotional, Spiritual, Diverse, and Physical selves.

    The intention behind structured choice is to allow students the freedom to grow in their understanding of themselves, relationships with others and embrace the full spectrum of humanity. We encourage healthy risk taking with the understanding that students will ebb and flow in their experience selections. This process will allow students the opportunity to flourish.

    GRADE: 10,11,12
    CREDIT: ¼ per year
    LENGTH: all year
    GRADUATION REQUIREMENT: Yes

  • What about "Study Hall"?

    Students can choose to engage in Applied Wellness experiences during their study hall if they like. This hour is another opportunity for girls to engage in wellness activities that enhance their balance and overall wellness.  

For more information, contact:

Joanna McQuide, MS, DSHA '93
Applied Wellness Program Director 
McQuideJ@dsha.info

Joy Brezovar
Applied Wellness Program Assistant

Applied Wellness via Student Services

The Applied Wellness program falls under the umbrella of Students Services at DSHA. The intention is to serve students in the fullest capacity possible – all to ensure that each girl is able to navigate her college-prep high school experience in a healthy manner, with resources tailed to meet her needs.

Click here to learn more about Student Services at DSHA. 

Divine Savior Holy Angels High School

4257 N. 100th Street Milwaukee, WI 53222 | Phone: (414) 462-3742
Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior
© 2017 Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. All Rights Reserved