By increasing required movement classes for the Class of 2027 and onwards, the wellness department aims to increase mental wellness of students and promote healthy habits.
According to wellness coordinator Chris Nenstiel, the wellness department decided to implement their idea of at least two movement classes being mandatory to fulfill the wellness credit requirements because of the decrease in mental health over the past couple years.
“When it comes to the idea of wellness, I think everybody knows that when you move more you feel better,” Nenstiel said. “This was really an important way that we felt that we could do our part to combat some of the mental health issues that have been going on.”
Nenstiel believes that this alteration in the wellness department is going to help students “be their best selves” and create time during the school day that will give students the opportunity to move around rather than sitting in another 90-minute class.
The high school offers a variety of movement courses that students can take besides the required PE I class.
Wellness teacher David Lotier encourages students to take advantage of these options.
“I think you could find a track on our PE schedule to fit your needs no matter what level you’re on,” Lotier said. “So my advice would be to look at the classes and try to find one that best fits you and then involve yourself in that class.”
The wellness department is hoping that the overall benefits from the new wellness requirement will be enough to squash any negative resistance students might have with the change.
“As much as they might complain seeing it on paper, once they do it, they’ll realize they actually feel better and will be thankful for it,” wellness teacher Josh Wagner said.
This idea came together over the past two years after the teachers began noticing changes in the number of students taking wellness classes.
They then had to get approval from guidance and administration for the go ahead to implement this update.
“Everybody seemed to be on board,” Nenstiel said. “We’re all, at the end of the day, just looking to provide the best opportunities for the kids in as many ways as we can.”
Although there still need to be some minor adjustments made by the wellness department, mainly figuring out their own class schedules, the teachers are excited.
“We’re happy it’s happening and that we’re moving one step in the right direction,” wellness teacher Michael Childs said.
Freshman Avianna Patel feels that other students in her grade will take the change in stride and that there shouldn’t be much negative push back from them.
“I feel like you should be able to take a health or gym credit depending on what you want to be. If you want to learn more about something in health you should be able to take more health classes than gym classes,” Patel said.