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Support + Wellness (The S+Well) The mission of the Support + Wellness Department is to promote student awareness and life skills development around a variety of topics that affect health and well-being. An intentional effort is made to cultivate a classroom atmosphere uniquely different from other courses to effectively address and explore age-appropriate social and emotional topics. Topics include values identification, goal setting, decision-making, time management, stress management, communication strategies, interpersonal relationships, peer pressure and teen risk behavior. An underlying goal is to create an empathetic, compassionate and resilient student body. Social Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEEL) skills are taught in various settings which provide students with leadership training and meaningful opportunities that include and extend the Punahou School community. The department provides proactive, experiential, academic and skills-based training addressing the psychological, social and emotional aspects of human development.
Course Offerings SURF I This is the foundation course that introduces students to the Punahou competencies that align with the CASEL skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. These skills are taught through the lens of the competency architecture with a projectbased focus on mastery learning. Required for grade 9. Semester course. No credit.
SURF II This course builds on the work of SURF I by extending the Punahou competencies that align with the CASEL skills: selfawareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. These skills are taught through the lens of the Aims of a Punahou Education with a project-based focus on mastery learning.
College Guidance The course teaches students about the college admissions process and encourages good decision-making by students and their families through careful student self-assessment and reflections, thereby reducing anxiety. Throughout the semester, 11th graders and their college counselor explore the best academic, social and financial fits and help guide the student with their options following graduation from Punahou. Topics covered include decision-making steps and the process of choosing a college, self-assessment (what college environment is best for the individual student), admission factors, admission plans, standardized tests and their role in college admissions, college costs and financial aid and using technology and current resources.
Peer Teaching (Teaching Assistant) Peer Teaching is a course in service to the Punahou School community. During the semester(s) in which they are enrolled, peer teachers/mentors are assigned to serve as student facilitators under faculty supervision in a variety of service opportunities in Junior School and Academy courses. Service placements include K – 1 playground play, fifth-grade morning meetings, eighth-grade advisory as well as Chapel support and working with the 9th and 10th grade SURF classes. Additionally, on a voluntary basis, peer teachers/mentors staff Outdoor Education programs. Peer mentors who choose to staff these programs may be required to attend a training retreat. Open to grades 11, 12. No prerequisites. Semester course. One-half credit. Satisfies elective credit. This course may be repeated for credit.
Required for grade 11. Semester course (Fall semester). No credit.
Required for grade 10. Semester course. No credit.
Academy Course Listing 2022 – 2023 • 55
