Most seventh graders are taking health this year for one semester, but not all. Band, strings, choir and directed studies students are taking in one semester of information…in 10 days. Mrs. O’Hagan teaches the class for students in these electives and every other student at Medea Creek Middle School.   

Mrs. O’Hagan said that the health classes for yearlong elective students are different in some ways from the original health classes. 

“All students taking yearlong electives will be getting a total of ten days of health class instructions. Five of those days will be on general health topics such as relationships, toxic relationships, peer pressure, refusal skills, mental health awareness and cool subjects like that!” O’Hagan said. “That makes the other five days sex-ed [curriculum].” 

Some of the yearlong classes will be taught the sex-ed portion of the class first semester. Other yearlong classes will have it next semester. Despite the shortened number of instruction days for yearlong elective students, O’Hagan ensures to cover all crucial information.

“It isn’t easy putting together all the information in 10 days,” O’Hagan said. “Honestly, I was pushing for a lot more. But those other classes are remaining yearlong classes because they have their own curriculum to learn and everybody has their own timeline.”

Strings, choir, band and directed studies all have reasons they need to be yearlong. Strings, choir and band perform concerts and directed studies functions to best support student learning. The school has assigned 10 days of health instruction to these electives, but next year, there may be more as curriculum and scheduling changes.