Study Skills: Basic survival techniques such as binder organization, home study area set up, note taking, test taking.

 

First Aid: Lab & text work on topics such as bleeding, fractures, head & spinal injuries, cold/ heat emergencies, poisoning, breathing emergencies, & choking.  This unit includes lab work with bandages, splinting, transportation of victims, and use of CPR “dummies”.

 

Family Life Education: Decision making, personal values assessment,

Family/marriage goal setting, abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases, & birth control methods.  Our goal is to teach abstinence until marriage, and avoidance of reproductive health problems.  We have many outside speakers during this unit who reinforce what is taught in class, and who also focus on establishing & maintaining positive, healthy relationships.

 

Career Planning: Interest & abilities self assessment activities, career exploration, job application techniques, interviewing techniques, resumes, four year planning (classes to take at MPHS in order to achieve career education/job goals), six year planning (where does the student want to be educationally/financially in six years).  The Career Planning unit often includes speakers from industry & local colleges.

 

Addiction Units: Tobacco, Alcohol, Drug units which focus on short & long term health hazards of each area as well as the hazard of living with addiction, potential family, work, and/or social problems, California laws related to each area & the consequences related to prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol or drugs during pregnancy. The Addiction Units often include speakers from various related agencies.

 

Nutrition:  In the Nutrition unit, students will explore nutritional needs and individual dietary requirements; effects of nutrition & exercise; role of nutrition in disease prevention & overall health; short term & long term effects of good vs. poor nutritional practices; consumer choices & the role of advertising on product choice; evaluation of nutritional information; connection between body image, diet & exercise; acceptance of personal body type vs. “idealized body image;” eating disorders, and false claims of performance or body enhancing products.

 

Driver’s Education:  DMV information & “Pink Slip”.  This is mainly a textbook/DMV pamphlet driven unit about the rules & regulations of the road.  Students earning 80% (B-) or better in Driver’s Education will earn their DMV Pink Slip which allows them to go to the DMV & to take the DMV written test in order to earn their CA Learner’s Permit.

 

            California Problems is a one semester class.  The course begins with basic geography – both general geography & specific California geography.  You will use mapping skills & have a three dimensional mapping project in the geography unit.  Next is a California history unit.  As the class moves through the historical timeline we will be learning not just historical events, but how those events have led to our current problems.  “DBQ’s”, or document based questions (assignments), will be used in our units in order to prepare students for State Testing, & Honor’s level, or Advanced Placement  Social Studies classes which may be taken in future years at MPHS.  Our last unit is the current California environment in which political, social & environmental problems are explored.  The San Jose Mercury News (electronic edition) is used as a textbook during this unit & throughout the semester as appropriate.  Students who enjoy history, current events, & political discussions will do best in this class.

 

            The second semester class is titled State Requirements/Driver’s Education.  This course covers state mandated Health & Safety curriculum requirements such as Addiction (Tobacco, Drug & Alcohol) & Nutrition.  Driver’s Education is taught as the last unit of the class.  It is mainly a textbook/DMV pamphlet driven unit about the rules & regulations of the road.  Students earning 80% (B-) or better on their DMV final & a 70% (C-) or better in their course work at MPHS will earn their DMV Pink Slip.  This allows them to go to the DMV & to take the DMV written test in order to earn their “Learner’s Permit.”  Driver’s Education at MPHS is free!  Students who are thinking of a career in the Health field (Doctors, Nurses, Counselors, EMT’s, X-ray Technicians, Medical Receptionist/ Assistants, Laboratory & Blood workers, Pharmacists), as well as any one who wants to drive before they graduate from high school would enjoy this class!