Health Education is one of the most important topics young teens need to learn in school. The class is a means of educating students on the importance of maintaining healthy behaviors needed for their growth and development. Fairfax county requires that students from Kindergarten through tenth grade take physical education and health. In FCPS, the health curriculum covers numerous important topics such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention education, emotional and social health education, personal and community health, and safety, injury and violence prevention, human growth and development (taught grades 4-10), and CPR and AED training (taught in grade 9).
Overall the purpose of health class in Annandale is to help educate students on how to better themselves from within as well as promote lifelong wellness. “The health lessons are designed for students to get a better understanding of how to live safe, healthy, and active lifestyles. Health,“ said Madison Morella, the physical education and health teacher.
One of the most important aspects of the class is the lesson on teen depression and suicide. This unit falls under the umbrella of mental health. Not only are students being educated on how to be physically healthy, but mentally and emotionally as well. FCPS also recognizes the importance of students’ mental health and the need for it to be taught in class to help those in need. The unit promotes healthy coping habits, how to recognize if a loved one is in need of help, and other important topics for teens. Since depression and mental illness rates are increasing among teens, this lesson could potentially save a life.
“The lesson on suicide and self harm is extremely important because it brings awareness to the students about the importance of their mental health, coping strategies, and where to find help,” said Morella.
Another especially important unit taught in health class at AHS is alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention. This unit demonstrates ways to not fall into peer pressure as well as offers ways to handle the situation when presented with a substance like that. It specifically outlines the negative consequences and effects of using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and provides the statistics to show where the people who abuse these substances end up.
“I think the drug unit was really important because I got to learn the effects that drugs have on people, I learned a lot about addiction and drug prevention,” said sophomore Uswa Tariq.
Some students may remember being in middle school having to awkwardly sit though FLE (family life education). However, whether you liked it or not these awkward conversations needed to be had. The FCPS health curriculum includes health growth and development from grades 4 to 10. Although students may have dreaded listening to how their bodies would be changing, it’s important information that prepares students for their near future.

During students freshman year, within their health class they will take a course on CPR and become certified. This CPR training within schools can save the lives of many people. CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is used as a life saving technique when someone is having trouble breathing. Learning how to conduct this procedure can potentially reduce the loss of life in emergency situations.
FCPS, along with many other school districts, do not require students to be enrolled in physical education and health after tenth grade. Upperclassmen however do have the option to enroll in a number of elective courses offered at AHS called Advanced Level PE, Personal Fitness, or sports medicine. These courses offer students the opportunity to learn more about physical education and health as well as exercise.
“I think, health is a class everyone should be required to take because every human should understand how to take care of their body, how to be safe, how to eat healthy, how to cope, how to be active. The purpose of Health at Annandale is for students to learn more about what they can do to be a healthier version of themselves,” said Morella.
Health class at AHS provides students with important lessons that they will be able to use for a lifetime. The classes are so important they are a statewide graduation requirement. The health department at AHS is very beneficial to students in the long run.