High School PE Promotes Well-Being

March 2026

High school PE team lead Ryan McKelvie and PE teacher Kim McKelvie share how the updated PE curriculum integrates health education to empower students to take a holistic approach to well-being. Photos of a recent activity exploring how to build healthy relationship dynamics.

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The KIS PE department recently revised our curriculum to align with the standards set by the Province of British Columbia. Now semester two of the second year of PE has a primary focus on health and well-being. We focus on personal nutrition, sexual health, and mental wellness. While these areas are directly tied to our new curriculum, they are also common areas of struggle for high school students. 

Food for Energy

One of our goals is to empower students with basic research on the food they put into their bodies and to challenge them to reflect on how the food they eat makes them feel and affects their energy levels. We encourage students to eat as many natural, unprocessed foods as possible and eat the three basic macronutrients : carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats to match the most recent research presented in national food guides.

Sexual Health & Healthy Relationships

Our sexual health unit focuses on the basics of sexually transmitted infections (STI), contraception, and making healthy relationship decisions. Our mission is to foster student agency by providing a deep understanding of adolescent development and the tools required to build enduring, respectful relationships. We are committed to offering a robust framework of resources that supports students in making informed, healthy decisions regarding their romantic lives as they transition through high school and into adulthood.

Habits for Mental Wellness

Habits are like building blocks that shape our character and mold us into the people we want to become. They help us create structure and consistency in our lives, which is essential for achieving success. During our discussion on mental well-being, students target challenges and struggles after completing a wellness survey. They create positive habits to implement, like reducing screen time, sleeping more than six hours, and practicing mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety. The hope is for students to continue these habits. 

How Parents Can Support

• Parents can support their children by talking about healthy choices that will help fuel their bodies. Encourage your child to eat breakfast before leaving home and lunch while at school. Did you know that skipping breakfast is correlated with lower academic performance?
• Challenge the whole family to eat 30 fruits and vegetables a week. Greater food diversity leads to a higher functioning gut microbiome. 
• Model positive sleep habits, such as putting away screens an hour before bedtime, listening to mindful meditation, and keeping phones out of the bedroom. 
• You can also support your child by maintaining an open, non-judgmental line of communication that models what a respectful, supportive intimate relationship looks like in daily life.

Our PE department hopes to empower students to understand what will help their body function optimally during their teen years and throughout life – to make changes and adopt healthy habits that will benefit them in the long term. 

Additional Resources

• Canada’s Food Guide | nutrition information
• Sex&U | sexual and reproductive health information
• Sleep is Your Superpower | TED Talk