Life Skills & Service Learning

Throughout their time at PWHS, students grow their inner knowing of who they are and empathy for the lived experiences of others. Our program prepares them to be healthy, compassionate humans in their own right and also to become future leaders committed to creating a healthier world. The Life Skills and Service Learning curricula are integral pieces of this program.

Grade 9 -12 Life Skills

The Life Skills curriculum at PWHS is more than just a health class. Through a rich 4-year elective, students explore a broad group of topics aimed at addressing the needs of the growing adolescent: building confidence, making informed decisions, problem-solving, communicating effectively, and developing coping and self – management skills that will help them lead a healthy and productive life.

At the heart of this curriculum is the intention that each student develops a self-awareness and inner knowing of who they are becoming, as well as an empathy for the lived experiences of others.

Life Skills Curriculum At-a-Glance

    • Identifying Personal Values and Morals 

    • Healthy Communication and Conflict Resolution 

    • Friendships and Relationships: The Role of Attachment 

    • Cyber Civics: Social Media and Online Communication 

    • Feelings and Emotions 

    • Self-advocacy 

    • Gender and Sexuality Basics: From the Heart 

    • Analyzing Influences of Media and Culture

    • Healthy Decision Making 

    • Exploration of Personal Interests and Aptitudes 

    • Resume writing and job Interviews

    • How to Locate Meaningful Internship and Job Opportunities 

    • Health and Safety Basics for Relationships and Decision-Making

    • Financial Literacy 

    • Independent Living Skills: meal planning, budgeting, etc. 

    • Critical Thinking and Decision Making about Life After High School 

    • Risk Taking and Harm Reduction 

    • Self-care and Stress Management 

    • Goal Setting 

    • Accessing Valid Information and Support Services to Enhance Personal Health

Grade 9-12 Service Learning

In line with our stated Mission and Core Values as a school, we believe that offering service to our community, both within our school and outside of it, is an important part of our shared experience as human beings. 

The Service-Learning Program in our high school requires that each student in 9th – 12th grade perform 30 hours of service work per year. Each year, the share of those hours dedicated to service work outside of the school increases, culminating in all hours outside of school for 12th grade. Each student chooses the organization where they’d like to perform their service hours.

A few of the organizations our students have volunteered at:

  • Milwaukie Ledding Library

  • Johnson Creek Watershed

  • Willamette River Keeper

  • p:ear homeless youth advocacy