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Play Street
Life at Dalton
Health & Wellness
Building a Strong Foundation for Well-Being
The Health and Wellness Department promotes a focus on well-being throughout the community with a team of dedicated counselors, psychologists, health educators, and nurses. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive network of care, safety, and support based upon each student's developmental strengths and challenges. Understanding that academic success and personal growth are closely tied to health, the department takes a proactive, student-centered approach. This approach promotes healthy habits through a comprehensive K-12 health curriculum, counseling and support services, crisis intervention, when needed, and daily medical support with nurses stationed at First Program and Big Dalton. Discover more about our dynamic approach to coordinating across departments and divisions, which prioritizes well-being efforts at every stage of the student journey.
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K-12 Health Curriculum
The K-12 health curriculum is dynamic and designed to meet students' evolving needs, ensuring that health education is relevant and accessible at every stage of development. The learning is hands-on, experiential, and project-based with science-backed research.The curriculum is organized under four pillars:- Physical Health
- Mental/Emotional Health
- Social Health and Substance Use Prevention
- Nutritional Health
With a thoughtful focus on cultural awareness, developmental stages, and individual differences, the curriculum, along with health educators, equips students with the knowledge and skills to make informed, positive decisions about their own health. Students come to learn that well-being is a deeply personal journey with the ultimate goal of building lifelong healthy habits. By graduation, students feel confident in assessing and maintaining their own physical, mental, social, and nutritional health.
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First Program
The First Program health curriculum introduces foundational concepts of well-being by blending topics of physical, emotional, and social health in age-appropriate ways that encourage curiosity, self-awareness, and respect for oneself and other members of the community.Read MoreThrough exploring food and nutrition and the impact of both on our bodies, students begin to understand that what and how they eat influences their health and how they feel. They will also build nutritional vocabulary as they continue to develop their curiosity through low-pressure food experimentation with exposure and a fostering of openness to new experiences.
Emotional health is equally emphasized, helping students develop vocabulary to express feelings and sensations, recognize stress, and practice positive self-talk. Concepts of safety, body awareness, boundaries, and consent are gently introduced to foster respect and self-confidence in addition to the basic physical health of understanding disease and healthy habits for cleanliness and care. -
Middle School
Throughout the formative and developmentally changing years during Middle School, students have multiple opportunities to learn about and discuss changes to their physical, mental/emotional, and social landscapes during health classes.The health educators provide age and developmentally-appropriate knowledge and skills in classes and in collaboration with House Advisors and teachers.Read More -
High School
The High School health curriculum offers an engaging and comprehensive program that incorporates peer leadership with expert-led health education, fostering a supportive and connected community.Read MoreBeginning in 9th grade, students are paired with 12th grade Peer Leaders who help them through the transition into Dalton High School, providing meaningful connections and support in navigating new experiences. Throughout a student’s High School journey, they engage in health classes led by expert health educators, exploring a wide range of critical topics, including mental and emotional well-being, substance use prevention, physical health, sex citizenship, nutrition, and more. Additionally, students are required to meet with a counselor of their choice in a “therapy Lab” to introduce the idea of counseling and learn about the resources available.In 12th grade, students participate in a speaker series, entitled “Transitions: A Speaker Series on Navigating Beyond Dalton,” featuring experts who offer valuable perspectives on life after High School. The series covers important subjects like conflict resolution and relationships, sexual citizenship, mental health resources in college, burnout, sleep, drugs and their effects on the brain, finding purpose, and more. The goal is to empower students to confidently navigate the challenges of transitions.
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Wellness Support with Psychologists and Counselors
Central to the school's wellness efforts is a dedicated team of licensed clinicians who provide vital and direct support to students, families, faculty, and staff. The team empowers students by teaching problem-solving skills and strategies tailored to individual needs, conducting social-emotional assessments, and stepping in with crisis intervention when necessary.Their approach is integrated at all levels of our community and cross-divisionally through House discussions, collaboration with health educators, and faculty and staff professional development training in mental health. In addition, the team serves as a resource for families, offering expert guidance and referrals for extended support. Their unwavering presence ensures no student navigates challenges alone.
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First Program
The First Program is supported by a full-time school psychologist who serves as a valuable resource for students, families, and faculty.Through referrals from teachers and discussions with families, the clinician meets with students individually or in small groups, ensuring the appropriate level of support. In First Program, the clinician actively engages in classrooms to discuss social-emotional learning, guided by CASEL’s five key areas of development: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. The school clinician also collaborates with the Learning Support team, families, and teachers to coordinate care plans with outside providers.Read More -
Middle School
Middle School is supported by two full-time clinicians who provide counseling and guidance to help students navigate the social and emotional challenges of early adolescence.Our inclusive approach prioritizes the holistic well-being of 4th-8th grade students with a focus on social-emotional growth and behavioral intervention. Collaborating closely with teachers, health educators, learning support, and school leadership, we ensure responsive, empathetic guidance that helps students build resilience and thrive academically and personally. Clinicians offer individual counseling and group support on a variety of topics. Additionally, they help coordinate care plans with outside providers.Read More -
High School
High School is supported by two full-time clinicians who provide counseling services to help students effectively manage social and emotional challenges, coordinate care plans with outside providers, and implement Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs.The team collaborates closely with health educators, nurses, learning specialists, and families to ensure comprehensive care, prioritizing student well-being. Clinicians offer individual counseling and group support on a variety of topics.Read More
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Learning Support
Partnering with Learning Support
Divisional Learning Support departments collaborate with the Health and Wellness team to ensure every student’s unique academic needs are understood and met. Learning Support strengthens students in developing academic independence, self-efficacy, and building advocacy skills.
Students can meet one-on-one with specialists, through scheduled sessions or drop-ins, to refine academic skills and develop personalized strategies to reach their full potential. Specialists also partner with faculty to promote effective teaching approaches that support diverse learning styles, interpret evaluations, and facilitate accommodations and accessibility needs, ensuring every student has the tools and strategies to thrive.
Nursing Support
Dalton’s school nurses play a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of students across all divisions. They oversee and manage student health records via August Schools, ensuring that medical information is current and that students with allergies or medical conditions receive the necessary accommodations. As first responders to health concerns within the community, nurses provide immediate care and ensure the appropriate level of medical attention.
Beyond direct care, our nurses serve as a crucial connection between school and home, partnering with families to address students’ health needs and coordinate care plans. They also collaborate with the athletic trainers in the Athletic Department to support student-athletes through injury prevention, treatment, recovery, concussion management, and state-mandated return-to-play protocols. Nurses also collaborate with the counseling team and attend student support meetings as necessary.
At Dalton, student health is a shared priority with expert care, guidance, and support woven into every aspect of school life.
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Nursing
Grades K-3
53 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128
Grade 4 & PE Center
200 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128
Grades 5-12
108 East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128
