At Seminole High, a variety of programs are offered to students interested in exploring more knowledge. These include the International Baccalaureate program, PSI High, and the Academy of Health Careers. Commonly referred to Health Academy, students learn several different skills in this program that will help them in their future medical-related careers. 

In freshman year, students take Medical Skills and Services, a class where they learn Basic Life Support, become CPR certified, learn about HIPAA, first aid, vital signs, Language of Medicine, and many other skills to prepare them for their next three years in Health Academy. As sophomores, students take Anatomy and Physiology, where they learn about different parts of the body and how they function. Students further their knowledge in LOM and continue to advance with medical abbreviations throughout sophomore year.

“We’re learning about body systems and how they work with the different systems. I like the way Dr. Satto teaches us, and it’s helping me understand more about how the body works,” said sophomore Dhenu Senthil. 

 As a juniors, students are enrolled in the Health Science Foundations 2 Honors class. Here, students become recertified in CPR, further your knowledge in LOM, medical abbreviations, vital signs, professionalism, and the chance to job shadow their senior track.

“I really feel like what I’m learning in my health class will help me in the future. We’ve learned a lot about personal protective equipment and how to stay in code with HIPAA,” said junior Maddie Cannon.

Senior year is typically the most crucial year of Health Academy where students decide among six specialized tracks: Allied Health, Veterinary Medicine, Health & Wellness, CNA, and EKG/EMR. Along with a core health class, seniors also take a Directed Study class. For their senior tracks, the students are required to have two consecutive periods requiring them to stay in class for ninety minutes a day. Seniors are subject to fingerprinting, drug testing, and a physical based on their track of choice. These are required for the different clinicals that students go on.

Three out of the six tracks that Seminole offers are “Allied” tracks. This means the courses are general classes, as they go into detail with different careers. In Allied Health, students learn about the human body in depth, as they will be continuing their education from the previous years. In Allied Veterinary, students learn more about animals and their anatomy and physiology. Along with learning about animals, students they go on clinicals to experience the careers, ranging from the zoo to the veterinarian’s office. For Allied Health & Wellness, students focus on tasks that would affect a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or nutritionist. Students mainly focus on medicine based on rehabilitation. All three of these courses take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam, which will grant them a certification.

The senior Allied Veterinary class described their experience in their track specializing in animal health.They visit the zoo to learn about different animals and clean their habitats. In the class, they learn more for their CMAA certification test and skills needed to become a front desk representative. They begin by learning about the animal kingdoms and then expand their knowledge regarding animal anatomy.

In the Certified Nursing Assistant class, students learn more hands-on skills that will help them to become a nurse. During clinicals, they work at nursing homes and hospitals, assisting nurses to change bed pans, sheets, and other assorted tasks. At the end of the year, they take the CNA exam, certifying them as a Certified Nursing Assistant. In the Emergency Medical Responder/Electrocardiography Technology track, students learn emergency medicine skills and how to read electrocardiogram waves. This track is the only one that will grant the students two certifications, an EKG and EMR certification.

Overall, the senior health classes all have multiple benefits, as they all have a lot to offer in the long run. With any of the following tracks, students are able to work out of high school in multiple health fields. For more information, check out the SHS curriculum guide.