Residential Life Curriculum

Darrow's Residential Life Program is a unique offering that was developed by our school counselor to educate students around health issues and to support them in making good decisions with regard to the challenges of adolescence.

It includes a curriculum offered to Darrow students in the ninth grade and then again in their junior year. Although similar health-related topics are covered with both grades, such as mental health issues, sexuality, and substance use and misuse, information is shared with consideration for developmental and maturity level. Of particular importance in our Residential Life Program is its emphasis on respect for others and community building.

Especially helpful is the role that our peer counselors play in planning and facilitating this curriculum. Upper class students, who have previously taken Res Life and are interested in teaching and providing healthy role modeling, meet weekly to talk about issues pertinent to teenagers at Darrow and receive current information on health-related topics to be discussed in class. By using peers to teach, support, and influence peers, the Residential Life Program has succeeded in making peer pressure work.