Gateways to Health Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Cathedral High School is committed to educating young women who take responsibility for their own well-being.  Students are expected to use every opportunity to expand their minds and develop religious awareness.  The Gateways to Health Program has been designed to introduce students to health promotion, disease prevention, health careers and the world of the health care delivery system.

Starting as a volunteer and progressing to the Internship and Fieldwork aspects of the program, each student will experience a variety of settings in health care services.  An attempt is made to assign students to areas of interest and in agencies as close to home as possible.  However, availability of clinical sites varies and not all students may be assigned to their first choice.

Gateways to Health students discover the importance of finding the right career and of selecting a college program that will match both personal interests and innate gifts and abilities.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

First Year
Introduction to Health -  Grade 9 - Full Year - 1 Credit

The purpose of this course is to introduce the various facets of disease prevention and health promotion through the life cycle.  Nutrition, exercise, stress, mental and physical health, and safety are major aspects of this course.  Young adults are expected to make informed choices about maintaining a healthy body and mind.  This course offers the opportunity to explore these areas, to know where to look for information and to select relevant data to help make those choices.

Students are encouraged to begin their volunteer work in the freshman year.  The Gateways Office has a listing of Volunteer Directors of over 50 agencies from which you may select.  Students are responsible for independently securing a volunteer placement.  Call the Volunteer Office of the agency selected and request forms and make an appointment for an interview.  This is an after-school program so selecting a facility close to home is advisable.
This course meets five class periods per week and fulfills the New York State requirement for a health course.  No prerequisite.  A grade of at least 80% is required to stay in the program.

Second Year
Health Careers -  Grade 10 - Fall semester - ½ Elective Credit
This elective course is designed to introduce the vast array of health careers available in the health care delivery system.  With more than 60,000 different occupations that a person may pursue today, students can now begin to define and refine their choices.  Careers are not limited to those found in hospitals, but also dentistry, mental health workers, veterinary medicine, community health, research, biotechnology, administration, public relations and more.

Students must begin their volunteer work during this course if they have not already done so.  A letter certifying that the 100 volunteer hours has been completed must be submitted prior to beginning the Internship experience.  In the spring semester, students will apply for an internship.  To qualify, the student  must have earned a grade of  80% or above in Introduction to Health, Health Careers, and Biology.
Five class periods a week.  No prerequisites.

Third Year
Major Health Problems - Grade 11 - Fall semester - ½ Elective Credit
This course builds upon Introduction to Health, Health Careers and Biology and is the study of selected health problems prevalent in society today.  A medical framework is utilized for organizing course information:  causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.  The importance of proper terminology and the roles of specific practitioners that take care of these problems are stressed.
Four class periods a week.  Approval of candidate's application for Internship is required.  Cumulative average must be progressive.

Multiculturalism and Ethics in Health - Grade 11 - Spring semester - ½ Elective Credit
This course utilizes knowledge gained from previous courses, both in the classroom and at the clinical site.  Now this knowledge is applied to how people of different cultures and persuasions place value on their health and the choices that are made about it.  Both Eastern and Western health practices are examined.  Experiences from the Internship will be used in posing real life examples of ethical decision-making.
Four class periods a week.  Cumulative average must be progressive.

Fourth Year
Seminar:  Current Issues - Grade 12 - One year - 1/2 Elective Credit each semester
Students raise issues from clinical experiences.  Procedures, clinical conferences, rounds, patient situations and conflict resolution become the subject matter for discussion.  Presentation of science and health reports from selected sources is also discussed.
Four class periods a week.  Approval of candidate's application for Fieldwork is required.  Cumulative average must be progressive.


INTERNSHIP AND FIELDWORK

Junior and senior students have the unique opportunity to become involved in a clinical experience akin to their interests.  Where possible, Volunteer Directors place students in a variety of sites:  nursing units, physical and occupational therapy, pathology, neuro-surgery, pediatrics, psychiatric service, emergency room, to name a few.  The Gateways to Health Office works very closely with Volunteer Directors to ensure that experiences are enriching and that students are prepared and helpful participants at the clinical sites.  Site visits are arranged by the Gateways Office staff to ensure that student experiences and participation are satisfactory and satisfying.

Students must apply for both the Internship and Fieldwork.  Applications are reviewed for progressive improvement in the cumulative grade point average, a grade of 80% or better in previous Gateways courses and Biology, documentation of 100 hours of volunteer work, attendance records, working papers, parental/guardian approval and approval by Administration and Guidance Offices.

Upon approval of the Cathedral application, students then complete an agency application, have a physical examination, and secure a copy of their immunization records.  Skin testing for tuberculosis (PPD) must be done within three months of starting either experience.

One day per week, Friday, students will travel to the off-campus sites.  Hours vary in each agency; the normal number of hours spent on-site is six.  Faculty is notified about Friday absences and is asked to defer examinations or other class assignments to days other than Friday.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that any assignments and class requirements are completed on time.  While this places an additional burden on students, it is essential that the Gateways student's primary obligation to course work be fulfilled.

 OTHER INFORMATION

	The Cathedral High School's web page has agency listings as well as course outlines.
	Each student is responsible for securing her own volunteer site in the freshman or sophomore year.  Junior and senior years, agency assignments are made by the Gateways staff.  Each agency various in the kinds of information that they require in order to participate in their program.
	Cathedral High School uniforms are to be worn to the clinical sites.  Some agencies provide jackets; others may ask you to wear scrubs.  Institutional preferences take precedence over the wearing of school uniforms while at the clinical site.
	Continually improving academic standing is essential to remain in the program.  Marking period grades will be reviewed by the Gateways staff.  Students who are not meeting the standard will be warned.  If, after the warning and there isn't any improvement, the student will be asked to leave the program.
	Participation in the Gateways to Health program shows both motivation and ability to succeed.  It also demonstrates students' expanded worldview and increasing wealth of experience.  As such, college admissions officers and employers see this type of participation in the Gateways program favorably as it demonstrates, in part, your potential for success.

 Gateways to Health