Adolescent Development - Phillips Exeter Academy

Promoting healthy development in all aspects of our students’ lives.

Covering everything from personal decision-making to mental health and social pressures, our expansive adolescent development programs address relationships, identity, stress, sleep, nutrition, sexuality and more.

It’s common for students to want help with time management and academic success – our Academic Support Center is easily available during the day and evening. Students can use the fitness center and our outside spaces for exercise, and seek assistance from strength and conditioning specialists or our nutritional consultant.

We review the support needs of our students continuously through observations, conversations, surveys and research (including the nationally-recognized Youth Risk Behavior Survey). Based on our findings, we adapt to make sure that Exonians continue to get the best support available, including through our counseling services team.

Health Education Courses

In the classroom, our Health and Human Development Department curriculum is guided by The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning’s five core social and emotional competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Structured by grade level, our program provides a wide range of required and elective courses that empower students to engage in healthy lifestyles by understanding their own values and respecting others.

Our work must be seen and felt as genuine and coming from a place of sincere care and safety.

Christina Palmer, director of student well-being

Developmental Programming

Our Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program is a layered, integrated effort to educate students and prevent instances of sexual misconduct, including assault and harassment. Our program consists of classes, workshops, and events for students at each grade level that help them understand how to handle sexual situations or inappropriate behavior and seek assistance when needed.

Outside of the classroom, our students hear from guest speakers and participate in skill-building workshops throughout the year. We offer exposure to well-renowned speakers on healthy relationships like Chanel Miller author of Know My Name; Shamus Khan and Jennifer Hirsch, authors of Sexual Citizens and Mike Domitrz from the Center for Respect. The experts at groups like Maine Boys To Men, Speak About It, HAVEN and SafeBAE bring these topics to life through performances and interactive presentations. This programming is supplemented by student-led activities and clubs like Health’s Angels, a club that facilitates conversation around important issues such as sexuality or the Active Minds club that educates Exonians about physical and mental health issues.

Creating a community of care and respect, we seek to provide our students with the tools to make good decisions that are consistent with their values.

Core Programs and Events

Annual events such as Take Back the Night provides students the ability to join the effort in raising awareness about preventing sexual violence.

Guest Speakers and Workshops

Writer and speaker Chanel Miller gave assembly discussion during the Sexual Violence Awareness Summit hosted on campus.

Christina Palmer: Exeter's director of student well-being

Get to know Exeter's director of student well-being, Christina Palmer. Through student and faculty training and education, Christina works to establish best practices in student care and on preventing sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and sexual violence.