Dear Parents,
The Lexington Public Schools are pleased to introduce you to the Health Education curriculum being offered to seventh grade students this year. This curriculum was developed specifically for the Lexington Public Schools and has been reviewed by teachers and administrators at Clarke and Diamond Middle Schools.
One of the goals of this curriculum is to encourage discussion between you and your child about health issues. Below you will find the curriculum which lists all of the lessons that we will be covering so that you will be familiar with the course content. We want to invite you to contact us if you are interested in previewing the curriculum in more depth and/or in viewing any of the materials that accompany the curriculum.
As you will see from the introduction, there are two units (What Kids Want to Know About Sex, Part I and II ) that will specifically address topics of a sexual nature. We will be showing the video: What Kids Want to Know About Sex which was created by the Children’s Television Workshop specifically for PBS. You are welcome to preview this at home if you are interested. While these two lessons focus specifically on human sexuality, it is possible that questions and discussion of this nature will come up at various points during the course. We encourage you to ask your child about class discussions on a regular basis.
After you have had the opportunity to review the scope of the lessons, please fill out the attached parent notification slip and have your son or daughter return it to us during the first week of classes. Thank you for your attention to this information and for your support of health education.
Sincerely,
The Health Teachers
CURRICULUM CONTENT
CIRCLE OF WELLNESS focuses on the overall concept of health and the variety of activities and considerations that sustain health. The lessons contained in this module include:
Lesson 1: WHAT DOES BEING HEALTHY MEAN?
Lesson 2: THAT’S SO RUDE! TEN RULES TO COMMON COURTSEY
Lesson 3: LOOKING GOOD PART 1
Lesson 4: LOOKING GOOD PART 2
Lesson 5: THE DARK SIDE OF THE SUN
Lesson 6: FOOD, HEALTH AND EXERCISE
Lesson 7: MY PYRAMID.GOV PART 1
Lesson 8: MY PYRAMID.GOV PART 2
Lesson 9: KNOW YOUR NUTRIENTS
Lesson 10: READING AND UNDERSTANDING FOOD LABELS
Lesson 11: SPLATTER YOUR PLATTER WITH FOOD THAT MATTERS
Lesson 12: EATING DISORDERS
Lesson 13: STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT PART 1
Lesson 14: STRESS AND TIME MANAGEMENT PART 2
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS focuses on the varieties of relationships that 7th graders experience and how important relationships are to a healthy individual. The lessons contained in this module include:
Lesson 1: COMMUNICATION: KEY TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Lesson 2: THE INSIDE STORY
Lesson 3: WHAT KIDS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SEX, Part I
Lesson 4: WHAT KIDS WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SEX, Part II
Lesson 5: EMERGING RELATIONSHIPS
Lesson 6: FLIRTING OR HURTING
THREATS TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS focuses on all of the variables that can undermine good health. Topics that receive in-depth coverage include sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS and drug and alcohol abuse including tobacco.
Lessons included in this module include:
Lesson 1: BUGS AND GERMS
Lesson 2: MODERN DAY DISEASES: STD’S & AIDS
Lesson 3: TOBACCO & CHEW, Part I
Lesson 4: TOBACCO & CHEW, Part II
Lesson 5: ALCOHOL, Part I
Lesson 6: ALCOHOL, Part II
Lesson 7: MARIJUANA AND HALLUCINOGENS
Lesson 8: RECIPE FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE
GRADING CRITERIA
7th GRADE HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM
Students will be evaluated and graded on the following criteria:
* Tests and quizzes
* Class Participation
* Class Preparation
Tests and quizzes will be based upon class discussion, class handouts and information contained in films, videos and laser discs. Teachers will systematically keep track of the quantity and quality of each student’s participation. Evaluation of class preparation will take into account both homework assignments and notebook completeness.
The teacher will consider these three factors in determining the student’s final grade for the course.
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION RELATIVE TO SEX EDUCATION
In accordance with General Laws Chapter 71, Section 32A, the Lexington Public School Committee has adopted the following policy relating to the rights of parents and guardians of our students in relation to curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues.
The Lexington Public Schools afford parents or guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from that portion of the curriculum that specifically involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues. Parents must request the exemption in writing to the school principal. No child so exempted shall be penalized by reason of such exemption.
Students who are exempted from that portion of the curriculum specifically involving human sexual education or human sexuality issues will be assigned related coursework and material to occupy the exempted curricular time. Students will be responsible for course materials and performance criteria as determined by state mandated assessments and local school district requirements.
At the beginning of the course the school will inform parents/guardians, in writing, about curriculum that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues. This notice will include the topics covered in the course as well as the course requirements expectations and methods of assessment. Parents/guardians will be required to sign the notice and return it to their child’s teacher as part of that course’s requirements.
To the extent practicable, program instruction materials for said curricula will be made reasonably accessible to parents, guardians, educators, school administrators, and others for inspection and review.
Upon formal adoption by the Lexington School Committee this written policy will be distributed and made available to each principal in the district by September first, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, and each year thereafter. Each principal will then include this policy with any other school policies that are made available to parents.
Policy approved: July 17, 1997
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION SLIP - HEALTH EDUCATION GRADE 7
I have reviewed the Health Education course topics and grading criteria and am aware of the course content and expectations.
____________________________________________________
NAME DATE
____________________________________________________
CHILD’S NAME
CONTACT INFORMATION -PLEASE PRINT
____________________________________________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME(S)
____________________________________________________
HOME PHONE # OTHER PHONE #
____________________________________________________
PARENT’S E-MAIL ADDRESS
sex perm.cwk
Printable version of permission form in Appleworks 6.0
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