Parent/Guardian Letters Sent Prior to Teaching Health:
The following guidelines and resources should be utilized to inform parents/caregivers about their child’s health education class:
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A cover letter, the health exclusion form and policy should be sent to parents of youth enrolled in 5th grade or in Health classes at 6th, 7th, 8th and high school (10th) grades at the beginning of the school year or prior to the semester/trimester the student is enrolled.
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These materials should be separate mailings and are not to be included in registration packets. The district has committed to covering the cost of these mailings. Contact Judy Skupa, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services at x5088 for the budget code to use in covering the mailing expense.
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The Health teacher is encouraged to personalize the first paragraph of the letters to provide additional information about themselves, the Health curriculum and their classrooms. However, teachers are encouraged to maintain the information provided in the remaining sections of the letter since it satisfies all the requirements of House Bill 1375 regarding teaching about human sexuality.
Health Education cover letters, exclusion forms and policy:
Elementary (5th Grade):
- 5th grade parent/guardian cover letter: 2008-09 (English)
- 5th grade parent/guardian cover letter: 2008-09 (Spanish)
- 5th grade Health exclusion request (English)
- 5th grade Health exclusion request (Spanish)
Secondary (middle and high school):
- Secondary Parent/guardian Health cover letter: 2008-09 (English)
- Secondary Parent/guardian Health cover letter: 2008-09 (Spanish)
- Secondary Health exclusion request (English)
- Secondary Health exclusion request (Spanish)
Policy (both levels):
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Important Considerations Concerning Health Exclusions:
Elementary:
- Parents/caregivers are sometimes concerned about their 5th grade children being embarrassed during the 5th grade "puberty" unit. Research shows that youth who begin to have discussions in one another's presence about their sexual health during the pre-pubescent years are more likely to:
- talk openly with parents about their health decisions
- set clear boundaries and have open communication in future relationships
- seek assistance from valid resources for health concerns
- engage in discussions with health care practitioners that enhance their health
Middle School and High School:
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Health Education is a program requirement at middle school and a graduation requirement at high school. Only in very rare instances should a student be allowed to opt-out of the entire course at the secondary level. In these instances, the parent/caregiver must meet with the principal to receive approval, and must provide a written statement why each section of the course is against their closely held personal or religious beliefs. Health teachers should be part of those meetings to answer parents/caregivers questions and concerns.
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Health teachers should be contacted immediately after receipt of any exclusion forms. The Health teacher will contact parents to: 1.discuss any concerns the parents may have about the curriculum in order to confirm that the parents actually intended to exclude their child from a portion of the Health curriculum; and 2. discuss options for lessons the student will be working on individually, outside of the classroom during the times they are being excluded.
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Teachers may find "opt-out lessons" for use with individual students in the "teacher transparencies and lessons" section of this website (see left menu bar).
All levels:
It is very important that parents and guardians are not asked to send signed exclusion forms back to the teacher whether or not they want their child to participate in Health Education. Since BVSD has an “opt-out” policy, the forms should only be signed if they want their child to be excluded from a portion of the class, or from the entire unit in the case of 5th grade Human Growth and Development. It is not necessary for them to sign the forms if they want their child to be included.
One option for teachers who are especially concerned about whether their students’ families and guardians received the forms, are asked to simply send a slip of paper home for the parents to sign that they did, indeed receive the exclusion request. However, this is not a requirement.