Health Education at Eudora Schools: A guide for parents & families

  • Health Education at Eudora Schools: A guide for parents & families

     

    Our approach

    Health education at Eudora Schools is an important component of preparing our students to live healthy, productive lives. As with all subjects, we use our resources to ensure quality instruction. The health curriculum is based on the Kansas state standards and is written through a joint effort of general classroom teachers, health teachers, school nurses and school counselors representing all grade levels.

    Reproductive education

    The state of Kansas requires that public schools teach a unit on sexual health and reproduction. The Eudora curriculum includes this component according to the Kansas state standards.

        The state’s health education standards are divided into three sections of grade levels: K-4, 5-8 and 9-12. Wellness education, including such topics as nutrition, exercise and healthy living, are taught at all levels in our schools. Puberty and appropriate hygiene are taught in fourth grade; reproductive health is added to our district’s curriculum in fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grades.

    Age-appropriate instruction

    Students in higher grade levels will learn about human growth and reproduction with increasing levels of detail. Here is a summary of these topics taught at each grade level.

    • In fourth grade, students learn about human growth and development and the way that these body changes relate to healthy physical, mental, emotional and social development. Boys and girls will be divided into single-sex groups. Girls will learn about female reproductive organs and functions and personal hygiene. Boys will learn about personal hygiene relating to body changes.
    • Fifth grade students will learn about human growth and development, including the major male and female reproductive organs and their functions. Students also learn about healthy mental, emotional and social development, as well as age-appropriate choices in relationships with members of the opposite sex. Boys and girls will be divided into single-sex groups to learn about reproductive organs and functions; boys will learn about male anatomy, and girls will learn about female anatomy.
    • Students in sixth grade categorize and compare the sexuality of males and females. They learn about healthy relationships and age-appropriate sexual responsibility and begin to learn about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS.
    • Seventh and eighth graders identify the changes that take place during puberty. They learn about the effects of sexual abuse and what abuse victims can do to get help. Eighth grade students demonstrate an understanding of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS.
    • In ninth grade, students extend their knowledge of the reproductive system to include the stages of pregnancy, as well as the stages of labor and birth. They also must demonstrate an understanding of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS. They learn ways to reduce adolescent health risks and outcomes associated with sexual abuse, exploitation, rape and date rape, with a focus on prevention and ways of getting help.

    Parent questions

    At Eudora Schools we believe that you should be involved with the health education of your children. You are encouraged to visit with your child’s health teacher about the topics that will be covered in class and are urged to talk to your children about personal health and growing up. Copies of our full curriculum are available for your review in any of our school offices. A phone call request in advance will help us have the documents ready when you arrive.

    Choosing to opt out

    State law requires that school districts notify parents of their right to opt their student out of the unit

    on sexuality and reproduction. Your child’s teacher will send home a letter explaining the opt-out procedures approximately two weeks before the unit on reproductive health begins. It is the sole responsibility of a student’s parent or guardian to complete and return this form if it is desired that the student not participate in this unit.

        Students who are opted out of the reproductive education unit will not attend class sessions planned for the unit on human sexuality and reproductive health. These students will be given alternate assignments or learning activities by their health teacher to complete in an independent-study format.