Health Unit

Dear Parents, This week we will be doing three lessons in our human growth and development unit. The topics covered are often sensitive in nature and will include (expectations pulled directly from the Ontario Curriculum): GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (1998) OVERALL EXPECTATION By the end of Grade 7, students will: • describe age-appropriate matters related to sexuality (e.g., the need to develop good interpersonal skills, such as the ability to communicate effectively with the opposite sex). SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS By the end of Grade 7, students will: • explain the male and female reproductive systems as they relate to fertilization; • distinguish between the facts and myths associated with menstruation, spermatogenesis, and fertilization; • identify the methods of transmission and the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and ways to prevent them; • use effective communication skills (e.g., refusal skills, active listening) to deal with various relationships and situations; • explain the term abstinence as it applies to healthy sexuality; • identify sources of support with regard to issues related to healthy sexuality (e.g., parents/guardians, doctors). I will be teaching these lessons on Tues, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Please have a discussion with your students about appropriate behaviour and interaction with these lessons