By Kelsey Knipshild | Posted: Wednesday June 1, 2016
Sexuality Education is part of The New Zealand Curriculum, and it is a requirement that it is taught as part of the Health and Physical Education learning area from Years 1 – 10. The purpose of Sexuality Education is to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to develop positive attitudes towards sexuality, to take care of their sexual health, and to enhance their interpersonal relationships, now and in the future.
Your child will be taught using a programme based on The Sexuality Road – Discovering Me, developed by Family Planning. The following topics will be covered:
1. Changing Bodies and Feelings
2. Relationships
3. Communication and Decision Making
4. Reproduction
5. Supports
You are welcome to contact your child’s class teacher to discuss the programme or to view any of the teaching materials used. Further information can be found on the Family Planning website:
http://www.familyplanning.org.nz/advice/sexuality-education
Sexuality education is a valuable part of a child’s learning, so we hope all children will be present for this programme. However, if you do not wish your child to participate, please let Mrs. Keen know, in writing, before the programme starts. Class teachers will be teaching the programme between Weeks 7 and 10, commencing on Monday June 13th.
A parent information evening will be run in our staffroom on Wednesday June 8th from 7.00 - 8.30pm. This meeting will inform parents/caregivers of the content of the programme in more detail. It will also provide valuable information for parents to help them navigate through this interesting period in their child’s life.
We look forward to working with the students through this exciting programme and hope that you take the opportunity to have many interesting discussions at home regarding the content of the programme your child will be taught in the coming weeks.
Kelsey Knipshild & Emily Mordue
Health Co-ordinators