Health & Well-Being

Our middle school advisory and science curricula are coalescing nicely around the topic of Health and Well-Being.  Jeff has had years of experience as a health educator and is sensitive to both age-appropriate and scientifically accurate information.  He has developed a climate of safety in his classes—as advisors have also done in their advising groups—to assure that students can comfortably access very important information about human sexuality and drug use.  We place these two topics together because, at their core, they are vital examples of the importance of good decision making.  

The letter below was sent to 7th and 8th grade families to introduce his perspective.  Within a few weeks, Jeff will join Stephanie on Friday mornings to provide puberty education lessons for 6th graders.  Sixth grade families can also expect a letter home - and a blog posting - before these sessions begin.
                                                                                                           

Dear 7^th and 8^th Grade Parents,

We'll soon be starting the health curriculum in the science classes.   We've actually been addressing health related issues all along as they come up, but we're going to spend a few weeks exploring some age appropriate topics.   These include:  human reproductive system anatomy and physiology, prevention of pregnancy and disease transmission, brain and nervous system, and substance use and abuse.   The eighth graders will also cover information on sexuality - sex roles and gender, different types of sexuality, safety, legal issues, and responsibility.  

Similar to drug and alcohol education, I plan to give them honest — meaning scientifically accurate— answers to any of their questions and to strongly recommend that they remain abstinent from both sexual activity and substance use as long as possible.   While the emphasis will be on abstinence as the only sure-fire, 100% certain way not to get pregnant or transmit diseases, we acknowledge that most of them will be sexually active (with another person) at some point in their lives.  It is therefore best for them to have some accurate information in order to make good decisions.  

There will be no encouragement or expectation to be sexually active (or assumption of any sexual activity), and again, I definitely will encourage them to put off being sexually active until they are ready — which will be different for each one of them.   We live in a culture where young people are constantly bombarded by sexual imagery, so good communication skills —which are also essential to healthy relationships— will also be emphasized.   On that note, please contact me any time with questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Jeff Sandler

7th/8th grade Science Teacher

The Berkeley School

theberkeleyschool.org

jsandler@theberkeleyschool.org