Iowa City Community School District Family Letter: 3R's & Health Lessons

IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT =================================== Family Letter Introducing ========================= 3R's: Rights, Respect, Responsibility & Personal Safety ------------------------------------------------------- Families: Throughout the next few weeks, your student will b...

IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT =================================== Family Letter Introducing ========================= 3R's: Rights, Respect, Responsibility & Personal Safety ------------------------------------------------------- Families: Throughout the next few weeks, your student will be learning about safety and human growth and development through health and counseling lessons. As your partners in education, the ICCSD has approved a curriculum called *3 R's: Rights, Respect, Responsibility*, to support learning in these areas. Learning about good communication, safety in relationships, and growth and development lays a foundation that can support healthy relationships and healthy behaviors throughout a person's lifetime. This K-12 curriculum, therefore, is a collection of lesson plans on a wide range of topics including: self-understanding, family, growth and development, friendship, sexuality, life skills, and health promotion. Your child is about to begin, or may have already begun, a period of rapid growth called puberty. As children grow and mature, many of them often wonder if they are normal as they notice themselves and their friends going through physical, emotional, and social changes that prepare them for adulthood. By teaching children about the ways they are maturing, adults can promote a positive attitude toward sexuality that helps children grow into healthy, responsible adults. As parents and caregivers, we also want to ensure that our children stay safe in an ever-changing world. Children who have talked to their parents and other trusted adults are more likely to understand the changes they are going through and are able to recognize and avoid risky behavior, as well as respond to potentially uncomfortable or unsafe situations. At every stage of development, children have the right to age-appropriate information about health, sexuality, and relationships. As part of the lessons, students are encouraged to ask questions. All questions will be answered openly and honestly based on research-based, medically factual information. Your student will be encouraged to talk to you about growing up and to ask you questions as well. It is important for young people to be able to talk openly and comfortably about sexuality issues with their parents/caregivers. If you would like support for talking to your child about these topics, please reach out to me. If you would like to view the full lessons and materials, please contact the building principal to set up a time to do so. These lessons will be taught through class health lessons and counseling lessons. Instruction of these lessons might also be delivered in coordination with a staff member of our community partner United Action for Youth (UAY). Instruction of these lessons is typical for the spring, but due to scheduling lessons might also be delivered in different parts of the school year. Please email the Counseling & Health Curriculum Coordinator (listed at end of letter) and/or the building Principal if you have any questions or wish to preview the materials. Mr. Ries and Ms. Oberrueter's Class are February 27 ad 28th. Ms. Cabral's Class will be on March 14th. **[HEALTH LESSONS]** *3R's* lessons will be delivered by the classroom teacher and will focus on the core concepts of human growth and sexuality. Instruction of these lessons might also be delivered in coordination with a staff member of our community partner United Action for Youth (UAY). In accordance with our administrative guidelines\*, all lessons will be taught in an inclusive setting with all students together regardless of gender. 5th grade includes the following lessons and learning objectives: **Lesson 1: Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1\. Correctly identify at least two parts of the biological male reproductive system. 2\. Correctly describe the functions of at least two parts of the biological male reproductive system. 3\. Correctly identify at least two parts of the biological female reproductive system. 4\. Correctly describe the functions of at least two parts of the biological female reproductive system. 5\. Identify at least one reliable, accurate source of information about reproductive anatomy. **Lesson 2: Puberty and Reproduction** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1\. Describe how puberty prepares the human male body for the potential to reproduce. 2\. Describe how puberty prepares the human female body for the potential to reproduce. 3\. Describe the process of human reproduction by identifying the correct order of steps involved in conception. **Lesson 3: Learning About HIV** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1.Define HIV as a virus that is transmitted through bodily fluids that weakens your immune system. 2.Identify at least two ways in which HIV can be transmitted. 3.Identify at least two ways in which HIV is not transmitted. 4.Identify at least one way to prevent HIV transmission. 5.Identify at least one treatment for HIV. **Lesson 4: What is Love Anyway** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: **[PERSONAL SAFETY LESSONS]** Personal Safety lessons will be delivered by the school counselor and will focus on the following core concepts, which build on each other from one grade to the next. 5th grade includes the following lessons and learning objectives: **Lesson 1: Healthy Relationships and Consent** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. **Lesson 2: What is Harassment and Consent?** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. 2. 3. **Lesson 3: Trusted Adults and Circles of Support** Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. 2. 3. As a parent or guardian, you have the right to preview these materials. To request to view instructional materials, please complete the [[Request Form for Reviewing Instructional Materials]](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EMw1IYg2_CzVhijHm2pHu3Rey0xot2QhxRqZEykBisk/edit) and return the form to our District's Educational Services Center, attention Carmen Gwenigale, at 1725 N. Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA 52245. If, due to religious objections to the content, you would like your student to opt out of these lessons, please submit this request in writing to the building principal by email at [[cannon.kristin\@iowacityschools.org]](mailto:[email protected]) or calling Principal Cannon at 319-688-1115. Sincerely, Kristin Cannon, Horn Principal Lindsey Schluckebier, Curriculum Coordinator:Counseling, Health [[schluckebier.lindsey\@iowacityschools.org]](mailto:[email protected]); *\*These lessons have been designed to provide information to all students on human growth and development and align with the ICCSD LGBTQ+ guidelines, which state: "The district will encourage and engage in gender fair approaches to the educational program. Every student has the right to an LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and comprehensive sexual health education." This policy falls under the district Bullying/Harassment Policy in adherence with Iowa Code Section 280, Iowa Safe School Law, Iowa Civil Rights Act Section 216.9, Federal Title IX of Education Acts. Students will receive this instruction in an inclusive setting which will not be separated by gender.*