Below is information from the Question and Answer time within the Health Materials Webinar, hosted on April 12th, 2022. 

• What is the approach to teaching abstinence and pregnancy prevention? 

  • In Washington State, schools are required by law to teach both abstinence and other means of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as provide information on health care and prevention resources (RCW 28a.300.475 & 28A.230.070). 

  • HealthSmart takes a comprehensive approach to sexual health education. The puberty lessons in Grade 5 begin by focusing on changing thoughts and feelings, including feelings of attraction for others. The lesson that introduces the concept of abstinence is focused on the message that it’s OK to wait to start exploring sexual feelings and activities. The reading sheet in that lesson presents situations around having a crush on someone, potential consequences of sexual activity as a teen, pressures around sexuality that can arise as bodies develop, and benefits of choosing abstinence at this point in life.

  • At the middle and high school level, instruction on abstinence and pregnancy prevention are provided within two separate units. While one of the sexual health units at the middle and high school level focuses on personal health practices and abstinence as a preventive strategy, the other sexual health unit at both grade middle and high school levels is comprehensive and includes information about condom use and safer sex, STI/HIV testing and treatment, and birth control methods.

• What does culturally inclusive mean? What does that include?

  • A culturally inclusive environment requires mutual respect, effective relationships, clear communication, explicit understandings about expectations and critical self-reflection. In an inclusive environment, people of all cultural orientations can: freely express who they are, their own opinions and points of view. (Source: USC, Australia.

  • HealthSmart is designed to be unbiased and inclusive of diverse cultures and lifestyles. Differences are acknowledged. Case studies and roleplay scenarios in particular are written to be neutral and adaptable so that students can see themselves reflected. Family activities provide opportunities for parents and guardians to share in their children’s and teens’ learning and bring their own family values and perspectives to the discussions. Respect for differences is emphasized throughout the lessons, particularly in regard to sensitive health topics. Learning activities acknowledge the cultural diversity of students; optimize relevance to students from multiple cultures in the school community; and build on the cultural resources of families and communities.

• What is the intent behind teaching students about sexual stereotyping? 

  • The intent is to promote acceptance of differences and treating others with respect. The HECAT healthy behavior outcome for the lessons around sexual stereotyping is to “treat all people with dignity and respect with regard to their gender identity and sexual orientation.”

     

• What instruction is provided around consent? 

  • Per state law (RCW 28A.300.475), students must receive instruction on Affirmative Consent and Bystander Training starting in the 2020-2021 school year. 

  • Specific lessons on Affirmative Consent are found in the middle and high school sexual health programs. Grades K-5 cover the concept of consent in other topic areas through lessons on refusal skills and sexual abuse prevention. In addition, HealthSmart includes lessons around conflict resolution, making safe choices, and seeking help from trusting adults.  

    • Elementary:  Grade 1, Lesson 20, Grade 3, Lesson 16 (abuse prevention) 

    • Middle School: HIV/STI, Lesson 3 (affirmative consent); also reinforced in HIV-STI Lesson 4 (healthy romantic relationships), Lesson 10 (resisting sexual pressure–includes practice in accepting refusals), Lesson 13 (negotiating condom use) and in ABST Lesson 10 (feelings and relationships), Lesson 14 (resisting sexual pressure–includes practice in accepting refusals).

    • High School Lessons: HIV-STI Lesson 4 (affirmative consent), Lesson 12 (negotiating condom use) and in ABST Lesson 15 (resisting sexual pressure–includes practice in accepting refusals)

• Regarding consent, how are listening skills taught within HealthSmart?

  • Listening skills are incorporated into lessons on effective communication. Some examples from the curriculum that have explicit practice in listening skills include Grade 3 Lesson 4, Grade 5, Lesson 3 (respectful communication), Middle School EMH Lesson 5, and High School EMH Lesson 7 (skills for effective communication).

• What anatomy information is included within the lessons? 

  • Grade 4 includes lessons that provide an introduction to puberty. 

  • Grade 5 includes lessons with information on human development including external genitalia, and puberty. 

  • Middle School & High School lessons include information on internal and external genitalia.

• What way do you talk sexual health and development in a gender neutral way? 

  • Elementary lessons include both puberty lessons about a boy’s & girl’s body, and also include a gender-neutral lesson, using the language “a body with a penis” and “a body with a vagina”.

  • Middle and High School Lessons teach anatomy with the language “a body with a penis” and “a body with a vagina”.

• Are all these lessons you are talking about going to be used in our district? 

  • If the school board approves HealthSmart, then our Learning & Teaching department, in collaboration with teachers, will develop and publish the Scope and Sequence for what specific lessons will be taught at each grade level. 

• How can I preview the full proposed curriculum?

  • Both the teachers guide and student materials are available for preview. Specific login information to this preview can be found on our district website:  Health and Sexual Health Education - Monroe School District

• When is information around gender identity and sexual orientation introduced? 
  • Respecting differences and accepting others is a central message within the HealthSmart lessons.
  • Specific lessons around gender identifty and sexual orienation are introduced at the middle school level.

• Who teaches the health and sexual health lessons in elementary, middle and high school?
  • Elementary School: 
    • Lessons are taught by Classroom Teachers for most health lessons. Some lessons (such as nutrition or physical activity) may be taught by the Physical Education teachers. 

  • Middle School & High School:

    • 6th & 7th Grade sexual health lessons are taught by science teachers. 

    • 8th & 9th Grade sexual health lessons are taught within the 8th and 9th grade Health courses. 

• How do you believe this reflects our community?

  • The Monroe School District serves a community rich with diversity, and serves families and students from all walks of life. In order to ensure that our Guiding Principles and proposed curriculum was reflective of the community, we created an Advisory Committee, which included teachers, students, parents, and community members. One of the central purposes of our work was ensuring that the final products were reflective of our community.

• How do we know what our district is teaching for health and sexual health?

  • Materials that are currently adopted and in use are available for preview on the school district website. Families are also able to set up time to come in and preview lessons in-person.  Health and Sexual Health Education - Monroe School District 

• Will there be videos presented or websites recommended to the students that are not part of the ETR/HealthSmart curriculum?

  • HealthSmart does not include supplemental videos, as videos can age and become out of date quickly. 

  • Outside websites links are limited in student materials. These outside links are used to support students in learning how to search for healthy habits and accurate health information, and include links to reputable sources, such as the CDC.

  • If the Monroe School District identifies the need for additional supplemental materials, these materials will be approved by the school board prior to use in classrooms. 

  • Washington State law requires schools to provide information to students in grades 4-12 about health care and prevention resources (RCW 28a.300.475). We are planning on providing publically a list of local resources for families and students to reference if needed.

• What is the opt out / exclusion process for families? Is the opting out process a yearly choice? 

  • If you wish to opt your student out of the HIV & AIDS lessons and/or the human growth and sexuality lessons, please complete and submit the Exclusion Request form that is found on our district website: Health and Sexual Health Education - Monroe School District 

  • The opt out / exclusion form must be submitted on a yearly basis.