7th Grade Reproductive Health Opt Out
April 18, 2024
Dear Families,
During the middle school experience, a unit of “Human Reproductive Health” is included as part of the 7th grade curriculum. This unit has been carefully planned, recently reviewed by a district Reproductive Health Advisory Board, and supported by the Holland Public Schools’ Board of Education. This unit is taught during P.E., for up to 12 sessions to all 7th grade students.
This reproductive health unit will be taught by Cory Hershey, a certified health teacher and P.E. teacher at Holland Middle School. We believe this is important as students know their P.E. teacher and are comfortable with their peers in the classroom.
Topics within the content of this unit include the following: self-esteem, adolescent growth and development, the reproductive system, pregnancy and birth, sexual harassment, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. While all of these topics are part of the unit, Holland Public Schools’ reproductive health program is based upon the foundation of abstinence. Students are reminded regularly of this foundation. The school’s role in providing reproductive health information is to remain factual and non-judgmental.
The reproductive health unit will be taught in several sessions in order to accommodate all 7th graders. The sessions are scheduled April 23-May 9th. The bottom portion of this letter is an authorization that excludes your child from attendance and participation in this unit. If you do not want your son or daughter to attend this class, please sign the form below and return it to the office.
We recognize that this topic of instruction is sensitive in nature. We also recognize the importance of providing such education to our students. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me. Rbair@hollandpublicschools.org
Respectfully,
Melissa Remillard
Associate Superintendent of School Improvement