Wellbeing

Hi St Mary's,

I thought I would share a little about P 4 P (Preparation for Puberty) with our community. Our Grade 5 and 6 students are currently undertaking the course under the guidance of Bron Grieve who is a community health nurse with Dhelkaya Health.

It has been going well with our students learning a lot. For families with children younger, it is good to know what is coming up in the curriculum for the future.

As the experts say, 'talk early, talk often'.

With the introduction of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) by the Department of EducationandEarly Childhood Development (DEECD), sexuality education has been identified as an essential and compulsory curriculum component. Sexuality education is best approached through a shared partnership between schools, parents and community. It is seen as a lifelong process. 

‘Sexuality Education’ provides sex-positive, accurate and non-judgemental information and opportunities - to explore values, and to build communication and decision-making skills in the many aspects of sexuality. Schools are already providing many of the elements of sexuality education through programs designed to promote resilience, social skills and information on puberty and the life cycle. The program uses active learning strategies and is designed to help schools teach the sexuality education components of VELS to class 5 and 6 school aged children. Preparation for Puberty has easily identifiable goals and outcomes; so that by Year 6, students are able to: name the parts of the body and understand how they work, have practice at talking and asking for help about feelings, relationships and their bodies, are prepared for puberty, understand the importance of respect in relationships and  understand how babies are conceived and born.

Have a great weekend,

Mark O'Sullivan