Human Growth & Development

(Spanish) McMinnville School District is committed to creating safe and healthy learning environments to support the growth and development of every student. Health literacy, the ability to understand and apply health information in order to care for one’s own health and the health of others, is a critical component of education in our district; one that is necessary to build skills and provide functional knowledge for students to be healthy throughout their lives. MSD also recognizes the role of inclusive and comprehensive health education in promoting health equity and supporting healthy development.

This school year your child will receive growth and development education as part of McMinnville School District’s health education in alignment with state and district requirements.

This school year we will be talking with your students about human growth and development and puberty. We cover several topics:

• • • personal space and body safety
    • basic anatomy and physiology of the reproductive systems
    • how our bodies change during puberty
    • important points about hygiene

Teachers will be presenting this material in the classroom with students. We know that classroom teachers are the most trusted adults to students, and creating a safe and comfortable environment is extremely important when presenting these topics.

McMinnville School District acknowledges that parents/guardians are the primary educators for their children. We want our students to seek out their trusted adults to ask questions related to their growth and development. To that end, you are welcome to contact your child’s school to preview the materials before their implementation. Any parent/guardian may request that their child be excused from these lessons.

To opt out of the human growth and development curriculum, please send a signed, written request to your child’s teacher.  Other arrangements will be made for your student during these units.