Health Class @ LME with Ms. Stacy

January 23, 2025

Dear Families of Primary Students (grades K-2),

We hope your child has been enjoying Health class this year. We would like to provide you with some information about these potentially sensitive topics our curriculum will be covering in the winter months.

Body Privacy — We will learn anatomically correct terms for private parts, and the difference between safe touches (e.g. high-fives or hugs) and unsafe touches. Students will learn refusal skills and how to say, “No!” This type of education has been shown to be effective in preventing child abuse.

Please contact me in January if you have any questions or concerns, or would like information about opting-out procedures. I will teach this lesson the week of February 3-7 for kindergarten and 2nd grade. I will teach this lesson the week of March 3-7 for 1st grade.

Happy New Year!

Stacy L. Brooks

sbrooks@mvsd320.org

360-428-6125, ext. 24111

Dear Families of Intermediate Students (grades 3-5),

We hope your child has been enjoying health class this year. We would like to provide you with some information about potentially sensitive topics our curriculum is covering. If you have any questions or concerns or would like to review the lessons for the topics identified below, please contact me.

Puberty — Students will learn about the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty. Students will also learn about internal and external reproductive anatomy. Instruction will occur in the co-ed health classroom.

Tolerance — Students will be talking about respect and the harmful effects of bullying. Students will discuss the importance of respectful social interaction with all people, despite any differences in race, gender identity, sexual orientation or beliefs.

HIV — Students in 4th and 5th grade only will learn about the HIV virus and how to prevent infection.

Sexual Harassment/Privacy — Students will learn about body privacy, refusal skills, and the importance of reporting sexual harassment.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns, or would like information about opt-out procedures.

Thank you!

Stacy Brooks

Little Mountain Health Teacher

sbrooks@mvsd320.org

360-428-6125, ext. 24111

This week we will continuing unit 4. We will list adult family responsibilities. We will list ways children can help the family. Students will also compare the family to a team.

Vocabulary: work, help, job, team, family, children, adults, chores

Class Schedule

• Thornburgh: Monday
• Gonzalez: Friday

Next Lesson:

March 31- April 1: Family Fun

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 5:

April 14-18 - Special You, Special Me

April 21-25 - How Do I Feel?

April 28 - May 2 - Sharing Feelings

May 5 - 9 - Safe Touches (sensitive topic)

Upcoming Units:

Unit 5 - Special You, Special Me

Unit 6 - I Stay Healthy

Unit 7 - Good Things In, Bad Out

Unit 8 - Clean and Dirty

Unit 9 - My Healthy World

Unit 10 - Fit and Fun

This week we are continuing Unit 7. We will identify dangerous substances at home, at school, and on the playground. Kindergarteners will demonstrate an understanding that actions have consequences. Students will practice saying no to risk-taking behavior. Finally, we will analyze what to do and where to go for help if a person is exposed to a dangerous substance.

Unit 7 Vocabulary: drugs, medicine, permission, directions, unsafe

Class Schedule

• Ramich: Monday & Wednesday
• Duncan: Tuesday
• Crabtree: Thursday
• Drye: Thursday

Family Access

Code: GBS_372002

Next Lesson:

March 31 - April 4 - Keeping My Great Body Great

April 7 - 11 - Spring Break

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 8:

April 14-18 - What Does It Mean To Healthy?

April 21-25 - What Does It Mean To Be Sick?

April 28-May 2- How Do You Get Well?

May 5-9- Helping Those Who Are Sick

Upcoming Units:

Unit 8 - Getting Sick

Unit 9 - Keeping Clean and Healthy

Unit 10 - Every Day, Play!

This week we are continuing Unit 7. Students will explain why alcohol is a drug, what it does to the body, and reasons why people drink alcohol. We will show how talking out problems with a trusted adult will help you feel better. First graders will practice recognizing a “dare” and responding to it with good refusal skills. Finally we will predict the consequences of various situations in which you do not use refusal skills.

Unit 7 Vocabulary: drug, nicotine, alcohol, street drugs, medicines, consequence

Class Schedule

• Hall: Monday
• Visten: Tuesday & Wednesday
• Batista: Friday

Family Access

Code: GBS_372003

Next Lesson:

March 31 - April 4 - Safe and Strong

April 7 - 11 - Spring Break

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 8:

April 14-18 - Getting Sick

April 21-25 - Germs

April 28-May 2- Getting Better

May 5-9- Do Not Share Your Germs

Upcoming Units:

Unit 8: Get Well Soon

Unit 9 - How I Breathe

Unit 10 - Run, Jump, and Skip

This week we are continuing Unit 7. We will explain why unhealthful behaviors do not solve problems. Students will discover the importance of communicating thoughts and feelings. Second graders will practice positive ways to solve problems and to make oneself and others feel good. Finally, we will use Decision Making Skills to avoid unhealthy, risk-taking behaviors.

Unit 7 Vocabulary: drug, alcohol, habit, vapes, nicotine, medicine

Class Schedule

• Andersen: Tuesday & Wednesday
• Rice: Thursday
• Kelsey: Friday

Family Access

Code: GBS_372008

Next Lesson:

March 31 - April 4 - Drug-Free and Safe Communities

April 7 - 11 - Spring Break

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 8:

April 14-18 - Germs: What They Are and What They Do

April 21-25 - Keeping Germs Out

April 28-May 2- Body Battles: Fighting Germs

May 5-9- Community Health Helpers: Germ Fighters

Upcoming Units:

Unit 8 - Germs! They Make You Sick

Unit 9 - My Skin and Me

Unit 10 - Muscles in Motion

This week we are continuing Unit 7. By the end of this week's lesson, students will define the word addiction and explain what it means to be addicted to drugs and how it can happen. We will tell why it is important to share strong feelings with a trusted adult. Students will choose a positive value (like being honest, trustworthy, responsible, or caring) and make a plan to put this value into action for health and safety. Finally, we will predict the consequences of not getting support from trusted adults and other reliable resources.

Unit 7 Vocabulary: drug, alcohol, liquor, tobacco, nicotine, tar, illegal, addicted, inhalant

Class Schedule

• DiTullio: Monday
• Wagner: Thursday
• Goodman: Wednesday & Friday

Family Access

Code: GBS_372010

Next Lesson:

March 31 - April 4 - Build That Skill (goals)

April 7 - 11 - Spring Break

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 8:

April 14-18 - Being Sick

April 21-25 - Fighting Diseases

April 28-May 2- Keeping Clean and Healthy

May 5-9- Medicines

Upcoming Units:

Unit 8 - Things You Might Catch

Unit 9 - When Bodies Have Challenges

Unit 10 - Finding Out About Bones

This week we are continuing Unit 7. By the end of this week's lesson, students will identify personal, long-term goals and formulate steps to reach them. Students will explain the value of decision making skills in choosing to be drug-free. They will practice recognizing and making decisions that will help you reach your long-term goals. Finally, fourth graders will compare and contrast the effects of various decisions on long-term goals. .

Unit 7 Vocabulary: drug, addicted, emphysema, substance use disorder, peer, edibles, goal, opioid, assets, influence

Class Schedule

• Laney: Tuesday
• Mosness: Thursday

Family Access

Code: GBS_372011

Next Lesson:

March 31 - April 4 - How and Where to Find Help

April 7 - 11 - Spring Break

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 8:

April 14-18 - Puzzled About Germs

April 21-25 - Universal Precautions

April 28-May 2- Know Yourself and Your Friends

May 5-9- Illness and the Community

Upcoming Units:

Unit 8 - Puzzled About Germs (HIV/AIDS)

Unit 9 - Your Incredible Hearing Machine

Unit 10 - Exercise!

This week we are continuing Unit 7. By the end of this week's lesson, students will identify positive and negative influences around drug use, including advertisements and peer pressure. Fifth graders will show the value of advocacy by creating a PSA warning about the potential dangers of substance use. Students will analyze print and electronic media ads to determine whether or not they promote the misuse or abuse of drugs. Finally, we will compare and contrast media influences with peer influences.

Unit 7 Vocabulary: addicted, drug misuse, drug abuse, proper use, stimulant, depressant, hallucinogen, inhalant, substance use disorder, assets

Class Schedule

• Lee: Monday
• Otterholt: Tuesday

Family Access

Code: GBS_372012

Next Lesson:

March 31 - April 4 - Choose to Be Drug Free & SOS (Signs of Suicide)

April 7 - 11 - Spring Break

Upcoming Lessons in Unit 8:

April 14-18 - Your Circulatory System

April 21-25 - Your Blood and Your Immune System

April 28-May 2- HIV, Enemy of the Immune System

May 5-9- Helping Hands

Upcoming Units:

Unit 8 - About Blood and Disease (sensitive topic: HIV)

Unit 9 - All of the Right Stuff

Unit 10 - Bones and Muscles

Throughout the year, school staff has been working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help.

SOS has been used by thousands of schools over the past few decades. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.

Through the program, students learn:

• that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help

• how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend

• to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend

• who they can turn to at school for help, if they need it

Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. Following the video, students will complete a response slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk.

Following the video, students will complete a brief google survey on their current stressors in their life. This survey cannot provide a diagnosis of depression but does indicate whether a young person should be referred for further support by our school counselor or even an outside mental health professional.

We encourage you to look at our Parent Webinar on Depression in Children or visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn.

We are including:

• Parent ACT Message Flyer

• ACTParentHandout2020.pdf

• Treating Depression in Your Child.pdf

• Community Resources

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program please contact me at (360) 428-6125 ext. 24111 (8:00-4:00) or sbrooks@mvsd320.org (anytime). You can also contact our school counselor, Pam Ridenour, at (360) 428-6125 ext. 24143 (8:00-4:00) or pridenour@mvsd320.org (anytime).

Sincerely,

Stacy Brooks-Malcolm (Ms. Stacy)

Little Mountain Elementary School

Health Teacher

Family Access

Use the following class code to see your child's health materials online. There is currently not any TK online material available.

Kindergarten

Join Code:GBS_372002

First Grade

Join Code:GBS_372003

Second Grade

Join Code:GBS_372008

Third Grade

Join Code:GBS_372010

Fourth Grade

Join Code: GBS_372011

Fifth Grade

Join Code: GBS_372012

sbrooks@mvsd320.org

(360) 428-6125 ext. 24111