HEALTH

The purpose of this page is to post ideas and lesson frameworks from our Health lessons so that parents can engage students at home in related health conversations.

puberty and sexual health

As part of our Health and Physical Education curriculum, students will engage in three Puberty and Sexual Health lessons next week with Pam Richmond, who I introduce below. Pam will join me and Ms. Ramundi in our Grade 8 classroom to lead students through these topics.


The three sessions and their curriculum connections are outlined in the table below. If you are interested in reviewing the complete curriculum, you can find it at this link: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/physical-health-education/8


I’ve taken the time to communicate these details regarding this curriculum in particular because I recognize that different families have different values, and that each family will approach these ideas from a different perspective. One piece of the Health curriculum that I believe is tremendously important is this:

I have included the outline of the three sessions below so that each family has the opportunity to engage their child in personal-and-family-values-based conversations regarding Puberty and Sexual Health as we engage in these lessons.


Pam Richmond Introduction


Pam Richmond is an experienced Opt-Certified Sexual Health Educator. You can review a complete biography at Pam’s website: < http://www.pam-richmond.com/ >. Here is a link to the certification website < https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/ >.


Pam has worked with senior grades at Brentwood, and some of your students may have received instruction from Pam in their previous schools. I believe we are quite fortunate to have Pam leading these sessions.


Pam welcomes parents and students to contact her by email < richmond55@shaw.ca > and will happily arrange a phone conversation by request.


Thank you in advance, Pam, for leading us through these important lessons!



Health and Sexual Education Sessions and Curriculum Connections

open parachute


I am thankful that Brentwood has provided this exceptional resource for our Health studies. With this resource I am able to guide students through powerful conversations that lead to self-reflection and the generation of strategies that students can apply in their own lives. We have begun our lessons with this resource and will continue with these lessons through the Spring. Here are our lessons of study:


  • Peer Inclusion and Exclusion

  • Self-Image and Stereotypes

  • Independent Thinking and Healthy Decision-Making

  • Understanding Mental Health

  • Objectification and Respect

  • New Hurdles: Starting High School


Below is an outline of the resource, an introduction to the creator of the resource, and links to parent resources for those parents who choose to explore them.


This link should open the same document in pdf form should you like to access it that way:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zLmKUgRILBgUPIfNvp7E35_JWrenymgT/view?usp=sharing


Please let me know if you are not able to view the resource or access the links.

Open Parachute Parent Resources.pdf

SCREENAGERS

Dear Parents,

I chose to use Screenagers this year as a way to connect Health learning we are doing in the classroom with parents at home. This is an invitation to join me in exploring and using these resources; there is no expectation from me that you must use these resources. If you do choose to access them, my hope is that you find the resources and the opportunity for conversation and reflection helpful.


parent resources


Parent Guide (4).pdf

screenagers - Student conclusion statements

As part of our English skills development, students took notes while we watched the film. Then, students practiced creating conclusion statements based on the information they took in.

Below is a compilation of student conclusion statements organized alphabetically by topics students identified.

Students have notes and written summaries of their conclusions from viewing Screenagers if you would like to ask them to share them with you.

My hope is that you can use these conclusion statements to engage your daughter or son in conversation.

At school, students will be considering and creating personal strategies for thoughtful screen use.


ADDICTION

  • Screen addiction is really dangerous and hard to manage.

  • Everyone can be addicted.

  • Screen addictions can happen to anyone.

  • Screens can cause many things including screen addiction, behaviour problems, mental health, and family and friends issues.

  • Screens can lead to serious addictions which can negatively impact your brain, school, and more.


BOUNDARIES

  • You need to set boundaries or it can greatly affect your life/grades.

  • It is important to set boundaries.

  • It is important to set boundaries for yourself.

  • Setting boundaries is important to not getting addicted

  • It is important to set boundaries for screen time.

  • Setting boundaries is important for productivity.

  • You need boundaries so you don’t get addicted to screens.

  • You really should have boundaries.

  • Setting boundaries is important for your life and mental well being.

  • Without setting boundaries you could become addicted to your phone because there is nothing stopping you from using social media.

  • It is important to set boundaries for screen time.


BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

  • Screens impact young minds.

  • Screens can have long term effects on young developing minds.

  • Screens can have an effect on my brain and make my brain not normal.

  • Screens can really affect your brain.

  • Your brain gives out dopamine from screens.

  • Screens can affect your brain.

  • Screens can cause negative long term brain effects and addictions.



DANGER

  • Social media can be dangerous.

  • Fast-paced media is very bad.

  • Social media can lead to very personal problems becoming dangerous public knowledge.



EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

  • Extracurricular activities are good for kids so they are not always home on a screen.



MENTAL HEALTH

  • Screens can affect your mental health.

  • Screens can have an effect on your sleep and make you tired and in a bad mood.

  • Mental health is very-much related to screens, so you should watch your screen use and screen time.



SCREEN LIMITS

  • It is important to have screen limits.

  • Having limits on your screens is much more important than you might think.

  • It is important to have time management on phones because if you don’t it will have an effect on your mind, emotions and feelings.


SELF CONTROL

  • Self-control is important to have when using screens.

  • It is important to have self-control over technology.

  • Self control is very important.

  • Without control you will become addicted to stuff like video games and your phone.



SELF REGULATION

  • There are many ways to regulate your screen usage.

  • Self-regulation is important.


SUCCESS AT SCHOOL

  • The amount of time you are on devices can affect your grades.

  • Creating good learning habits can help you keep up in school and life.

  • Screens can affect your learning/homework.


screenagers survey

This survey was given to students before we watched Screenagers.

Below the survey are the responses to the long form questions in the survey (not all responses are visible in the survey document itself).

Again, my hope is that the data here will create conversation points for parents and their children.

Screenagers Survey - Google Forms.pdf
Screenagers Survey Long Form Answers

WITS

Key ideas:

  • We face challenges in life.

  • We can move through challenges more effectively when we use our WITS.

WITS Strategy Framework:

W = Walk away

I = Ignore

T = Talk it out

S = Seek help (from trusted adults: parents, teachers, coaches, nurses at Brentwood's Maeda Health Centre)

The WITS strategy is not linear. That is, one uses the letter, or combination of letters, that works best in a particular challenge. For example, a person might ignore someone saying mean things while they walk away to seek help from a teacher. Or that person might talk it out with the person saying mean things and move through the challenge that way.