Our People, Our Place - Taking Action/Health & Sexuality

This term will include preparation for our end of year celebrations, music will be back and at the start of the term we will be working hard on our athletics practices and swimming programme.

During the first half of term 4, Pōhutukawa students will participate in learning activities about health and sexuality. The aim of this topic is to encourage the development of positive attitudes about the physical and emotional changes children experience during adolescence. In order to learn about the physical and social growth and development that occurs as children grow, it will be taught through the concept of 'te whare tapa whā'. Students will gain understanding of how these changes affect all aspects of their hauora and will be taught in class and gender groups. 

Below are the key topics and themes that will be explored:

• Creating a positive learning environment: Establish a positive learning environment, showing respect for self and others.

• Who am I? : Describe and appreciate the qualities that make us unique, and identify strategies for enhancing our own self-worth and that of others. Reflect on gender stereotypes and their impact on relationships, roles, and behaviours. Challenge society’s assumptions about gender.

• Relationships: Express opinions about relationships and demonstrate respect when listening to those of others. Identify relationship qualities important to us.

• Growing and changing: To use the correct terminology for private body parts. Identify the changes that occur during puberty and recognise that most of the changes happen to everybody. Students will use the correct terms for the reproductive parts of their bodies and understand their functions. Students will explore the processes of menstruation and conception.

• Staying safe: Investigate and practice strategies to stay safe online. Cyber-bullying, mobile phones, social media.

Having read this information if you wish your child to be withdrawn from class while a specific activity is being taught, or if you have any questions about this unit please make this known to your child's class teacher or Mrs Adams.

During the second half of the term students will explore a range of activities based on taking action for our local environment.