Education and Opportunities for Parent Involvement

Coordinated School Health Partnership

Parents are invited to join the Coordinated School Health Partnership, a committee of community members, parents, teachers and students meets five times per academic year to coordinate health-related efforts within the BVSD school district and between the district and the community.  Committee membership is open to all BVSD residents.  For more information about BVSD's Coordinated School Health Initiative, click:  www.bvsd.org/csh.

Superintendent's Monthly Newsletter to Parents

BVSD's Superintendent, Chris King sends a monthly newsletter to all BVSD parents that provides valuable information and tools to assist parents in helping to keep their children safe and healthy.  To access the newsletters, click here.

Parent Engagement Network

 http://www.parentengagementnetwork.com/

Preview 2008/09 PEN Calendar:

The PEN calendar team has been working since early spring to put together next year's calendar. We anticipate the calendar will be available as part of the handbook and at the schools with the beginning of the new school year. Highlights include: September 4 - PEN kick-off with featured speaker Carol Carter, President and Founder of LifeBound, www.lifebound.org, morning and evening presentation October - Embracing Technology to Understand Your Child's World November - Spirit of Culture December - Soul of Education with Rachael Kessler January - Healing Circles: Embracing Life's Transitions February - Don't Take It Personally with John Davis March - Communication: the Art of Connecting with Your Child April - Adolescent Brain Development May - Annual PEN celebration

Elementary

In 2004, the BVSD School Board adopted a K-12 comprehensive health education curriculum. Currently, there is no formal time scheduled into the school day for Health at the elementary level.  The exception is during 5th grade, when all students are taught a developmentally appropriate unit on human growth and development and human sexuality.

Parents of 5th Graders on the Human Growth and Development and Human Sexuality Unit:

Parents, guardians and caregivers of 5th grade students will receive a letter from their student’s school that is personalized by the teacher and provides information about the unit.

Secondary

Parents, guardians and caregivers of middle school and high school students will receive a letter from their student’s school in which the Health teacher provides information about their child's Health Education class.  Teachers are happy to receive phone calls or emails with any questions or concerns. 

General Health Information for Parents:

 http://www.healthinschools.org/parents/index.htm

Asthma:

• "Asthma and Allergies at School" kit which provides essential tips and tools parents and students need when talking to teachers, coaches, bus drivers and school administrators about asthma and/or anaphylaxis. Families can order their FREE copy by calling AANMA at 800.878.4403.

Mental and Emotional Health

Human Growth and Development and Human Sexuality:

• Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) has an annotated bibliography on sexuality education in the home:  www.siecus.org
• American Social Health Association:www.asha.org
• Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation:  www.kff.org/youthhivstds/1460-kids.cfm and www.kaisernetwork.org.
• Talking with Kids About Tough Issues Campaign:  www.talkingwithkids.org  (English and Spanish versions available)
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America:  www.plannedparenthood.org
• Mothers’ Voices: www.mvoices.org
• Centers for Disease Control National Information and Prevention Network (information on HIV/AIDS)                                                                      www.cdcnpin.org
• Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): www.pflag.org
• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy:  www.teenpregnancy.org
• Go Ask Alice – Columbia University’s Health Education Program: www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
• gURL – a site that discusses issues affecting the lives of girls 13 years and older.  Offers comprehensive and frank information.   Also publishes book entitled, “Deal With It!  A whole new approach to your body, brain and life as a gurl”:www.gurl.com
• National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities: www.nichcy.org
• Network for Family Life Education - Sex, Etc.:  www.scetc.org
• Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network: www.rainn.org

• The Boulder Valley Safe Schools Coalition (BVSSC):  www.bvsd.org/safeschools
  The BVSSC is an advisory committee to the Superintendent, a coalition of community organizations and individuals working to promote a safe, put-down-free environment in Boulder Valley Schools, with particular concern for youth experiencing harassment for perceived or actual differences in gender identity/expression or sexual orientation.

Questions? Contact Roy Holloway, Director of Fine Arts, Health & PE at 720-561-5085 or roy.holloway@bvsd.org