Personal and Social Education lessons

Our Personal and Social Education (PSE) curriculum is taught in Advisory lessons and sometimes during classroom learning.  For example, lessons on family and relationships might happen during a Language and Literature discussion. Lessons that relate directly to biology would be taught in that class.

This is the first weekly update to share when and in which lessons PSE instruction occurs.  Updates will also include hyperlinked learning materials when possible.

This week in PSE lessons, students in the following grade levels are learning about the topics below:
Grade 6 - Advisory with the Counselor and Nurse - Personal health and hygiene
Grade 8 - Advisory with the Counselor - STDs

Next week, the following PSE learning is planned:
Grade 8 - Advisory with the Counselor - STDs
Grade 9 - Advisory with the Counselor - Sexual decision making

Parents can reinforce learning at home by sharing what they know about these subjects.  They can share their family’s, culture’s, and religion’s perspective on these aspects of Personal and Social Education.

If you would like your child to opt out of any of these lessons, just send an e-mail to your child’s Advisor and make sure your child knows.  If you have any questions, you can contact your child’s Advisor.
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The background of the PSE program:
As an IB school, Personal and Social Education (PSE) is integral to the development of students’ well-being. According to the IB (2009), Personal and Social Education “is concerned with the individual’s well-being through the promotion and development of concepts, knowledge, attitudes, and skills that contribute to this well-being. Well-being is intrinsically linked to all aspects of a student’s experience at school and beyond. It encompasses physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and social health and development, and contributes to an understanding of self, to developing and maintaining relationships with others, and to participate in an active, healthy lifestyle” (p. 1).

Our Personal and Social Education curriculum integrates the IB’s beliefs about PSE together with the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education 3rd Edition from the Sexuality-Information and Education Council of the United States in order to provide a well-balanced program for our students. Our written curriculum is outlined according to grade levels. Key concepts and standards for the PSE program are integrated through Advisory and subject level classes depending on the existing course content. For more specifics as to when a specific area will be led and through which learning lens, please refer to the pages that follow.

The PSE program was launched during the 2018-2019 school year per feedback from parents and teachers.  You can find the Personal and Social Health Handbook here.