Our elementary school nursing team leads all fourth- and fifth-grade students in lessons on puberty and personal hygiene. The material we present aligns with the recently revised Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, provides accurate medical information about the physical changes of puberty, and helps prepare our students for the social and emotional developments that may come at this phase of their lives. Puberty education is important because it:
- normalizes discussion of human growth and development
- develops understanding and respect for the uniqueness of others
- enhances students’ communication and social skills among their peers
- provides information and vocabulary to promote self-care and awareness
- encourages communication between children and their parents/caregivers
- prepares youth for other sexual health topics they will hear and learn about as they grow older.
Because Salem Public Schools strives to create an environment that fosters our core values of equity, opportunity, and belonging, the school nurses and classroom staff present the material in a co-ed program. This inclusive approach encourages our students to build trust with their peers and gain a deeper appreciation for diversity.
We recommend that parents/caregivers discuss these topics with their children at home so they can share their own knowledge and values. The program is most successful if students have the opportunity to share what they think and learn about puberty with their families and/or trusted adults in their lives.
To aid families, our nurses have assembled a resource of materials including, books, videos, trusted websites, and educational sites with valuable information. In addition, we’d like to share the slide presentation from the webinar we conducted for families on April 3, 2024:
To learn more about our puberty lessons, including when they will be scheduled at your child’s school, please contact your school nurse.