Human Growth and Development

Dear 5th Parent/Guardian:

Thank you for attending our 5th Grade Parent Information Session on Wednesday, March 6th. If you were unable to attend you can find a link to recording HERE.
The slides that were shared can be found HERE.

Optional In-Person Materials Review:
If you would like to have a closer look at the Positive Prevention Plus materials you can schedule an appointment to view the Positive Prevention Plus materials. CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment.  These viewing appointments will be held in person at the CUSD Teacher Resource Center, 10255 N Portal Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014.

Reminders: 
Cupertino Union School District elementary schools will be providing puberty education to 5th grade students using the Positive Prevention Plus program. Your student’s 5th grade teacher will deliver this instruction using the Positive Prevention Plus curriculum. An outline of the lessons can be found here.

Tentative Dates for Instruction:
The principal of your elementary school will communicate the dates of instruction to all 5th grade families at least 14 days prior to the teaching of the curriculum. 

Procedures for Opt-Out:
State law allows a parent/guardian to remove (opt-out) their student from this instruction. Parents/guardians may opt-out of selected lessons that discuss human reproductive organs and/or their functions or the entire program. Please note that if a parent/guardian opts their child out of selected lessons, there is a chance that topic may come up again during one of the following lessons through student or classroom discussions. Students will also have a workbook that contains worksheets for all lessons.
Parents who wish to opt-out of all or part of the puberty education instruction should send a letter or email to the school principal specifying:

• Their child’s name and grade level
• A statement expressing the parent’s or guardian’s choice to opt-out of this curriculum for their student
• The specific lessons that the parent/guardian does not want their child to receive. (Please reference the scope and sequence of lessons provided during the information session) 
• Contact information for the parent/guardian

Students who do not participate in these lessons will be assigned an alternate curriculum addressing grade level health standards including topics such as nutrition, stress, and screen time. You can find links to the lessons here.

Resources

• Parents/guardians have the right to request copies of Education Code 51930-51939, and may do so by sending an email to Miko Pennington (pennington_miko@cusdk8.org) in the Educational Services Department. 
• Visit the California Department of Education website: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/
• If you have additional questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or your school site principal. 

Sincerely,

Nick Prychodko, Director of Instructional Leadership and Intervention
prychodko_nick@cusdk8.org
Allison Liner, Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services
liner_allison@cusdk8.org
 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear 5th Parent/Guardian:
 
As part of the 5th grade curriculum, Cupertino Union School District will provide optional Human Growth and Development (puberty) education to our students. This instruction will take place in the spring of 2024. As we begin our planning for the spring, we want to ensure that you have the information to make an informed choice for your child.

Parent Information Session
Prior to classroom lessons, you are invited to attend an online parent information session on March 6 from 6:00-7:00 pm (this will be recorded for those that can not attend). This session will help you:

• Learn what your child will be taught in the classroom 
• Understand how lessons connect to the California Healthy Youth Act 
• Learn tools for supporting your child’s learning at home
• Understand procedures for indicating “opt-out” for your child

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://cusdk8.zoom.us/j/85247703405

CUSD’s puberty curriculum is Positive Prevention Plus. Lessons will be taught by 5th grade teachers who will be trained before instruction begins. Per the California Healthy Youth Act, instruction must be medically accurate, age‐appropriate and inclusive of all students, and must encourage students to communicate with parents, guardians, or other trusted adults about human sexuality. Lessons will include information regarding: 

• Puberty, anatomy and human reproduction
• Healthy hygiene practices to take care of growing bodies
• Sexual orientation and gender, including the harm of negative gender stereotypes
• Healthy relationships/friendships and avoiding unhealthy behaviors and situations   
• How to talk to a trusted adult (such as a parent/guardian) about these topics

 
You will receive a syllabus describing each of the lessons and the days we anticipate they will be taught at each school site, as well as information about how to opt-out if you do not want your child to participate.

State law allows a parent/guardian to remove (opt-out) their student from this instruction. Parents/guardians may opt-out of selected lessons or the entire program. You will receive more information about this process from your principal following the parent information event. Please note that if a parent/guardian opts his/her child out of selected lessons, there is a chance that these topics may come up again during one of the following lessons through student or classroom discussions. Students who are not participating in lesson(s) will complete an alternate set of lessons aligned to the California Health Standards for Grade 5.
 
Resources

• Find updated information on our website.
• Parents/guardians have the right to request copies of Education Code 51930-51939, and may do so by sending an email to Miko Pennington (pennington_miko@cusdk8.org) in the Educational Services Department. 
• Visit the California Department of Education website: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/
• If you have additional questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or your school site principal. 

Sincerely,

Nick Prychodko, Director of Instructional Leadership and Intervention
prychodko_nick@cusdk8.org
Allison Liner, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services
liner_allison@cusdk8.org
 

Dear 7th Parent/Guardian:

Thank you for attending our 7th Grade Parent Information Session on Tuesday, February 13th. If you were unable to attend you can find a link to recording HERE.
The slides that were shared can be found HERE.

Optional In-Person Materials Review:
If you would like to have a closer look at the Positive Prevention Plus materials you can schedule an appointment to view the Positive Prevention Plus materials. CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment.  These viewing appointments will be held in person at the CUSD Teacher Resource Center, 10255 N Portal Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014.

Reminders: 
Cupertino Union School District middle schools will be providing comprehensive sexual health education to 7th grade students using the Positive Prevention Plus program. Your student’s science teacher will deliver this instruction using the Positive Prevention Plus curriculum. An outline of the lessons can be found here.

Tentative Dates for Instruction:
CMS: May 13th - May 31st
Hyde: May 13th - May 31st
Kennedy: May 13th - May 31st
Lawson: May 13th - May 31st
McAuliffe: May 13th - May 31st
Miller: May 20th - June 6th

Procedures for Opt-Out:
State law allows a parent/guardian to remove (opt-out) their student from this instruction. Parents/guardians may opt-out of selected lessons that discuss human reproductive organs and/or their functions or the entire program. Please note that if a parent/guardian opts their child out of selected lessons, there is a chance that topic may come up again during one of the following lessons through student or classroom discussions. 
Parents who wish to opt-out of all or part of the sexual health and HIV-AIDS prevention instruction should send a letter or email to the school principal specifying:

• Their child’s name and grade level
• A statement expressing the parent’s or guardian’s choice to opt-out of this curriculum for their student
• The specific lessons that the parent/guardian does not want their child to receive. (Please reference the scope and sequence of lessons provided during the information session) 
• Contact information for the parent/guardian

Students who do not participate in these lessons will be assigned an alternate curriculum addressing grade level health standards including topics such as nutrition, stress, and screen time. You can find links to the lessons here.

Resources

• Parent resources from our adopted curriculum: Positive Prevention Plus 
• PPP Homework overview and conversation prompts for parents and caregivers
• Additional updates and resources can be found on our website.
• Parents/guardians have the right to request copies of Education Code 51933, 51934, 51938, and 51930-51939. You may do so by sending an email to Miko Pennington (pennington_miko@cusdk8.org) in the Educational Services Department. 
• Visit the California Department of Education website: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se/
• If you have additional questions, please reach out to your child’s science teacher or your school site principal. 

Sincerely,

Nick Prychodko, Director of Instructional Leadership and Intervention
prychodko_nick@cusdk8.org
Allison Liner, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services
liner_allison@cusdk8.org