Unpacking the Comprehensive Health Standards via Family Health & Wellness Workshops
As you may be aware, the New Jersey Department of Education revised the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Standards. All districts in New Jersey were required to revise curriculum in both of these areas and present new standards to students at the start of the 2022-2023 school year. The Comprehensive Health Standards have received both support and objections by families across the state. These standards and the learning expectations are broken down by the end of Grade 2, Grade 5, Grade 8, and Grade 12. It is then up to each individual school district to unpack the standards and develop units of study at all grade levels that are both aligned to and meet the overall learning expectations by the end of each of these four grades.
New Jersey's Comprehensive Health Standards are divided into three overall topics: Personal & Mental Health, Physical Wellness, and Safety. The Hoboken Public School District has taken all of the required content in these three topics and has broken it down further into five (5) units of study per grade at the elementary level (K-5). These units of study are as follows: Emotional Health & Conflict Resolution, Human Development & Life Skills, Nutrition & Personal Health, Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs, and Safety.
At the middle school level, units of study are a bit different than in K-5. In Grade 6, there are five (5) units of study: Social Health, Bullying & Cyberbullying, Conflict Resolution, Safety, and Personal Health Care & Environmental Health. In Grade 7, there are four (4) units of study: Emotional Health and Mental & Emotional Disorders, Nutrition & Physical Activity, Tobacco & Alcohol, and Drugs & Using Medicine Wisely. Finally, in Grade 8, there are four (4) units of study: Dating, Relationships & Violence Prevention, The Life Cycle, Your Body Systems, and Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases.
In grades K, 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 all of the standards addressed in the Comprehensive Health Curriculum have been traditionally taught in school for years.
In grades 2 and 5, the units on Human Development & Life Skills both contain revised or new standards. And, in Grade 8, the unit on Dating, Relationships & Violence Prevention and the unit on The Life Cycle both contain revised or new standards.
As a result of these revised and new standards, we have turned to our district's policy on Health and Physical Education (2422) and instructions from the New Jersey Department of Education (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-4.7) to guide our practice, be fully transparent, and respect the positions held by our families.
The Hoboken Public School District's Policy 2422: Health and Physical Education, states, “any student whose parent presents to the Principal a signed statement that any part of the instruction in health, family life education, or sex education is in conflict with his/her conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs shall be excused from that portion of the course where such instruction is being given and no penalties as to credit or graduation shall result.” We have linked the Comprehensive Health Curriculum Documents for each grade level for your review:
We are proud to offer families in Grades K-8, a variety of ways to respond to the new Comprehensive Health Standards and our curricula in this area.
If your child is in grades K, 1, 3, 4, 6, or 7, we ask that you kindly review the grade level curricula that contain all of the standards that have been traditionally taught in our schools over the years. If you are comfortable with your child receiving Health instruction as delivered innovatively during physical education activities at the elementary level, during the Personal Growth Program offered on the 5 half days at the K-8 level, or during Health classes at the middle school level, you simply need to indicate that you do not wish to opt your child out of any unit on the Google Form below. If there is any content in the grades K, 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 Health Curricula that you would like your child to opt out of, please be specific when completing and submitting the Google Form below. If your child does opt out, the school will provide a quiet space to read, complete homework, or engage in another learning activity.
If your child is in grades 2, 5, or 8, we ask that you kindly review the units of study in the grade level curricula above that contain the standards that have been traditionally taught in our schools. If you are comfortable with your child receiving Health instruction as delivered innovatively during physical education activities at the elementary level, during the Personal Growth Program offered on the 5 half days at the K-8 level, or during Health classes at the middle school level, you simply need to indicate that you do not wish to opt your child out of any unit on the Google Form below. If there is any content that you would like your child to opt out of, please be specific when completing and submitting this form. If your child does opt out, the school will provide a quiet space to read, complete homework, or engage in another learning activity.
We also ask that all parents and guardians of children in grades 2, 5, and 8 review the units of study that are highlighted and hyperlinked in each of these curriculum documents. Human Development & Life Skills in the 2nd Grade and Human Development & Life Skills in 5th Grade, along with Dating, Relationships & Violence Prevention and The Life Cycle in Grade 8, which will not be taught during the school day. Rather, these will be taught via a Family Health & Wellness Workshop Model. Families will have the three (3) options regarding these units of study. The first is to bring their 2nd, 5th, or 8th grade child to the Workshop where lessons will be delivered by certified professionals. The second is to teach the material we have provided at home. And, the third is to opt out of these units of study.
- The Family Health & Wellness Workshop for families with children in Grade 2 will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria.
- The Family Health & Wellness Workshop for families with children in Grade 5 will be held on Wednesday, November 16th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria.
- The Family Health & Wellness Workshop for families with children in Grade 8 will be held on Thursday, November 17th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria.
Please review all of the information above. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Sandra-Rodriguez Gomez (Assistant Superintendent of Schools at [email protected]) or Mrs. Christy Gaudio (K-8 Humanities Supervisor at [email protected]). Since this is a lot of information to process, Ms. Rodriguez-Gomez and Ms. Gaudio will host an informational & technical session for any parent or guardian with questions on Thursday, October 6th at 6:00 PM in the Calabro School multi-purpose room. We ask that all families complete this form and submit it no later than Tuesday, October 11th.
2nd Annual Family Health Night
We are so excited to engaged with students in Grades 5, 6 , and 7 for our 2nd Annual Family Health Night on Thursday, May 11th from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at Hoboken High School. This will be a powerful opportunity for families and students to hear presentations and engage in goal setting regarding puberty, healthy lifestyles and making good choices.
Agenda
1.Welcome/Introduction
2. Parent Breakout Room, with Guest Speaker, Dr. Ana Maria Temple: Holistic Pediatrician and Author of "Healthy Kids In An Unhealthy World: Practical Parenting Tips for Picky Eating, Toxin Reduction, and Stronger Immune Systems
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Student Breakout Rooms to view a video presentation developed for students on puberty and their changing bodies along with Q&A Session with certified educational professionals from the Hoboken School District
3. Family Wellness Dinner-Catered by Chartwells
4. Family Goal Setting Activity