Kindergarten & First Grade: Our Whole Lives
KUUF will be offering Our Whole Lives (OWL) program starting in February led by Rev. Jessica Star Rocker and Child Care Coordinator Brenda Johnson.
Children learn about sexuality every day regardless of what parents, teachers, or other adults tell them or don’t tell them. They learn by listening and observing caregivers and other adults. They learn by the ways parents who show affection (or fail to), and by the ways other people interact with them. They learn from television programs, movies, music, videos, magazines, newspapers, websites, games, and commercials. They learn from events at school, at church, and in the community. They learn through attitudes conveyed in conversations with, or through silent signals from, family members, friends, and playmates.
Sexuality education is not just about sex—it is also about the roles, behaviors, and values people associate with being male or female. Sexuality is a basic part of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual lives. It is evident in everything we do—in the clothes we wear, the way we walk, the way we talk, the ways we show affection, and the ways we participate in everyday events.
Families are bombarded with messages about sexuality. We believe that a parent is a child’s most important sexuality educator and that sexuality education begins at home. The OWL comprehensive sexuality education program is one way we support you and your children.
OWL is a curriculum designed to help kindergarten and first-grade children (5, 6, 7 year olds) gain the knowledge, life principles, and skills they need to express their sexuality in life-enhancing ways. The cornerstone of this program is the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of each person.
OWL is a positive, comprehensive, and age-appropriate educational program that promotes sexual health and is informed by the guidelines of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). The curriculum is based on four primary goals: to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information; to increase self-esteem and understand relationships with and responsibilities toward others; to develop interpersonal skills including communication, decision making, and problem solving; and to teach responsibility for personal health and safety.
Important Details about Our Whole Lives:
Introduction meeting for parents will be held on Sunday, Feb. 2 from Noon to 1 pm in the CRE room.
Parents are required to sign a permission form in order for their child to participate in the class.
The orientation is for parents and your child; childcare will be provided for siblings.
Classes and options will be discussed during this orientation and a schedule will be determined at that time.
Regular class attendance is required. The success of this program depends on a community that is built through regular attendance. Honest discussion of sensitive subjects requires that the students feel comfortable and trustful with each other.