Health Curriculum Discussion For Long Valley Middle School Planned

LONG VALLEY, NJ —Following the success of the curriculum chat for grades K-5, the Washington Township School District will host a separate health curriculum chat on Sept. 12 for all middle school classes.

The state curriculum, which was approved by the state Board of Education in 2020, is titled "New Jersey Student Learning Standards – Comprehensive Health and Physical Education."

It addresses a wide range of issues and topics, including personal hygiene, mental and social well-being, community health and support, fitness, nutrition, safety and substance abuse. There are several areas that cover various sexual health topics, such as personal growth, pregnancy and parenting, and social and sexual health.

Long Valley parents have repeatedly voiced their concern about the 2020 comprehensive health and physical education standards, which has prompted school officials to receive certain aspects of the curriculum.

Deborah Russo, Director of Curriculum and Kristina LeViere, an LVMS Health Teacher, recently spoke about the change in curriculum.

"We are trying to clear up any misunderstandings but also highlight some of the really good messages and lessons that are taught at the middle school," Russo said.

Both Russo and LeViere provided an overview of the lesson plans for the middle school health class in a brief video, naming all of the topics of discussion and outlining the timeline.

The video also provided information on the opt-out policy and named the common lessons that parents choose to opt their children out of.

According to LeViere, the middle school health class is a 30-day rotation in which each lesson is covered in one to two days. Topics of discussion include peer pressure, the dangers of substance abuse, conflict resolution, self-expression, and a brief look at safe sex practices.

"To be honest I really truly believe that hopefully, you are talking about this at home before they come to school and hear about it because I should just be adding to whatever you're saying," LeViere said.

The upcoming forum will be held on Monday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the LCC at Long Valley Middle School and will be open to all parents and guardians who have questions about how the district is implementing the curriculum in the middle school.

All parents are welcome to the forum and are asked to RSVP to the meeting by clicking here.