Dear Parents:

Upper elementary students at our school be studying a unit called Growing and Changing, beginning February 28th. The unit will end for 4th years on March 1st and on March 15th for 5th years. This unit is an introduction to the human reproductive system.  So that you may know what will be included in the study, we invite you to a parent orientation program at 5:00 on Thursday, February 21st in Medicine Bow classroom of this school. At this time we will introduce the faculty members who will teach this unit, present an overview of the program, and have the resources and media to be used on display.

Teaching a child about the facts of sexual reproduction is only one part of sex education, although an important part. Schools can do this teaching well.  In addition, the education of a child’s attitudes and emotions is vital to his or her health. Parents play the leading part in this education for they continually share with their child their love, attitudes, experiences, feelings, and ideas. 

We hope you will attend the parent orientation session, become familiar with this part of the curriculum, study the resource materials, including the students’ book, Growing and Changing, revised edition, 2017.  We anticipate your use of the resource as a common ground, enabling you to readily and easily discuss questions your child wants answered.  You may be familiar with the student book from previous years of study.  The student book which will be used with students this year was revised in the 2016-17 school year to address new expectations in state law as well as updating language or information.  Topics addressed in this edition include:

- Changing bodies and feelings. puberty 

- Healthy body image 

- Process of fertilization 

- Process of fetal development and birth 

- Intercourse and oral sex, STI (STD) risks associated with both 

- Sexual harassment 

- Sexual and Gender Identity 

- Sexual abuse

- Drugs and alcohol awareness

Your attendance at the parent meeting will allow for you to see for yourself exactly how each of these topics is addressed prior to making a decision about your child’s participation.  

Please use the attached form to indicate whether you do or do not wish for your child to participate in this unit. We request that you sign and return the attached permission slip by Friday, February 22nd. This deadline for returning the permission slip will allow you to attend the orientation program before making your decision concerning your child’s participation.  Students who opt out of the classroom instruction can engage in a self study which has been mutually agreed upon by the teacher and parent.

We must have the parental permission slip on file for every student who participates in the program.


Thank you, 
The Free Horizon Montessori Upper Elementary Team
Miranda Anderson
Kate Powell
Shannon Aasheim