SHUTESBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE HEALTH EDUCATION
The School Committee believes that effective health education provides an important opportunity to reach children at the age when positive, lifelong health habits are best engendered. The School Committee is committed to a sound, comprehensive and dynamic health education program as an integral part of each student's general education. Health education will be taught as a separate academic discipline in grades K through 6.
The health education program will be consistent with the District’s wellness policy and will emphasize overall wellness of the individual. The health education program will emphasize a contemporary health information and skills, and provide the knowledge necessary for students to understand and appreciate both individual and community wellbeing. Content will include but not be limited to physical health, mental health, nutrition, and exercise, as well as issues impacting community health. Students will also be provided information and tools to make sound decisions when confronted with challenges they may encounter in society.
Consistent with the values of the District, the diversity of the students in the school will be respected in the presentation of information.
In order to promote a relevant, dynamic approach to the instruction of health education, the School Committee will continue to stress the need for curricular, personnel, and financial commitments that are necessary to assure the high quality of the system's health education program.
SOURCE: MASC
LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71:1
Final reading: 09-19-07
Second reading, first vote: 10-17-07 Final vote: 12-19-07