Van Buren Public Schools invites all parents and the community to participate in a parent assembly entitled “What We Need to Know about Teens and Sexuality”.
The assembly will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18, at South Middle School, 45201 Owen Street, Belleville.
This past spring, Van Buren Public School students were administered the MiPHY (Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth) survey. This anonymous, online survey assessed risk behaviors, risk factors, and protective factors associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use (ATOD), violence, sexual behavior, physical activity, and nutrition in Grade 7, 9, and 11.
After analyzing what the students shared, the district decided to have several “parent assemblies”. By letting parents hear the data, providing experts to share information and strategies, and entertaining questions, parents can better understand what students are facing and how to best help them.
Our first topic of sexual behavior was chosen when the data revealed 15.2% of 7th graders, 40.1% of 9th graders, and 70.2% of 11th graders reported they “ever had sexual intercourse”.
Although the district offers maturation and reproductive health curriculums, parents may not feel confident in talking with their students about this particular topic.
Barb Flis, the coordinator for Talk Early & Talk Often, will present strategies. The Taylor Teen Health Center will present the latest information on the various forms of birth control available and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Merck & Co. will have information available on Gardasil®, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for both females and males between the ages of 9 and 26. There will be ample opportunity for questions and answers with all of our experts.
For more information, contact Kimberly Nofz or Cathy Bandy, Parent Involvement Facilitators, at 697-9123 ext. 230 or email [email protected]
The next parent assembly will be on the subject of Bullying.