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Health class sure looks different from when I was in school! On February 2, 2023, the North Kingstown School Department held an open forum for parents to give feedback on updates to the health curriculum for grades 6-12.
As a parent of an 8th grader, I was intrigued when I saw the announcement and decided to attend. I was so pleased to see a large turnout of parents, students, grandparents, community members, and school staff. Dr. Jodi Clark (Director of Curriculum) and Dr. Sipala (former Assistant Superintendent) facilitated the forum which included an overview of the changes in the curriculum that are reflective of the updated standards issued by the Rhode Island Department of Education.
During the forum, participants were able to converse in small groups, review examples of lessons from the proposed curriculums, and speak with health educators from the middle and high schools. I spoke with several parents who were in attendance who shared that their child had asked that they attend.
As a parent, I was so pleased to be able to share my thoughts and impressions of the curriculums presented. I genuinely felt listened to and was impressed how school staff took in all feedback that was presented. What was most impressive about the forum was the voices of the students who attended. Several students stood up and shared their personal experiences and spoke about how a health curriculum that is inclusive of all students could make a positive impact on the school community.
I left the forum proud to have participated in what may seem like a small thing, but in fact it will have a big impact.