Letter to Families
August 2025
With the shift to The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), our Science department has integrated the California Health Standards (2008) into all three grades. This includes topics of drugs, reproduction, and decision making. In 6th grade, students study drug classifications, drug use and its impact as well as eating disorders. In 7th grade, students study hormones, puberty, reproductive anatomy, pregnancy, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. In 8th grade, students will review the impacts of drugs, sexually transmitted infections, and contraception. A common thread emphasized throughout all three years is a focus on healthy friendships, future goals, and making informed decisions. On the back of this sheet is a brief recap of what will be taught at each grade level.
Additionally, the California Healthy Youth Act (2015), requires that comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education be provided to students at least once in middle school or junior high school and once in high school, starting in grade 7. Instruction must encourage students to communicate with parents, guardians or other trusted adults about human sexuality. Instruction must be medically accurate, age-appropriate and inclusive of all students.
The California Healthy Youth Act specifically includes the following:
- Information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including transmission, FDA approved methods to prevent HIV and STIs, and treatments
- Information that abstinence is the only certain way to prevent unintended pregnancy and HIV and other STIs, and information about the value of delaying sexual activity
- Discussion about social views of HIV and AIDS
- Information about accessing resources for sexual and reproductive health care
- Information about pregnancy, including FDA approved prevention methods, pregnancy outcomes, prenatal care, and the newborn safe surrender law
- Information about sexual orientation and gender, including the harm of negative gender stereotypes
- Information about healthy relationships and avoiding unhealthy behaviors and situations
You can examine instructional materials for all topics in the curriculum binder located in the textbook office by appointment. If you have questions, please see the teacher or principal. You can view the entire California Healthy Youth Act (California Education Code Sections 51930-51939) at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/se.
State law allows you to remove your child from the sexual health and/or HIV content instruction. You can NOT opt out of content that is tied to human beings (PEOPLE): gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, etc. To excuse your child, please send a written request to your teacher before Quarter 4.
Sincerely,
Brent Rubey, Principal →
In 6th grade, we will integrate these topics into our study of human body systems:
- Types of drugs (stimulants vs. depressants)
- How stimulants and depressants impact the different systems of the human body
- Eating disorders and how they impact the different systems of the human body
- Tools and strategies for making healthy and positive decisions
- Introduction to gender identity, gender expression, and gender biology
- Introduction to the roles hormones play in adolescent development
In 7th grade, we will specifically cover:
- Review roles hormones play in adolescent development
- Male and female reproductive organs and their functions
- Recognition of adolescence as a normal period of physical and emotional change and development.
- Gender identity, gender expression, and gender biology
- STI and HIV/AIDS (transmission, prevention, treatment, myths)
- Pregnancy and contraception methods
- Sexual assault and consent
- Tools and strategies for making healthy and positive decisions.
In 8th grade we will specifically cover:
- Review of types of drugs (stimulants vs. depressants)
- Review of impacts of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana on the body and mind
- Discussion of additional commonly abused drugs (opiates, cocaine, hallucinogens, steroids, prescription drugs, etc) and their impacts
- Review and discussion of STIs (how they are spread and if they can be treated) and contraception
- Discussion of peer pressure and healthy ways to deal with it now and in high school
- Healthy relationships and avoiding unhealthy behaviors and situations (sex trafficking)
- Tools and strategies for making healthy and positive decisions
Please feel free to contact your child’s Science teacher if you have any further questions or concerns.
