Introduction

June, 2023

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We would like to know your thoughts on our health curriculum.  Your response will help us to review the effectiveness and appropriateness of the health curriculum we offer at Emmanuel Christian School.
The New Zealand Curriculum for state schools gives direction to schools in terms of what should be covered in a health curriculum.  However, we can have a big say in what we teach, partly based on what our community thinks and feels.  The topics below are from the New Zealand Curriculum.    
 
Be aware that we do have to teach some things. What we need to get is a sense of how deeply we go into the various topics presented and at what age levels we start introducing the content to pupils at Emmanuel Christian School.
All of the topics listed can and are taught from a strong biblical foundation.  The following gives a context for the feedback and outlines our schools rationale for Health and lists the New Zealand Curriculum topics for years 1 to 10.
From our Health scheme:  The Rationale says:
The heart of Health and Physical Education at our school is a focus on God, rather than on man. Our overall aim is to teach pupils to think of God first, others second and themselves last. The outworking of this philosophy should be genuinely positive involvement and participation in our communities, whether that be through involvement in a team, supporting people in the community, achieving personal goals, caring for the environment or social action.
 
Waiora (well-being) is an essential concept in this learning area. True wellbeing begins with acceptance of the ideas that man is created in God’s image and that our relationship with Him is paramount. We must recognise that we are knitted together by God. He gave us a function and a purpose and an eternity – this is made clear in His word.
Spiritual awareness and growth is the key contributor to the development of an individual. Waiora involves understanding the factors that influence the health of others and us. It involves learning how our bodies work, and how to make the most of them, recognising that they are a gift from God.
God made every part of our body, and He expects our communities to work together like a body. We desire to see pupils become determined to promote health in the community through making choices that do not revolve around themselves, but around service to God and others.
From the New Zealand Curriculum
Topics for Health
The Topics that could be covered include the following.  There is a short description besides each one.  These descriptions are not complete but give you an idea of what may be covered.
·      Safety management (helping pupils identify risks and make safe choices (e.g. First Aid, ‘sun smart’ etc)
·      Nutrition (healthy eating choices for good health etc)
·      Personal identity (uniqueness, sharing, cooperating, discrimination, rights and responsibilities, values)
·      Self- worth (personal qualities, feelings, stereotypes in the media, identity etc)
·      Reproductive health (bodies changing through puberty, contraception, human reproduction, sex etc)
·      Positive sexuality (gender issues, sexual orientation etc)
·      Managing change and loss (grief, moving etc)
·      Mental health (depression, responding to difference, affirming diversity etc)
·      Responsible decision-making
·      Relationships (friendship, bullying, romance, child-parent relationships etc)     

What we want your feedback on. In your opinion:
Who should be responsible for teaching your child about each of these key factors that contribute to healthy individuals and communities?  We believe in the partnership between family, church and school, which means each part of the partnership will have a role to play.
What level of the school should the topics be introduced? (ie. What age is too young for what content?)

Please complete this survey no later than Wednesday 26th July 2023

Alistair McKinnon
Principal

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