Dear Parent/ Guardian,

Knowing our bodies

In Term 3 in line with the Australian Curriculum and the Department of Education, Tasmania, students will be learning about their own growth and bodies. This program will enable students to develop skills to manage their emotions, understand the physical and social changes and examine how relationships change over time.

As the School Nurse for Somerset Primary I will be delivering the program with support from the grade teachers.

The sessions will consist of age appropriate topics:

Kinder to Grade 2

• Knowing our bodies in relation to hygiene e.g. washing our hands, cleaning our teeth, brushing our hair
• Germs e.g. coughs and colds
• Healthy eating e.g. everyday foods and sometimes foods
• Feelings
• People to trust
• Resilience

Grade 3 and 4

• Body systems e.g. how they work and keeping them healthy
• Body parts e.g. their names and nick names
• Age appropriate pregnancy and birth
• Basics of puberty
• Personal safety

Grades 5 and 6

• Changes during puberty, including the physical, emotional, body image and social changes
• Conception, pregnancy and birth
• Health and hygiene, including the importance of exercise, washing, diet and water intake
• Positive relationships versus negative relationships including respect, cyber safety and having a safety network
• Girls only session regarding menstruation

If you have any questions about the program, please speak to your child’s teacher, notify the school office or contact me through the school on a Friday. I look forward to working with your child.

Yours sincerely,

Merrie Lewis

Primary School Nurse.

Somerset Primary School