by Director of Learning & Family Ministries Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt
Every other year, we offer three levels of Our Whole Lives (OWL), a comprehensive, age-appropriate, queer-positive sexuality education program for our children and youth. And we’re excited to say: this is one of those years.
Grades K–1
The K–1st-grade class runs for eight weeks (plus an orientation for parents and kids) and will begin in mid-September. We have a trained, experienced team of three volunteer teachers who will lead our kids in learning about bodies, gender, boundaries, families, how babies are made, and pregnancy and birth.
Grades 4-5
The 4th–5th-grade class runs for 10 weeks (plus an orientation) and will begin mid-February. We have three trained, experienced volunteers who will teach our older kids about values, images in popular culture, body image, puberty, gender, attraction, reproductive health, decision making, consent and peer pressure, and healthy relationships.
Grades 8-9
The 8th–9th-grade class runs our full program year (25 sessions) beginning in early September, and is taught by a four-person volunteer team. This is the “everything you (as a young teen) ever wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask” class. Even when kids have pretty good sex ed at school, they and their families report that this class is more comprehensive than what they learned there. For many kids, this class is literally life-saving, equipping them for the adventures and risks they will encounter in high school and in life as they begin to navigate relationships, sexual activity, and identity.
These classes are open to families from the community.While I currently expect adequate enrollment from within MLUC, we have room for more participants. There is no fee for registration, although we do suggest that families make a contribution to the congregation at a level that feels good to them if they are not pledging members or friends. Please spread the word to neighbors, friends, and relations.
We also hope to offer a Parents as Sexuality Educators class for parents and caregivers of those participating in the OWL programs. Dates and times TBD.