Dear Parents/Guardians,
As you are aware, the Ontario Government has directed all school boards to use the re-issued 2010 Health and Physical Education Curriculum for Grades 1-8. The 2015 Health and Physical Education Curriculum will continue to be taught in secondary schools.
The Ministry of Education is planning a comprehensive consultation regarding the Health and Physical Education Curriculum, along with other areas of education. A copy of the interim edition of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum for Grades 1-8 is available online: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/healthcurr18.pdf
The LKDSB is awaiting curriculum resources from the Ministry, however school boards across the province have been sharing information to support the implementation of these changes. The LKDSB has recommended elementary teaching staff defer teaching the Grades 1 – 8 Healthy Living: Growth and Development curriculum expectations until second term, when it is anticipated that supports from the Ministry and the LKDSB will be available.
While there have been concerns expressed about the differences in topics outlined in the 2010 and 2015 curriculum documents for Grades 1-8, it should be noted that there are topics that are covered under "prompts" as opposed to "expectations," but remain in the curriculum. As such, educators will continue to have discussions about diverse families, online safety and consent, etc. while also meeting the curriculum expectations.
We expect that all educators will teach the curriculum set for Ontario students, however educators are responsible for determining the instructional strategies used to teach the curriculum. As we prepare for the 2018-2019 school year, we remain committed to student achievement in a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment. We are confident our teachers will continue to align with the Ministry direction and the LKDSB's policies and procedures to promote student success and well-being.
You may also be aware of the Ontario government has established an online platform (Fortheparents.ca) for parents/guardians to report concerns. The LKDSB Senior Administration looks forward to learning more about this process and will continue to follow its current policies and procedures regarding professional conduct.
It is recommended that parents/guardians who have specific concerns with instructional approaches should resolve these through discussion with teachers and principals as per our Parental Concerns Policy and Regulations. Those with concerns related to the re-issued 2010 Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum will be directed to the Ministry of Education.
Sincerely,
Jim Costello
Director
Lambton Kent District School Board