Physical Education and Health

The goal of the physical education department is to focus on thematic instruction, which allows teachers to connect learning with key concepts, which leads to increased student achievement. Through quality instruction, our students will develop a physically active lifestyle. The students will gain understanding through the importance of exercise, and sports games, which are guided towards developing a healthy body and mind. The student’s social/emotional wellbeing is carefully monitored through teamwork and sportsmanship. We also create, execute, and implement curriculums that tap into the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. We believe in the development of our students’ healthy lifestyle by incorporating these activities which promote the importance of health and wellness.

Sexual Health Education

Students in grades 5-8 will participate in sexual health education as part of the District 97 health curriculum. District 97 acknowledges that parents/guardians are the primary educators for their student and we are committed to continuing our partnership with families to provide supplementary instruction via the sexual health education lessons.

Sexual Health Education Contact:

Tawanda Lawrence, Ed.D.
Senior Director of Teaching and Learning
[email protected]
708.524.3000

Sexual Health Education Curriculum:

5th Grade:

  • Candor Health Education provides instruction in the topics below for fifth grade students.
  • Puberty I - Understanding Changes
  • Puberty II - Navigating Changes

Families will receive communication from their home school that includes a course outline and resources for Puberty I and Puberty II courses and a class attendance waiver request form. We encourage you to review the curriculum for Puberty I and Puberty II if you are considering excusing your student from participation. Please complete the Sexual Health Education Class Attendance Waiver Request form if you would like your student to be excused from the Puberty I and Puberty II courses.

6th-8th Grade:

District 97 health teachers provide instruction in the topics below for sixth through eighth grade students.                                                                                                               

  • Erin’s Law – Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (6th, 7th & 8th grades)
  • Puberty and Adolescent Development (6th grade)
  • Anatomy and Physiology of Human Reproduction (6th & 7th grades) Healthy Decision Making (7th & 8th grades)
  • Abstinence and Healthy Relationships (8th grade)
  • Communicable Diseases including Sexually Transmitted Infections & HIV Prevention (8th grade) Contraceptives (8th grade)
  • Personal Safety (6th, 7th & 8th grades)

A sample of District 97’s course outline and instructional materials for these lessons are available for your review. Families will receive communication from their home school that includes a request to review the curriculum and a class attendance waiver form. We encourage you to complete the form to review the curriculum if you are considering excusing your student from participating in these lessons. Please complete the Sexual Health Education Class Attendance Waiver Request form if you would like your student to be excused from participating in any of the above topics for this school year.