SEQUIM — Parents and legal guardians of children in grades 5-12 in the Sequim School District are invited to a meeting today that will provide information about the district’s HIV prevention program.
The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the Greywolf Elementary School library, 171 Carlsborg Road.
The fifth-grade program overview will be from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., the program for sixth grade will be presented.
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., parents can review materials for the seventh and eighth grades.
The ninth-grade program overview will be from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The 10th- and 11th-grade program overview, with written information only, will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The 12th-grade program overview will be from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The meeting will include a preview of videos and curriculum students may see in the classroom concerning HIV prevention strategies.
“We give parents an opportunity to view the materials their students will be seeing as part of the education in advance of them actually being taught in the class,” said Brian Lewis, district business manager.
“Any and all are welcome,” he added. “Even those that don’t have kids in school can come and see what the materials are that are being presented.”
The education program is intended to help prevent the spread of HIV, Lewis said.
The state mandates that AIDS prevention programs be provided to students from grades 5-12.
Can excuse kid
After viewing materials, parents who wish to have their child excused from participating in the programs can sign release forms provided at the meeting.
State law requires that parents and guardians attend such a meeting before they can have their children excused from participation.
“Parents can opt their students out, but they have to participate in this meeting,” Lewis said.
For more information, call the district at 360-582-3260.
________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
