SC Academic Standards for Health and Safety Education

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health & Wellness provides students with accurate, standards-based health content. The program focuses on ten Health Life Skills, including teaching students to make responsible decisions and to set health goals at each grade level. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health & Wellness is designed so that teachers can easily cover the core health materials and provide students with the content, skills, and the knowledge they need to lead healthy lives.

The SC Comprehensive Health Education Act requires that school districts provide instruction to 5th grade students on the topic of puberty. This includes the physical, emotional, and social changes that occur in puberty, such as changes in voice, growth of body and facial hair, and other changes that are unique to males and females. Cherokee County School District will be showing the video Always Changing to 5th grade students. This video will be shown by the classroom teacher and school nurse, and boys and girls will be separated during the video and any class discussion after the video. Girls will be shown the Always Changing – Girls version while boys are shown the Always Changing – Boys version. If you would like to preview this video before your child views it at school, you may do so by clicking here or by asking to preview the video at your child’s school. If you preview the video using the link, please scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the video option for girls or boys.

Cherokee County School District also utilizes the Too Good for Drugs program through a partnership with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. This evidence-based program is used monthly with all students in grades 1-4, and is used extensively with all 5th grade students, culminating in a Too Good for Drugs graduation program and essay contest.

Additional Comprehensive Health Education content is integrated throughout 4K-5th grade science, health, and guidance instruction.

The SC Comprehensive Health Education Act requires that school districts provide a comprehensive health education program for students in middle school that includes abstinence based instruction in reproductive health, family life education, and pregnancy prevention. Cherokee County School District will be using the Heritage Keepers Abstinence Education Program, a character-based program that is research based and proven effective. Instruction will be provided on the following topics, as required by the SC Health Standards:

• Abstinence

• Values and Goals

• Male/Female Reproductive System

• Human Development

• Physical, Emotional, and Economic Benefits of Marriage

• STD’s/STI’s (Definitions, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment)

• Refusal Skills

• Building Healthy Relationships

• Laws Related to Sexual Conduct of Minors

Parent Letters are sent home prior to instruction.

Due to the nature of these topics, the curriculum is available for parental preview at your child's school during regular school hours.

The SC Comprehensive Health Education Act requires that school districts provide a comprehensive health education program for students in high school that includes abstinence-based instruction in reproductive health, family life education, and pregnancy prevention. Cherokee County School District will be using the Heritage Keepers Abstinence Education Program, a character-based program that is research based and proven effective. Instruction will be provided on the following topics, as required by the SC Health Standards:

• Abstinence

• Values, Goals, and Boundaries

• Dangers of Drugs, Alcohol, and Pornography

• Male/Female Reproductive System

• Human Development

• Physical, Emotional, and Economic Benefits of Marriage

• STD’s/STI’s (Definitions, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment)

• Birth Control and STD/STI Prevention Methods for Future Family Planning

• Refusal Skills

• Cohabitation vs. Marriage

• Building Healthy Relationships/Respectful Dating

• Laws Related to Sexual Conduct of Minors

• Negative Media Influence

• Internet Safety and

  cyber-Bullying

Parent Letters are sent home prior to instruction.

Due to the nature of these topics, the curriculum is available for parental preview at your child's school during regular school hours.