Puberty letter
October 21, 2026
Dear Parents/Guardians:
On November 23rd, your child will participate in a discussion about what happens during puberty. The discussion will focus on age-appropriate facts about puberty and will take place in a comfortable and supportive environment. Students are separated by gender to encourage questions and help students feel more comfortable. Ms. Plush will introduce the young women while Mr. Slifstein speaks to the young men.
You may have already begun to notice changes in your child's physical appearance and emotional development. Now is an ideal time to present the facts so your child is aware of the many changes that accompany the transition from childhood to adolescence before moving on to high school.
We are using a program produced by Human Relations Media called The Puberty Workshop and Curriculum. It contains videos as well as printed materials that teach basic concepts about human development, such as the role of hormones, the structure and function of a boy's or girl's reproductive system, the emergence of new feelings and emotions that are part of growing up, and maintaining personal hygiene. We wanted you to be aware of the presentation in case your child has follow-up questions.
Listed below are the concepts that will be presented, as well as the videos that will be shared with students if you would like to view them before our conversations with students:
Here are some suggestions on how to address questions with your child:
Talk about your own experiences with puberty.
Reassure your child that all adults have experienced the same transitions he or she is going through now or will go through in the coming years.
Reassure your child that it may be uncomfortable at times as their body changes in many ways, but that everything will be okay.
Reassure your child that every boy or girl enters puberty on their own schedule. It's okay to be the tallest or shortest for now.
Help your child buy the hygiene products they need: deodorant, bras, sanitary pads, facial scrub, etc.
Help your child establish a regular schedule for showering, washing hair, and laying out clean clothes every day.
The key is to reassure your child that the new, adult version of their body will be something wonderful: taller, stronger, and ready to take on the new responsibilities of being a teenager on the path to adulthood! Thank you for your support as we continue to implement our health curriculum in a way that is appropriate for our students.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Plush and Mr. Slifstein