Our Whole Lives (OWL)

**Enrollment is open to 8th, 9th, and 10th graders ONLY. **

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education program that helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. OWL resources are based on the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education produced by the National Guidelines Task Force, a group of leading health, education and sexuality professionals assembled by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. OWL regards parents as the primary sexuality educators of their children. All parents of participants enrolled in this course will be required to attend a parent orientation and an end-of-semester group meeting.

(Fall semester ONLY)

Instructor: Anna Sannes

Instructor Bio: Anna Sannes is a teacher and religious educator interested in empowering youth to advocate for themselves and others in both personal and political spheres. She previously taught with Baltimore City Public Schools, Cleveland Park Congregational Church, and Little Friends for Peace. In August, she began working with the amazing children and youth at the First Congregational Church of Ithaca. She is excited to bring OWL to Ithaca to promote and nurture OWL’s four values: self-worth; sexual health; responsibility; and justice and inclusivity.

Required Materials: pen or pencil; notebook and folder or looseleaf notebook