“Our Whole Lives” (OWL)
a non-religious sexuality education program for 8th through 10th graders

A Letter from Lizie and Sally:

Dear Parents, Educators and Counselors,

We are about to launch our second offering of a wonderful and highly recommended sexuality education program, for 8th, 9th and 10th graders, called Our Whole Lives. Though Our Whole Lives was developed in part by the Unitarian Universalist Association, there are no religious components to it. It is a comprehensive and inclusive values based curriculum that gives teens honest answers to all their questions, helps them understand the emotional, social and physical aspects of sexuality, and helps them clarify and articulate their own values.

This coming Monday evening: February 8th @ 6pm, we are hosting the parent information night that is mandatory for all who are going to enroll their teen and recommended for anyone interested in finding out more about the program.

Please visit the following link: http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/ourwhole/ for more information. We are hoping to get the word out to every parent with a teen in 8th, 9th and 10th grades so please send this email to everyone you know who has a teen in this age group! We will include 7th and 11th grades on a person by person basis.

Think your teen would not want to participate in this program? Come to the parent night where we will discuss and recommend ways to encourage and persuade your teen to give it a try.

Thank you for joining us in our concern for young teens need for an accurate, comprehensive and age appropriate sexuality education program.

Sincerely,

Lizie Hagenstein and Sally Ure
Directors of Religious Education
Unitarian Universalist Church

About OWL:

The program will hold weekly sessions through Sunday, May 9. A parent information meeting will be held on Monday, February 8 at 6 p.m. Both the informational meeting and the six week program will take place at the Unitarian Church at 11 Orange Street.

The OWL program was developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ 10 years ago and has been offered by congregations and groups across the country.

“The OWL program gives youth the benefit of accurate and comprehensive information about sexuality,” said Rev. Jennifer Brooks, minister of the Nantucket Unitarian Church. “The supportive peer group experience under the guidance of caring adults helps youth deal with many of the difficult issues that inevitably arise.”

OWL leaders are certified through a training program conducted by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Certified trainers who will lead the upcoming program are Sally Ure, Lizie Hagenstein, Nancy Rappaport, Dan Ross and Ian Williams. All sessions are taught with at least one male and one female leader present.

For more information about the OWL program, interested parents can contact Lizie Hagenstein at (508) 257-9779 or .