WELLER CENTER PRESENTS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

(Selinsgrove, PA) On February 23 and 24, more than 200 sixth graders from Selinsgrove Middle School participated in a special assembly called Life Begins. Presented by the Weller Health Education Center, Life Begins is a sensitive, age-appropriate presentation that describes the growth and development changes that occur between childhood and adolescence.

During the presentation, specially trained health educators explained the biology of the reproductive systems, fetal development and the birth process using teaching aids including life-size models of the growing fetus. The program supports Pennsylvania state academic standards in health, safety and physical education and is used to supplement health teachings already offered by the school district. After the program, students are invited to log on to the Weller Center’s online question and answer forum to continue to anonymously ask questions of the health educators.

The program is sponsored by a grant from the Degenstein Foundation. More than 1,000 students from school districts in Northumberland, Snyder and Schuylkill counties will participate in the assembly this school year. The grant also funds drug prevention assemblies for fourth grade students in the same counties.

The Weller Center has been partnering with school districts to present the Life Begins program to students for more than 21 years. Last year alone, more than 4,000 students participated in the program.

One of only 33 nonprofit health education centers in the nation, the Weller Center offers more than 30 programs for students grades K – 12 in human anatomy and biology, character education, global health, drug abuse prevention, general health, growth and development and nutrition. The Center’s mission is to partner with schools to provide students with the information they need to make informed and healthy decisions. The Center has been offering high-impact, curricula-based preventive health education for 21 years and serves more than 75,000 students each year from 39 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.