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Erin’s Law, House Bill 6193, became Illinois law in 2013. This legislation requires schools to teach age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention for grades Pre-K through 12. In Elmhurst, we already have personal safety built into many grade levels’ health education curriculum. Beginning two years ago, after reviewing the requirements of the new legislation, we recognized that our students could benefit from additional information and strategies in order to consider past events and prevent future encounters. Our curriculum was enhanced at each grade level to cover the following:

• Distinguishing different types of touch
• Saying “NO”
• It’s not the child’s fault if someone touches him or her
• Identifying and telling a trusted adult

Again this year, an award-winning non-profit group, Imagination Theater, will deliver age-appropriate experiences for our students in 1st through 8th grade. Information about their program, called “No Secrets,” may be found by visiting www.imaginationtheater.org. A schedule of all elementary and middle school student assemblies can be found below.

Our school social workers will visit all of the Early Childhood and Kindergarten classrooms, as they did last year, to share age-appropriate read-alouds with students as a part of the Personal Safety Unit that is already in place at our schools.

York High School will be bringing in presenters from Elmhurst Hospital, as well as addressing the topic in multiple courses.

Please direct all questions about your school’s lesson(s) or assemblies to your child’s principal.