On Feb. 11, CESJDS hosted three health and wellness speakers to deliver presentations on teen sexual health, navigating relationships and consent. These seminars took place during class time, and each grade missed a period to attend.
Dr. Diane Snyder, a practicing gynecologist, presented on basic sexual anatomy, as well as contraceptive practices and their effectiveness to the class of 2028. Dr. Charles and Amy Miron, certified sexual therapists, spoke to the class of 2027. Beth Landau, a member of the Montgomery County State Attorney Special Victims Unit, delivered a seminar about domestic violence to the class of 2026.
Snyder has specialty training in pediatric adolescent gynecology, but she sees a variety of patients, both young and old. Snyder believes that the youth often struggle with understanding the interworking of their bodies, so she chooses to center her presentations around basic sexual anatomy.
“I find I have to really go back and explain the anatomy and how it functions,” Snyder said. “Then we can build on that for both pregnancy prevention as well as disease prevention and treatment.”
Snyder’s number one tip for teens is to be mindful of their sexual health. She stresses the importance of seeking professional medical advice rather than self-administered care which can often be based on misinformation.
“Make sure you have credible sources of guidance and that you’re not making decisions based on inaccurate medical information,” Snyder said. “I have lots of patients who come in trying different things for infections or cramps that are not only not effective, but sometimes can even make situations worse.”
However, there are still small habits students can put into practice to improve their general sexual well-being. For instance, Snyder encourages teenage girls to track their menstrual cycles. She recommends using an app or digital software to do so.
According to freshman Kira Koplow, Snyder’s applicable tips and overall informative seminar was very beneficial to the student body, despite the fact that the topic was slightly familiar already.
“We learned most of that stuff in Rikuz in middle school, but it was good to get the refresher,” Koplow said. “I think it was super informative and definitely something that we need to learn, especially in high school.”
The JDS wellness team organized these speakers because they believed the topics to be crucial for students’ development. Health and Wellness Fellows, which are the students who assist in the wellness program, play a large role in orchestrating these events.
“The fellows are always working hard to find new speakers and new ways of engaging with the student body,” high school counselor Marnie Lang said. “The fellows come in and they work on the next round of presentations, and they give insight about what they want to see and how we can incorporate it.”
In the wellness program and Snyder’s opinion, these presentations serve as important tools for young students to expand their knowledge and awareness. They encourage students to discuss sensitive topics that can sometimes be difficult to assess, and the wellness program brought these speakers in so the students can be more prepared for the present and the future.
“I’d love for everyone to be very comfortable with their sexuality, to be comfortable talking about it not be embarrassed about it,” Snyder said. “Embrace it, learn about your body, and other bodies, and the more you know how your body works, the more you can protect it.”
