The community is invited to the Consent Assembly preview night on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Alan Harvey Theater at Piedmont High School.
This event is a full, identical performance of the Consent Assembly that all freshmen and seniors at PHS and MHS will attend during Academy on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
The Consent Assembly features dramatic presentations based on real accounts of sexual violence and consent shared by Bay Area high school students. The assembly is designed to foster empathy and critical thinking by presenting a variety of perspectives, including those of survivors, perpetrators, and bystanders. It promotes a culture of inclusion by exploring diverse relationships and inspiring students to embrace the values of affirmative consent, allyship, effective communication, and healthy relationships. Healthy communities and relationships depend on both belonging and consent, ensuring that each person’s boundaries are respected and everyone feels included.
While the assembly is an important component of consent education, it is also potentially triggering for survivors of sexual harm. During the school-day assembly, Wellness Center counselors will be available, and the library will be open as a safe space for students.
The Consent Assembly has been an important part of education in the Piedmont community since 2007. During the past five years, the Consent Assembly has traveled to other schools — including Bishop O’Dowd, Menlo-Atherton, Head Royce, Lick Wilmerding, and El Cerrito High School — to supplement their consent education.
We invite parents and students who will not be attending the assembly during Academy, and all interested community members, to the preview night on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. to encourage dialogue across families, fostering a supportive and safe community for everyone.