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What Is Your Mantra? Define Your Intent for 2022-23

After a few years of feeling as if my work has been guided by many things outside my control, I find myself entering the 2022-23 school year looking for a sense of stability. As a result, I have adopted a mantra to focus my work, my interactions, and my life.

My mantra isn’t original. It is a quote that is largely credited to Mahatma Gandhi.

So as I start my 29th year in education, it is my hope that I frame my work and life to focus on mindsets, values, and actions that I wish to see more of in the world.

It is my hope that you see elements of each of these concepts in my work this year. I also ask you to help me identify ways that I can continue to evolve to be the change that I want to see in the world.

So I ask you: What will your mantra be? How will you frame your school year? How will you focus your work to make this the best school year ever? How will you empower your students to frame their school year? What will their mantra be?

Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] if there is anything I can do to support you, your site, or district. Wishing you a fantastic school year!

Health and Physical Education Coordinator

San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)

It’s time to update health education programming. New legislation in Senate Bill (SB) 224 requires all districts and sites that offer one or more courses in health education to pupils in middle school or high school to include all of the following mental health content:

In addition, SB 224 requires that on or before Jan. 1, 2024, the California Department of Education (CDE) will develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in California public schools. For more information review this health education and SB 224 infographic.

Hang out with your health and physical education peers at the SDCOE Health and Physical Education Hangouts on the first Wednesday of every month from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and receive the latest updates, resources, materials, and best practices in health and physical education. Hangouts will begin Sept. 7. Look for this year’s Hangout link to join in the SDCOE Health and Physical Education September Update!

Join representatives from throughout San Diego County on Oct. 6 from 9 to 11 a.m. to discuss:

There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is required. View our Physical Education Advisory Meeting webpage for more information and to register.

The Health Education Framework Series, begins this fall with four days of asynchronous and synchronous professional learning designed to help teachers implement skills-based instruction to build students’ health literacy. Click the following dates to learn more about the complete fall series, or attend individual sessions.

Participate in conversations designed to better understand the concept of Physical Literacy and to identify strategies and actions to provide instruction to strategically impact students’ understanding, skills, mindsets, values, and habits associated with physical activity. Together, we will utilize standards-based instructional design, social and emotional learning (SEL), universal design for learning (UDL), and culturally and linguistically relevant teaching to provide meaningful learning experiences for students. The Physical Literacy Institute will be offered online twice this school year. Visit the SDCOE Physical Literacy Institute online registration system for more information.

Educators who have completed the Physical Literacy Institute or all four of the Health Education Framework series are invited to participate in the Tier 1 Health and Physical Education Leadership Academy (HPELA). The first of a two-tier leadership series, is designed to develop model pedagogy and practice for teacher recognition as a role model and leader on campuses/in districts. HPELA provides a combination of professional learning and on-site coaching to develop and promote best practice. Meetings will take place virtually from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 30, Dec. 14, Jan. 11, Jan. 25, March 8, and March 22. Visit the Tier 1 Health and Physical Education Leadership Academy registration system for more information and to register.

Those who have completed HPELA may register for the second tier of the leadership series, designed to study and implement effective leadership voice and strategies. SDCOE’s Health and Physical Education Leadership in Action focuses on best practice for communication, promotion, and advocacy. Join us Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Jan. 19, and March 15 as we develop skills sets, messaging, strategies, and actions to make a difference in health and physical education in San Diego County and beyond. Visit the Health and Physical Education Leadership in Action (Tier 2) registration system for more information and to register.

Individuals in need of immediate mental health assistance can now dial/text 9-8-8 or web chat at 988lifeline.org to connect with counselors trained to understand how you are feeling and connect you to resources that are specifically tailored to your needs. 988 counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Educators are encouraged to share this information with students and families.

CDE recently released a Health Education Instructional Materials Evaluation Toolkit to help districts and sites vet instructional materials to ensure that instruction is aligned to Health Education Model Content Standards for California Public Schools, Health Education Framework for California Public Schools and California Education Code requirements for health education instruction including:

The CDE will offer a webinar later this spring to provide specific insight on how to use the toolkit effectively.

The highly anticipated Health Education Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve has been released. This PDF is also featured on the California Health Education website and the document, as well as other resources and information, can be found on the CDE Health Framework webpage. Looking for support in implementing the new framework? Check out the SDCOE Health Education Framework professional learning series that begins this month.

The California Healthy Kids Resource Center, together with the Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group (ASHWG), conducted an intensive review of growth development and sexual health curriculum in accordance with the California Healthy Youth Act. A total of nine publishers submitted curricula to be reviewed. Access all of the curricula reviews by expanding the Links to Compliance Assessment Tools and Resources tab, which includes the following:

This 2020-21 California Healthy Youth Act curricula review is intended to be an update of previous reviews done by ASHWG, and these reviews are posted on the California Healthy Kids Resource Center webpage. Reviews can be found by scrolling down the home page and clicking Links to Compliance Assessment Tools and Resources. For additional information, visit the CDE CHYA webpage. A recording of a recent webinar explaining how to use CHYA compliance reviews will be available later this month.

Last year a new website launched that is a one-stop shop for all things related to health education programming. CaliforniaHealthEducation.org features critical resources for each of the six content areas that include:

Bookmark CaliforniaHealthEducation.org as it will continue to be updated and populated with content to support the implementation of the new California Health Education Framework.

The CDE has added significant updates to its Supporting LGBTQ+ website. The additions to the website include specific resources to support educators, students, and families. Even better news is that the resources include links to local resources in San Diego County. Be sure to share this information with administrators, counselors, teachers, and families. In addition, schools may use this information to update their comprehensive sexual health instruction to make sure that experiences are inclusive and accessible for all students.

Also, the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council’s Youth Services Committee — under the leadership of San Diego Pride, the SD LGBT Community Center, The North County LGBTQ Resource Center, and Trans Family Services — has recently released LGBTQ+ Youth Standards of Care. The standards outline best practices and relevant resources that reflect and comply with California Education Code and laws.

Check out the Tools for Schools searchable resource database from Live Well Schools. More than 300 resources, searchable by topic, will connect you to programs, partnership ideas, policy strategies, and tools to meet short-term needs of students and families and facilitate long-term planning for schools and districts. Tools for Schools provides a wide array of resources based on a broader definition of wellness that includes social and emotional health and a focus on addressing health disparities.