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Photo of four middle school boys in blue uniforms walking in a line in a gymnasium, each one with his hands on the shoulders of the boy in front of him. Text reads School Wellness Connection, January 30, 2026 with logo of Office of School Wellness Programs in lower left corner.

Building Inclusive PE and Health Education Classrooms That Affirm All Students

Respect for All Week, February 9-13, is a perfect opportunity to reinforce the values of respect, equity, and inclusion in physical education and health education. Creating an inclusive PE and health education classroom means ensuring that every student—regardless of ability, background, or identity—feels valued, affirmed, and supported. 


In PE and health education classes, students learn and practice skills related to empathy, teamwork, accepting differences in others, and fostering positive relationships—skills that build a foundation for lifelong health and learning.  


The Office of School Wellness Programs is offering several live webinars during Respect for All Week and beyond designed to help PE and health educators create a culture of belonging in school communities across New York City. Read more in the Physical Education and Health Education sections below about: 


  • Creating safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ students 
  • Community building in PE 
  • Supporting and promoting inclusivity for students with disabilities in PE and health education 


Note: All hyperlinks open in a new tab.


(Photo by Krisanne Johnson. Design by Office of School Wellness Programs.)

Wellness Highlights
Photo of four elementary school children walking down a school hallway holding hands, with their teacher on the left. Text in a multicolored graphic reads Respect for All Week.

(Image: New York City Public Schools.)


Celebrate Respect for All Week, February 9–13  


New York City Public Schools highlights its commitment to keeping schools safe, supportive, and free from discrimination through Respect for All Week — a time to focus and build on ongoing programs to help students, staff, and communities gain a better understanding of diversity. This year the week runs from Monday, February 9 through Friday, February 13.     


Caregivers and Students:  


Educators: 
Image of OUT for SAFE SCHOOLS badge with LGBTQ and transgender flag at the bottom and NYC Public Schools logo in lower right corner.

K-12 School Staff: Create Safe and Supportive Environments for LGTBQ+ Students   


Affirming LGBTQ+ identities in the classroom helps foster a sense of belonging for all students. Educators, take advantage of the resources and training that NYCPS offers: 

 



  • Register for the upcoming webinar (K-12): Build an Affirming Community with OUT for Safe Schools. Learn about the OUT for Safe Schools® campaign, a national initiative that supports school-based staff to visibly identify as trusted adults to LGBTQ+ students.    




(Forthcoming new OUT for Safe Schools® badge. Image courtesy of the Office of School Wellness Programs.) 


Head shot of Drew Miller, NYCPS health education teacher, smiling at the camera.

Congratulations, Drew Miller: SHAPE Eastern District Health Education Teacher of the Year!  


Drew Miller, health education teacher at Bard High School Early College Manhattan, was recently named 2026 SHAPE America Eastern District Health Education Teacher of the Year. This distinguished award recognizes his outstanding dedication, leadership, and impact in health education. Drew will advance to the next stage, the selection of National Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at the 2026 SHAPE America National Convention & Expo in March. We are so proud! 


(Photo: Courtesy Drew Miller.)

Physical Education
Photo of elementary students and their teacher in a classroom, lying stomach-down on yoga mats and doing a yoga pose.

Teachers: Upcoming Webinars on Community Building and Supporting Students With Disabilities in PE 


Our Strategies for Community Building professional learning series aligns with the Respect for All mission by equipping educators with approaches that foster respect, inclusion, and positive behavior in PE and beyond. Participants explore CASEL’s Social-Emotional Learning competencies and the K–5 and 6–12 New York City PE Scope and Sequence community building theme.  


Self-Guided Course:  

We are excited to announce a new WeLearnNYC course for PE teachers to learn more about the PE community building theme and how it can help support student success. Enroll in this new self-guided WeLearnNYC course and complete it on your own time:    


Grades K-12: Introduction to Community Building in Physical Education (PE) (CTLE: 60 minutes)  


Live Webinars:

Register for the next Community Building webinars:  


Behavior Management and Ensuring Student Safety

Grades K-12: Tuesday, February 3, 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (CTLE: 60 minutes)  


Establishing Clear Communication

Grades K-12: Tuesday, February 24, 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (CTLE: 60 minutes)  


Building Relationships for Student Success

Grades K-12: Tuesday, March 3, 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. (CTLE: 60 minutes)  



Also, on February 10, we are offering a webinar to review universal design principles and strategies to support and include students with disabilities in general physical education. 


Understanding Disabilities and Including ALL Students in PE: Supporting Students with Disabilities in PE  

Grades K-12: Tuesday, February 10, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)   


Key Physical Education Resources for Educators: Bookmark These!  

 

  • Visit the Office of School Wellness Programs Physical Education Support Center for links to helpful resources and answers to frequently asked questions.
  • Support for Adapted Physical Education (APE) instruction and IEP requirements: Review Adapted Physical Education Guidance for more information or email APE@schools.nyc.gov to schedule a 30-minute consultation with Office of School Wellness Programs content specialists.  
  • Complete the self-guided course Introduction to K-12 Physical Education (CTLE: 45 minutes) to learn about the basics of PE, the impact of PE on student outcomes, the required components of physical education in NYC, and where to find resources to support PE lesson planning.  


(Photo: Krisanne Johnson.) 

Move-to-Improve Monthly Moves
Elementary age children standing in a classroom tossing yellow scarves in the air

Move to Improve (MTI), NYCPS’s classroom-based physical activity program for grades K–5 (and grade 6 in K-6, K-8 and K-12 schools), helps schools build a culture of movement all year long. Elementary educators:  



(Video: Move-to-Improve "Count and Catch." Office of School Wellness Programs.)

MTI Monthly Moves: February
Photo of elementary school children standing up in a classroom around their desks and waving yellow scarves in the air.







MTI Activity


Count and Catch  

Students integrate math concepts and counting skills while they practice throwing and catching.  
Photo of two children sitting side by side in a classroom, with both arms crossed on their chests and their hands on their hearts.

Cool Down


Heart Breath  

Help students regain focus while bringing their heart rates to a resting rate. Students hold both hands over their heart while taking deep breaths, noticing their heart rates.   
Illustration of a child in a blue tee shirt and red shorts jumping off the ground. Text on left illustration reads Jump. Text on right illustration reads Salto con ambas piernas..

Activity


Jump  

What’s the difference between a jump and a hop? We jump on two feet and hop with one foot. Have your students jump through academics or between subjects! 
Health Education
Photo of two middle school students sitting at a desk facing each other, with their teacher standing next to them pointing out work on the desk.

In honor of Respect for All Week, consider joining these upcoming webinars designed for health education teachers to explore strategies and skills to promote inclusivity for all students.


Introduction to Health Education: Strategies for LGBTQ Affirming Classrooms  

Grades K-12: Monday, February 9, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)  


Sexual Health Education: Promoting Inclusivity for Students with Disabilities   

Grades 6-12: Tuesday, March 10, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)  


 

New to Teaching Health Education? Register for introduction to Health Education on February 2 

Learn instructional best practices you need to teach skills-based, comprehensive health education at any grade level. Participants receive a free copy of the NYCPS-recommended HealthSmart curriculum. 


Introduction to Health Education: Strategies for Skills Based Instruction 

Grades K-12: Monday, February 2, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)



Grades 9-12 School Staff: Get Certified to Support Your Condom Availability Program and Health Resource Room 

Secondary school staff trained in the Condom Availability Program support their school’s Health Resource Room, creating a welcoming environment for students to safely access health resources, referrals, and condoms. If you’re interested in supporting student health and wellness at your school, please visit the Professional Learning Catalog to register for the next CAP webinar series.  



Teaching Health Education This Semester? Bookmark These Key Resources!  

 


(Photo: Kirsten Luce.) 

External Partner Opportunities
Logo for Climate Action Days, with four colored diamond shapes holding line illustrations of a recyclable cup, an electrical plug, a hand holding a plant, and a drop of water.

NYCPS Energy Climate Action Day: February 4, 2026 

NYC Public Schools will celebrate Energy Climate Action Day on Wednesday, February 4. All schools are encouraged to plan schoolwide actions to save energy, including a schoolwide “Walk/Bike/Use Public Transportation to Get to School” action. Share the Energy Climate Action Flyer with your school, and check out resources from the Office of Energy & Sustainability. 


 (Image: Courtesy NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability)

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