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How to Empower Strong and Healthy Students? Access the NYCPS School Wellness Policy

Research shows that healthy and safe students are less likely to be chronically absent from school. For an understanding of the many components of student and school wellness, access Empowering Strong and Healthy Students: The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) School Wellness Policy on the NYCPS website. The policy outlines how physical education, health education, physical activity practices, health services, food and nutrition, and sustainability efforts should be coordinated to ensure that all students learn and practice healthy behaviors throughout the school day.

School leaders and school staff:

• Please share the policy widely with your school community! It is written from a student’s point of view and is available in all NYCPS languages.
• A detailed School Guide to Empowering Strong and Healthy Students: The NYCPS School Wellness Policy is available on the NYCPS InfoHub.
• For questions or support, reach out to your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team.

Let’s work together to enhance students’ health, well-being, and safety—which in turn supports better attendance and academic success.

Note: All hyperlinks open in a new tab.

(Photo by Kirsten Luce. Design by Office of School Wellness Programs.)

Wellness Highlights

Schools: Make Attendance Outreach Easier With the Student Attendance Toolkit

Winter isn’t over yet! School staff, stay proactive with daily attendance outreach and family support. Access the Student Attendance Toolkit for tips and tools to plan communications at your school, including logos, graphics, and sample social media messaging.

Physical Education

NYC FITNESSGRAM: March 2026 Deadline Reminder 

NYC FITNESSGRAM is an annual health-related fitness assessment completed in physical education class in grades K-12 to promote health and wellness through fitness education. Teachers use the assessments to help students understand how the different components of fitness contribute to their health through self-reflection and goal-setting activities. The Office of School Wellness Programs provides training and resources to PE teachers so they can engage families in supporting their children in setting and achieving goals.  

Deadline: The 2025-2026 deadline to enter student scores in the NYC FITNESSGRAM web-based application is Friday, March 27. Teachers are encouraged to use the following resources to help them plan and complete the assessments. 

• NYC FITNESSGRAM Pacing Calendars
• NYC FITNESSGRAM Support Center Resources

Teachers Needing Access to the NYC FITNESSGRAM App: PE teachers can complete the following self-guided WeLearnNYC course anytime. Upon completion, eligible teachers will gain access to the NYC FITNESSGRAM web-based application: 

• Grades K-12: Introduction to NYC FITNESSGRAM Course (CTLE: 60 minutes)  

Teachers and Coaches: Register for Upcoming In-Person Soccer and Coach Trainings 

U.S. Soccer: Join national trainers from the U.S. Soccer Foundation as they provide specialized training to equip physical educators to teach soccer skills with their students. At the end of the session, teachers will get a free set of soccer balls for their school. 

• Grades K-12: Tuesday, March 24, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CTLE: 180 minutes) 
  Location: Mott Hall V (12X242), 1551 E. 172nd St., Bronx

Coach Camp: Enhance Your Coaching Skills and Elevate Your Impact 

Join an in-person, three-hour workshop with coaches from Exos and Wellness in the Schools and dive deep into teaching and coaching topics. 

• Grades K-12: Monday, March 23, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CTLE: 180 minutes) 
  Location: Roberto Clemente State Park Gymnasium, 301 W. Tremont Ave., Bronx

• Grades K-12: Thursday, March 26, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CTLE: 180 minutes) 
  Location: Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School, 160-20 Goethals Ave., Jamaica, Queens

Physical Education Online Professional Learning Community

K–12 physical education teachers, join the Office of School Wellness Programs Physical Education team for the next Online Professional Learning Community (OPLC) session to connect, collaborate, and strengthen skills‑based instruction across grade bands. Not sure OPLCs are right for you? Read what participants are saying about OPLCs and learn more about the planned topics for this year in the January 2026 School Wellness Connection.

Grades K-12: Monday, March 9, 2026 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. (CTLE: 60 minutes)

• Topic: Using Data to Plan Ongoing Instruction

(Photo: Krisanne Johnson.)

Move-to-Improve Monthly Moves

(Video: Move-to-Improve "Movement Memory." Office of School Wellness Programs.) 

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:

• Check out the Monthly Move below and access the full Move-to-Improve Collection of classroom resources on WeTeachNYC.
• Visit our new professional learning catalog and select “Move-to-Improve” from the top menu to see available webinars. Questions? Email your Office of School Wellness Program borough team.

MTI Activity

Movement Memory

Help students prepare for the upcoming New York State exams with this MTI favorite: multiple-choice review with movement. Use this Choose to Move poster in the classroom.

Watch the Movement

Memory video to see

students in action!



Cool Down

Bellows Breath

Have students model the movement of a bellows and lungs when they breathe.

Review the MTI Breathing Techniques handout for details and more cool downs.

Movement

March

Use this move to increase students’ aerobic endurance. Students march in place during class discussions or march throughout the school.

Access the MTI Visual Aid Cards for instructions. 

(Images: Move-to-Improve video stills and Visual Aid Cards. Office of School Wellness Programs.) 

Grades 9-12 Staff: Get Trained in the Condom Availability Program

In schools serving grades 9-12, Condom Availability Program (CAP)-trained staff operate Health Resource Rooms, which are safe, welcoming spaces where students can access resources and have open, judgment-free conversations about their health. High schools are required to have at least two NYCPS staff members who have been trained to implement CAP. School staff can register below for upcoming, CTLE-eligible training.

Note: Staff must register and attend all three webinars to become CAP-certified and eligible to support their school’s Health Resource Room.

• Part 1: CAP Overview: Wednesday, March 11, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.  
• Part 2: Condom Demos and Answering Sensitive Questions: Wednesday, March 18, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.   
• Part 3: Health Referrals and Next Steps: Wednesday, March 25, 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. 

High school educators and school staff, visit the CAP section of the Office of School Wellness Programs Support Center for guidance, check out the OSWP Professional Learning Catalog, and reach out to your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team for questions.  

Health Education Online Professional Learning Community

K–12 health education teachers, join the Office of School Wellness Programs Health Education team for the next OPLC session to connect, collaborate, and strengthen skills‑based instruction across grade bands. All sessions include small-group discussions for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Not sure OPLCs are right for you? Read what participants are saying about OPLCs and learn more about the planned topics for this year in the January 2026 School Wellness Connection.

Grades K-12: Monday, March 30, 2:45–3:45 p.m. (CTLE: 60 minutes)

• Topic: Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Health Education

(Photo: Krisanne Johnson.) 

External Partner Opportunities

Food Education Professional Learning Hosted by the NYCPS Food & Nutrition Education Team

This March, explore a full lineup of virtual professional learning sessions designed to strengthen food education across NYC public schools. From reducing cafeteria food waste to teaching cultural food traditions and exploring food justice, these sessions offer practical tools that educators and school staff can bring directly to the classroom or cafeteria.

• Register via the Food & Nutrition Education Professional Learning Catalog

All sessions are virtual and CTLE-eligible unless otherwise noted. Bookmark the catalog and check back frequently; it is updated regularly!

(Image: Adobe Express stock.) 

Free Resources to Teach and Promote Oral Health in Schools

Tooth decay is common but preventable, and schools play an essential role in supporting healthy habits and connecting students to the necessity of oral hygiene. Schools can:

• integrate oral health into instruction using oral health lessons on WeTeachNYC for Kindergarten and Grade 3;
• offer no‑cost school‑based dental services—including exams, fluoride, sealants, and referrals—by contacting NYCDOHMHDental@health.nyc.gov;
• share youth oral health resources with families, including a list of low-cost dental providers, a toothbrushing calendar to encourage healthy habits at home, and many more evidence-based tips from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.  

Supporting healthy smiles supports confident learners and strengthens the overall well-being of our school communities.

(Image: Freepik.com.) 

Physical Education | Health Education | Adapted PE | CHAMPS | Move-to-Improve

 | Condom Availability Program | NYCPS School Wellness Policy

 NYC FITNESSGRAM | School Wellness Councils

Professional Learning Catalog | Wellness Hub