SHARE:  
Resending with correct age range for the Summer Meals Program: We shared an incorrect age range in yesterday's issue. Please note that the Summer Meals Program is available throughout NYC to anyone age 18 years old and under. Additional details under the "Building the Wellness Community" section.
This is an image of the New York City Department of Education logo.
This is an image of the Office of School Wellness Programs logo that says, Think, Move, Achieve.


School Wellness Weekly

June 28, 2022

Students with arms raised inside of a school gymnasium.
Thank You to Our “World-Class” Educators for Keeping Students Your Priority
Chancellor David C. Banks and Dr. Jawana Johnson, Chief of School Culture, Climate and Well-Being, said it best in their pre-recorded opening remarks for our Chancellor’s Conference Day, where a record-setting 1,821 teachers came together virtually for our online PE, Health Education, and school wellness professional learning sessions. [Access the Chancellor’s video (opens in new window) and Dr. Johnson’s video (opens in new window) on the DOE’s Vimeo account.]  

Chancellor Banks and Dr. Johnson’s messages highlight the importance of keeping student health and well-being front and center in our school communities, both being especially grateful to the dedicated and "world-class" PE, Health Ed, and wellness educators who continue to show up for our students. The number of attendees during our conference is also a striking statement of our educators’ collective commitment to helping students be more healthy, active, and resilient. From all of us in the Office of School Wellness Programs—thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our young people and their families.  

School Wellness Weekly will be on summer hiatus and will return in September with more resources and opportunities to support you in the 2022-2023 school year. Please check out this issue for a highlight of our very own “gold-winning” student-athletes and a few summer opportunities to share with schools. 

Photo: Students with arms raised in a school gymnasium at P.S. 024 Andrew Jackson, 25Q024. Photo courtesy: PE teacher Michael Galeotafiore.
P721M and Harvest Collegiate High School Unified Soccer Team Win Gold at 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida 
Student-athletes return home from the Special Olympics USA Games with gold medals. Courtesy ABC7 New York.
P721M and Harvest Collegiate student-athletes returned home to the West Houston Campus from the Special Olympics on Monday, June 13 as Special Olympics gold medal winners. Families, administrators and supporters were on hand to give them a hearty welcome back. These student-athletes spent more than ten days in Orlando representing New York State in the High School Interscholastic Unified Soccer Special Olympics, competing against powerhouse teams like Illinois. Congratulations to the students and the staff who supported them on this well-deserved honor and achievement. Check out additional coverage (opens in new window) from ABC7 New York. 

Photo: Student-athletes return home from the Special Olympics USA Games with gold medals. Courtesy ABC7 New York. 
Building the Wellness Community
NYC Department of Education School Food, Summer Meals artwork. Rainbow stripes streaming from a red apple, pink watermelon, orange orange, orange carrot, yellow bundle of bananas, yellow sunny side egg, green broccoli, and blue milk carton.
Fight Food Insecurity: Free Summer Meals Start June 28
Free breakfast and lunch are available to anyone age 18 and under as part of the DOE’s Summer Meals Program beginning Tuesday, June 28 through Friday, September 2 (No service Monday, July 4). Designated public schools, community pool centers, parks, and food trucks will be open for service. No registration, documentation, or ID is necessary to receive a free breakfast or lunch meal. 

Text NYC Food to 304-304 or check out the Summer Meals webpage (opens in new window) for menus, locations, and more information.

Photo: New York City Department of Education, Summer Meals Program artwork. Courtesy New York City Department of Education.

Free City Pools Open June 28
New York City’s outdoor public pools open on June 28; hours are 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. daily, with a break for pool cleaning between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Mini pools are closed on Tuesdays. Access the NYC Parks Outdoor Pools page (opens in new window) to find a public pool near you.

Register for a Free Virtual Summit on Active School Environments
Active Schools (opens in new window) is providing a FREE virtual summit August 1-5, 2022 on implementing active school policies, practices, and programs in schools so youth can receive the physical, social-emotional, and academic benefits of physical activity participation. Register (opens in new window) for detailed information about the topics and sessions (opens in new window) that will be offered.