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School Wellness Weekly
December 17, 2024
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Health and Wellness: A Foundational Commitment | |
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It’s a time-honored tradition to close out the year reflecting on what lies ahead. After a year of many changes, from the national to the local level, what can we commit to as educators and professionals that will provide us with a strong foundation in the year ahead? At the Office of School Wellness Programs, our commitment, as always, is to the health and well-being of New York City’s students.
We’re proud that our Office's mission aligns with Chancellor Aviles-Ramos’s three commitments, considered essential to strong communities and learning:
- Ensuring safety and promoting wellness
- Strengthening comprehensive teacher supports
- Fostering genuine and impactful family and community empowerment
Our job is to give school and district leaders, teachers, families, and school communities ready-to-use tools and support for high-quality physical education, health education, and wellness programs that contribute to students’ health and well-being. You can continue to count on us for access to:
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hundreds of standards- and evidence-based, vetted instructional materials on WeTeachNYC
- more than 400 professional learning opportunities for educators each year
- wellness and physical activity programs and partnerships
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a comprehensive Citywide Wellness Policy
- translated student and caregiver materials for PE, health education, and Move-to-Improve
- and much more!
We’re here to listen and learn with you. For questions and support:
Note: All hyperlinks in this issue, including those above, open in a new tab.
(Image: Unsplash.)
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Save the Date! Professional Development Day for Grades 9-12 and 6-12 Schools
Secondary teachers, mark your calendars and plan to join the Office of School Wellness Programs on High School Professional Development Day, Monday, January 27. We will offer webinars and self-guided courses designed to improve instruction in physical education, health education, and student well-being.
Look for registration links in the January issues of School Wellness Weekly.
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Free “Know Your Period” Guide for Students Now Available in All NYCPS Languages
Did you know that New York City is the first place in the United States to provide free menstrual products in public and charter schools? In New York City Public Schools, students in grades 4 and up can get period products for free in bathrooms so they have products when they need them—privately, without having to ask anyone.
Now students can also learn about periods and puberty in Know Your Period: The NYC Student Guide. This illustrated, easy-to-use guide is accessible and printable in all 10 NYCPS language on the Menstrual Products for Students page on the NYCPS website.
Teachers can use the guide as a supplement to puberty lessons taught in their health education classes. Please share these links with students, families, nurses, counselors, and other adults who support students!
The Office of School Wellness Programs thanks our partners at the NYC Commission on Gender Equity for collaborating with us to develop this important resource to support the health and well-being of all students who menstruate.
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Know an Awesome PE or Health Teacher? Nominate Them for a Big Apple Award
The Big Apple Awards nomination process is open until Tuesday, January 21. This annual Citywide recognition program celebrates teachers who go above and beyond to serve our students and families. Each year an outstanding physical education (PE) teacher is selected to receive a dedicated Physical Education Big Apple Award.
Students, families, administrators, and community members can nominate any public-school teacher. Nominate a deserving PE or health education teacher by completing this nomination form. Share this Big Apple Award backpack flyer, available in all 10 NYCPS languages, to encourage students and families to nominate teachers who inspire, model equitable learning, affirm students' identity, and enrich their school communities.
(Top image: New York City Commission on Gender Equity and NYCPS Office of School Wellness Programs)
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Champion Spotlight: Drew Miller | |
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In this issue of School Wellness Weekly, we highlight Drew Miller, health education teacher at Bard High School Early College Manhattan. In November 2024, Drew was awarded the High School Health Education Teacher of the Year award from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD). In 2022, Drew was recognized as an “Amazing Person” for the Health Education Section of NYS AHPERD.
What first inspired you to become a health educator, and what keeps you motivated in the field?
Since I was a little kid, I've always wanted to be a teacher. I decided in high school that I wanted to do health/PE. My high school health teacher and soccer coach, Pete Ellis, was definitely my inspiration. All of my jobs after college graduation have involved a lot of high school health, and I just fell in love with it. It's so personal and relevant, and I found that the conversations and interactions about sensitive topics were so important—I was hooked quickly.
How do you think your work as a health education teacher helps students achieve academically, and related to their overall well-being?
There is significant research on the benefits of health education as a force for academic, social, and emotional growth. Ultimately, I think my work helps students to think more critically about the world around them. They are better able to advocate for themselves and for their communities so they can take care of themselves and their loved ones, which is not an easy task. I also think of health education as a tool for liberation. Free from the systems, the shame, and the stigma that makes us feel we are not "enough" or not worthy.
If you could change one thing about the current state of health education, what would it be and why?
We need better policy that mandates K-12 health education every year, just like math or ELA. Our culture is still living in the past with traumatic and outdated stories of health education, but the health education of today is transformative and powerful. The public is catching up on the importance and benefits of health education, but sadly, student schedules are made without it in mind. Prioritize it! Make it mandatory--every year for every grade.
If you could only share one resource you use with another health teacher, what would it be?
It's hard to share just one. My biggest piece of advice is to build community. A lot of health ed teachers are departments of one, so it's good to burst the bubble and learn from others. I've gravitated a lot to my community from graduate school, the OPLC [Online Professional Learning Community] from the Office of School Wellness Programs, NYC AHPERD, and NYS AHPERD, and of course other educators I've met through social media. We also need to be reading! Learn from authors with different lived experiences and ideas than we have.
(Photo: Courtesy Drew Miller)
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Tip: All NYCPS health and PE teachers can join our free monthly Online Professional Learning Communities to network, collaborate, and learn with their colleagues. OPLCs take place one Monday per month from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. | |
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Stay Active During Winter Break: NYC Parks Offers Free Activities for Kids
While school is out, NYC Parks are open and provide plenty of opportunities for kids to stay physically active and engaged. From learning how to play basketball with the Jr. Knicks to enjoying a nocturnal hike and campfire with Urban Park Rangers, there's something for everyone!
For more information, visit NYC Parks Events to explore all the options.
(Image: NYC Parks)
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Winter Break Health Services for Students
As we approach Winter Break, make sure students have continued access to health information and services. Below are helpful resources to share with your students to support their well-being during the break:
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Health Services: Across all five boroughs, NYC Health + Hospitals provides free and confidential health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, to young people ages 12 or older.
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Free Online Therapy: Through NYC Talkspace, teens ages 13-17 can talk or text with a licensed therapist for free.
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Ask Roo: Planned Parenthood's chatbot is available 24/7 to answer students' questions about sexual health, relationships, growing up, and more. Planned Parenthood also has live health educators available to answer text messages during working hours.
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Educational Videos: Amaze creates age-appropriate and inclusive animated videos about growing up, healthy relationships, gender identity, and more.
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Building the Wellness Community | |
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Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit: Registration Now Open
Join NYC Public Schools and PFLAG NYC on Monday, January 27 for the NYC Gender and Sexuality Alliance Summit at LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This year’s theme is Their Resistance, Our Resilience! The summit is a special day for NYC public school students and faculty advisors of GSA clubs to celebrate, find community, and learn from one another.
Check out this year’s website to:
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Learn more and register. Registration is open through Monday, January 13.
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Individual NYC public high school students attending the summit without a school faculty member should use this Individual High School Student Registration Form.
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If you are either a staff chaperone registering a group of students OR an individual faculty member registering yourself, use this Student Group and Faculty Registration Form.
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Apply for bussing: If you are interested in bringing your students with disabilities and/or middle school students to the summit on a bus, complete the GSA Summit bussing application. Deadline to submit bussing application is Monday, January 6, at 5:00 p.m. (you must be logged in with your @schools.nyc.gov email address to access the application).
- Limited bussing is available based on funding; schools that primarily serve students with disabilities both in District 75 and in neighborhood schools will be prioritized.
This event is for NYCPS middle and high schools in districts 1-32, 75, and 79. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate charter, private, independent, or parochial schools. For questions, email gsasummit@schools.nyc.gov.
Paid Opportunity for Youth Ages 14-21: Student Health and Resource Expert (SHARE)
ETR, an organization focused on youth health and education, is seeking young people ages 14-21 from schools around the country to serve as Student Health and Resource Experts (SHAREs) to help create healthier, more supportive environments in schools across the country. As a Student Health and Resource Expert, students will:
- Offer valuable insights to help improve students' health and well-being
- Connect with like-minded youth leaders at monthly, virtual meetings
- Train adults on how to meaningfully engage youth in school health and well-being efforts
This is a 100% virtual position running from February – August 2025, and students are compensated for their time ($30/hour). Submit the SHARE Application by Sunday, January 12, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
To learn more, access and share the SHARE Information and FAQ page.
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Educators and School Wellness Councils: Win An Indoor/Outdoor Garden Grow System
Connect students with growing food in their schools and understanding the connection between the food they eat, where it comes from, and how to keep themselves and the environment healthy. New York Agriculture in the Classroom is awarding grow systems and composting supplies valued at up to $1,600 through the 2024-2025 Grow With Us Grant.
Take advantage of this opportunity to get the tools your school needs to facilitate experiential learning around food systems. Apply online by the deadline of Thursday, January 9. Questions? Email Sarah Hale at s.hale@cornell.edu.
(Top image: Courtesy PFLAG NYC website. Above image: Courtesy New York Agriculture in the Classroom)
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K-12 School Staff: Earn CTLE Credits While Learning about Food and Nutrition Education
The Food Ed Hub at the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy is hosting its third annual Food Ed Conference on Friday, January 24, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Teachers College, Columbia University. This year's conference theme is Planting Seeds for a Healthy & Sustainable Future. This free event brings together educators, advocates, nutrition professionals, and partner organizations from across the city for a day of hands-on workshops, tasty ideas, and emerging nutrition research.
Reserve your slot now -- tickets are going fast!
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