Our Monthly News & Updates |
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Hello, New Haven Public Schools Learning Community:
The district is gradually moving from remote to hybrid and in-person learning. Hopefully, one day we all will return to a normal format,
although it is clear it is not going to be the same as before the pandemic.
The materials in this issue reflect that fact and provide insights into what has been going on in our department since December 2020.
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ERIK PATCHKOFSKY,
Physical Education, Health and Athletics Department Director
Winter Sports Are Back!
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It gives me great pleasure to be able to have our boys and girls basketball and track teams participate in athletics this winter. The entire process has been a very unique experience. We partnered with our local DPH and YNHH to simultaneously run a Covid-19 vaccine clinic in the Floyd Little Athletic Center while having all three of our programs play games in the field house. |
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To create the “bubble” for winter sports was not an easy undertaking. We are grateful for the cooperation of the DPH and Dr. Tracey and the assistant superintendents. It has been a pleasure to see our athletes and cheerleaders have the ability to compete again. The expression on their faces when they enter the field house says everything we need to know about the important role sports play in our students’ lives.
We have been able to work with a video company to stream the games on the New Haven Athletics Department Facebook page and on Vimeo. Recently we worked with Director of Health Maritza Bond and completed a plan that allows every home athlete to invite two people to come view the games in person.
This is an exciting development for the athletic department and has been equally exciting for our student athletes and their parents. It’s encouraging to see our young people playing again.
We look forward to working with the CIAC, SCC and our local officials to start planning for our spring season. Until then we wish all our teams and student-athletes and coaches success for the rest of the winter season.
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DAVID SYLVESTER:
WE LEARN AND ADAPT
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Meet David Sylvester, Physical Education Teacher and Wellness Facilitator at Lincoln-Bassett School. He loves teaching, and also has had a love for sports and movement ever since childhood. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education & Health, and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education (Specialization in Exercise Science) from Central Connecticut State University. His favorite hobbies include playing and watching sports, and playing the drums. David has been with NHPS and Lincoln-Bassett for two years.
Q. David, how did COVID-19 affect your work? What did you learn?
A. I definitely learned more about technology. It’s amazing how quickly we learn and adapt to new situations and circumstances! Learning and utilizing various online resources and platforms has improved my teaching currently, and I believe it will in the future as well. WordWall.net is my favorite virtual resource, as it not only allows teachers to put together interactive lessons, but it also provides many different formats and templates for assessments. With this, you are able to turn what is often a monotonous multiple-choice quiz into a fun activity where students are very engaged and excited about it. I would like to take a moment to recognize my colleague, Marvin Christley, for introducing me to Wordwall. Along with utilizing new technology platforms, there have also been changes in the curriculum content to fit the mold of remote and in-person learning while meeting all safety rules and guidelines. Added creativity to lesson planning, along with increased collaboration with colleagues and members of social media PE groups has been very important.
Q. You are now in a hybrid model having classes online and in person. How is it working for you?
A. It has been a new experience for sure, but I think my colleagues and myself are adjusting well to the new norms and ways of teaching during this time. Creativity is a big part of both remote and in-person learning. With remote learning, for example, I have worked on some underhand toss activities and self-toss tasks having students use household items such as a rolled up pair of socks or gloves, or a crinkled up piece of paper as a homemade ball as a safe way to practice a skill in their homes.
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For in-person learning, I created individual stations for our younger and older grade levels that include yoga poses, stretches, and fitness-related activity cards in the gym that are socially distant. We also set up a projector and a screen for some activity segments. Every school situation is different in terms of space that is available, especially during this time, but I feel fortunate and thankful to my administrators Ms. Garcia and Ms. Skiba at Lincoln-Bassett for making it possible for me to utilize our full gym space.
Q. Do you have all the COVID-19 related precautions in place in the gym?
A. Yes, we have all required safety measures in place in the gym. Student safety is always the top priority. We have signage on each doorway indicating which way to enter and exit, along with gym capacity related to social distancing. For social distancing, I have floor tape markings for personal space areas, lining up areas, and also activity station areas that are at least 6 feet apart. There are also two hand sanitizing stations. We have started off presenting lesson and unit theme content that does not require equipment for the time being. The plan will be to gradually add equipment to lessons and units in the coming months as students become familiar and comfortable with routines established in the gym during this time.
Q. What were the positives of the pandemic for you?
A. I would say one of the positives is that it has caused me to appreciate the little things in life such as moments with my family, friends, and my dog, and simply teaching in normal times before the pandemic. I feel like I have become much better equipped to juggle added tasks and responsibilities in all areas of life during this time.
Q. What do you enjoy most in your work?
A. The biggest reason I got into teaching is because it’s a profession where we can have a positive and powerful impact on the lives of young people. As teachers, we have a very rewarding profession. For me, it is not only about helping students learn the importance of physical activity, but also helping them build their self-confidence and realize their many talents, and strengths. Teaching also allows me to provide students with opportunities in the community as well. For example, in a partnership with the USTA I can help enroll students in the Yale New HYTEs Program (an after school academic and tennis program). This program supports kids through high school and offers scholarships. Sports meant the world to me when I was a kid, and it is very rewarding to see the same type of joy that sports can bring to my students.
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7-8 Grade Health Education
The curriculum for the 7-8th grades is taught by 3 itinerant teachers in the district. They have their own schedules, syllabi and requirements. To facilitate communication between administrators, school staff, and parents a separate webpage for 7-8th grades has been created and published on the district website. The page has downloadable consent forms in PDF format. Also, a robocall went to the parents advising them about the requirements and expectations in health classes in the second semester.
Library of Resources
In collaboration with health teacher Nally Sahin, the administrative staff launched an online library of resources for health teachers. More than a hundred videos collected by Nally over the years have become a foundation for the library. These days the school health assistants team is working on the catalog that would help the teachers navigate the library and quickly find what they need. As part of this initiative, the Michigan Model for Health DVDs are being moved to Google Drive as well. Many thanks to John Sanderson (Betsy Ross school) for helping with this work! Once this work is complete, the links to the catalog and the library will be shared on the district website.
If you have your own resources (not only videos, but handouts, games, etc.) that you are willing to share with the community, please feel free to contact us so that we could include them into the library.
Health Teacher Survey
We downloaded and started analyzing the Health Teacher Survey results. Here are some preliminary findings:
- Total number of respondents: 96;
- Most active participants were from two schools: Clemente and Quinnipiac;
- Kindergarten and 5th grade teachers showed most interest answering the survey questions;
- The majority of the respondents have worked in the school for 1-10 years;
- The majority of the respondents have taught health for 6 years;
- Only 5% of teachers are very comfortable teaching puberty lessons;
- 68% of the respondents have been able to complete the annual curriculum in the previous (non-pandemic) years;
- Those who were not able to complete the curriculum cited lack of time as the most typical problem, and 68% of the respondents had difficulties allocating time in their work schedule for these classes;
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- 70% of the respondents think that teaching health is important;
- 79% had access to all the necessary teaching resources;
- Among the materials that were in demand, the teachers mentioned Michigan Model CDs, other videos, posters and handouts;
- 54% got adequate help from their school administration, 44% - from the district;
- 26% of the respondents got feedback on their teaching;
- 23% evaluated the feedback on their teaching as helpful;
- 77% consider having a feedback on their teaching important;
- 76% think that the existing Michigan Model for Health curriculum includes all necessary competencies and learning objectives;
- 60% of the surveyed teachers think that the curriculum prepares the students for the 21st century workforce;
- 59% believe that the content is relevant to the learners;
- 42% think that there are topics that can be added to have the curriculum updated;
- Among the topics that the surveyed teachers would like to add are the following: Internet safety (screen time, social media, digital citizenship), vaping, marijuana and opioids, updated information on cyberbullying, COVID related materials, use of technology (e.g. dialing 911 from a cell phone), mindfulness, personal hygiene, body positivity, same sex relationships, assertive language skills, race and equality, street safety (guns, kidnapping, etc.);
- 88% of the respondents think that the organization of the content is reasonable.
To improve the curriculum the teachers suggested the following:
= having new sets of tangible teaching materials;
= providing professional development for teachers;
= introducing scope and sequence layout for the curriculum;
= including topics specific for the inner city environment;
= translating the materials into Spanish;
= revising certain topics and lessons for appropriateness;
= making the lessons more engaging and interactive by incorporating technology;
= updating certain topics/lessons to conform with the realities of today’s life;
= helping teachers to find time slots for teaching health;
= allowing health care professionals to teach puberty lessons;
= providing access to the library of online health education resources;
= getting physical education teachers to be more involved with teaching health.
The full version of the survey is available on the district website here.
Photo: Tanisha Hill, school health assistant, working on the library catalog.
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MARGARET
APPIADU-ANTWI:
I MISS LISTENING TO MY STUDENTS
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Margaret Appiadu-Antwi joined New Haven Public Schools in 2014, after graduating from Southern CT University with the Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She is currently enrolled in school aspiring to become a social worker. Below she is sharing with us her reflections on the past year, and the pandemic.
Due to the pandemic of covid-19, 2020 was a year of challenge and changes for everyone; however big or small that difference was, we all noticed a shift in our lives.
Looking back, I remember March 13th, 2020, approximately 1:00 pm. Together with the other school health assistants (SHAs) I was conducting a vision and hearing screening at Roberto Clemente School. There was a message from the principal over the loudspeaker asking teachers to check the emails. Then came the announcement that all the schools in New Haven district will be shutting down due to the severity of Covid-19. Initially, it was confusing but also exciting because we thought we were getting a break. Then we received the email that said we were going to be working from home. But there were no protocols, no precedent, everything was uncertain...
Before the pandemic, most of the SHAs’ work was dealing directly with students, and we could screen about a hundred students in a day. So, the notion of working from home was challenging at first and required flexibility. However, with new supervision and direction, we were able to collaborate and address some of the unknowns of working from home.
Working remotely has some advantages, such as spending more time with people in your household where you usually are just rushing past each other saying hi and bye because you have to get to work on time. There was also more time spent with our four-legged friends. Between Teams and Zoom meetings, I learn to bake bread from scratch!
Unfortunately, there were some disadvantages as well. I miss our students! Listening to them tell you a crazy joke or the latest drama going on. I miss being at the health office - the hub of student interactions, where kids would come just to say hi, sit and vent, taking a break from class activities.
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And I only listened to them, and often that was just what they needed.
I also missed the back and forth with my colleagues, even though we see each other on Zoom and Teams meetings.
I think the biggest disadvantage for me personally has been the anxiety about not knowing whether your job will still be available. And the concern about what our new reality will look like when we go back in person.
I believe NHPS is doing everything it can to ensure that we return safely. However, the uncertainty persists. This pandemic has tossed everything upside down, and I feel the stress and anxiety. So, I can't even imagine what our students are experiencing during this time. Students who have lost loved ones, students falling behind because they don't know how to navigate the online platforms. Students who are hungry and don't feel safe in their homes.
This pandemic has exacerbated a lot of health care disparities and exposed social economic inequalities. I feel there needs to be more support for staff and, most importantly, our students when schools reopen fully. We need more school social workers to address the psychological and emotional impact of Covid-19 on our students and staff.
Photo: Margaret working remotely from home.
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Interested in collaboration?
Have ideas and suggestions?
Drop us a line!
Liliya Garipova
Phone: 475-220-1107
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