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School Wellness Weekly
March 7, 2024
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Eat, Grow, and Learn About Healthy Food: National Nutrition Month |
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March is National Nutrition Month® (opens in new window), and this year's theme, “Beyond the Table,” addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores and farmers markets. It also describes the many ways we eat—not only around a dinner table, but also in schools and restaurants, at games and events, and on the go (food carts, anyone?).
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) offers plenty of options for educators, families, and students to learn about why healthy food is important and to reimagine our food experiences. These options range from the Nutrition and Physical Activity unit in Health Education to Physical Education class, wraparound nutrition education lessons, Plant Powered Fridays, school gardens, School Wellness Councils, and more.
Looking for ideas?
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The NYCPS Office of Food and Climate Education has launched a Food Education Professional Learning catalog (opens in new window), with virtual and in-person opportunities to help teachers across all grades and subjects incorporate these topics into their classes. All sessions are eligible for CTLE credits; those taking place after school are eligible for per session.
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If you're interested in additional programming, lessons, activities, and school garden support for your school, check out the list of Food Education Service Providers (opens in new window). All listed providers are NYCPS vendors, and many offer free and low-cost options for schools.
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New York Agriculture in the Classroom is offering scholarships for NYC-area teachers to attend the 2024 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 24-27. Learn about the agriculture system and integrating food and agriculture into your curriculum. For more information, visit the conference scholarship website (opens in new window). Applications are due March 7.
Share with Families and Caregivers:
Photo: Go Green event, P.S. 143, Louis Armstrong School, Queens, 2023. Photo by Krisanne Johnson.
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Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: New Professional Learning Opportunities!
Students in the NYCPS system communicate in more than 100 languages other than English, and over 70% are students of color. This Spring, the Office of School Wellness Programs is excited to partner with nationally recognized facilitators to offer webinars on culturally responsive pedagogy. Culturally responsive-sustaining education (opens in new window) embraces and incorporates students' lived experiences in the classroom.
Read more about and register for these CTLE-eligible webinars below. Space is limited.
Monday, March 25, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (CTLE 90 min.)
Tuesday, March 26, 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (CTLE 90 min.)
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Get Ready for April 17 Climate Action Day: Health, Wellness, and Green Space
Calling all School Wellness Councils, Green and Healthy committees, and Wellness and Sustainability activists! Ring in Spring in the great outdoors for NYC Public Schools’ next Climate Action Day (opens in new window) on Wednesday, April 17.
A great way to boost physical activity, connectedness, and greening efforts in your school community is to take the activity outside—to an outdoor school garden, an active play yard, a nearby park, or an Open Street. See more about the benefits of physical activity and outdoor learning in the NYC Public Schools Citywide Wellness Policy (opens in new window).
Here are action steps your school can take to celebrate Climate Action Day and beyond:
Health Education and PE Teachers: Explore Nutrition Concepts in the Scope and Sequences
Explore nutrition-related topics all month long! The NYCPS Physical Education and Health Education Scope and Sequences, available on WeTeachNYC (opens in new window), include standards-based nutrition units and concepts.
Photo: Courtesy Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
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Apply Now! CHAMPS Spring Season: Applications Due 5:00 p.m., March 8
The NYCPS’s CHAMPS Sports and Fitness Program (opens in new window) engages elementary and middle school students, regardless of athletic or physical ability, in activities that help them stay active now and throughout their lives, in addition to supporting their well-being and academic success.
The 2024 CHAMPS Spring season will run from April 8 to June 14. The Spring season application opened Citywide to schools serving grades K-8 on Tuesday, February 27, and will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8.
Programs will be awarded proportionally across boroughs based on available funding. Schools with the highest-needs populations, including those with high chronic absentee rates and students in temporary housing, will be prioritized. Principals: See more information in the February 27 edition of Principals Digest.
Photo: Washington Heights Academy CHAMPS program, 2023. Photo by Krisanne Johnson.
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Teachers: Nutrition Resources for Classroom Lessons and Sharing
Additional Nutrition Resources
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Middle School Teachers: FREE Summer Institute 2024: Integrating Climate Education in NYC Public Schools
The Center for Sustainable Futures (opens in new window) at Teachers College, Columbia University, and NYC Public Schools’ Office of Energy & Sustainability are partnering on a Summer Institute dedicated to climate education. The 2024 Summer Institute will run from July 15 to 19 and focus on middle school teachers (next year will focus on high school teachers). The institute is free; participants will receive a stipend ($1,000), and they may earn up to 28 CTLE credits. For more information and to apply, access the Summer Institute webpage (opens in new window).
Green Career Exploration for High School and Adult Education Students: March 25
Attendees will learn from speakers including Zero Waste Programs, Green Space, Education, and Food Access & Agriculture programs. Speakers will share their own journeys and provide insights into getting on a green career path.
Agricultural Literacy Grant for K-12 Teachers: Awards Up to $1,200!
The New York Agriculture in the Classroom (opens in new window) Agricultural Literacy Grant helps fund creative teaching ideas through a lens of agriculture. Submit your proposal to enhance your classroom lessons by including agriculture as a context for learning—you could win up to $1,200 for field trips, classroom materials, a chicken coop, school garden support...what’s your idea?! Certified Pre-K through grade 12 teachers of all subject areas who are currently teaching in New York State can apply for the grant (opens in new window) through Friday, March 29.
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Manhattan College Games for Children and Adults with Disabilities: Register by April 1
The annual Manhattan College Games (opens in new window) is a non-competitive morning of modified sports, games, and other activities for both children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Manhattan College’s Draddy Stadium.
Outdoor Learning: Apply to the Open Streets Program
New York City's Open Streets program makes it possible to transform streets into public spaces open to all. Schools can use Open Streets to support outdoor learning and play. The New York City Department of Transportation helps partners develop operational plans to manage the street for outdoor learning for schools. To apply for the 2024–2025 school year, complete the Open Streets Application (opens in new window).
Schools will be accepted on a rolling basis after the March 1 deadline, so there is still time to apply. Note that you must reapply yearly, even if your school has participated in the program in past years.
Photos: (Top) Brooklyn Transition Center school garden. Photo: Kirsten Luce. (Above) Courtesy Manhattan College Games.
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