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This is an image of the Office of School Wellness Programs logo that says, Think, Move, Achieve.


School Wellness Weekly

January 12, 2024
Left Image: MLK Jr. Middle Image: Student in the middle of a circle exercising and smiling. Right Image: Students working at a desk together
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and 2024 Professional Learning
On Monday, January 15, we celebrate an inspiring individual who advocated for equality, social and racial justice, and systemic change. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a world in which all students, regardless of race or other determining circumstances, have the right to quality education in integrated schools, with “the opportunity of communicating with all children.”¹ Dr. King spent his life fighting for civil rights, and was in the room when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (opens in new window). Title IV of the Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion in public schools and institutions of higher education. 
 
For ideas on how to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at your school, check out:   
 
As stated in the New York City Public Schools Citywide Wellness Policy (opens in new window), NYCPS is committed to creating and supporting learning environments that reflect the diversity of New York City. We believe all students benefit from diverse and inclusive schools and classrooms. 
 
Health Education and Physical Education—as required academic subjects—help students learn the skills they need to promote respect, embrace diversity, and foster community building. New York City teachers and school leaders play an integral part in realizing Dr. King’s vision of quality education. Professional Learning helps educators sharpen their skills and stay up to date on the policies and instructional best practices that deliver high-quality education for New York City students.  
 
Educators and school staff, see the Professional Learning Catalog (opens in new window) and register now for Spring 2024 live webinars and other opportunities. Some highlights: 
 
 
1. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Desegregation and the Future," Address Delivered at the Annual Luncheon of the National Committee for Rural Schools, December 15, 1956. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/desegregation-and-future-address-delivered-annual-luncheon-national-committee 
 
Photo Credit: Image 1: by Unseen Histories, Unsplash. Graphic by Office of Schools Wellness Programs. 
Reminder: Move-to-Improve (MTI) All-Star deadline is January 31, 2024 
Students need to move and stretch during instruction to stay alert and energized and to support their long-term health and well-being! Move-to-Improve (opens in new window) (MTI) provides K-6 students with the opportunity to move while learning and engage in physical activity no matter who or where they are.

  • Scroll down to the Physical Education section to learn more!  
Wellness Highlight
Secondary Educators: Register for High School Professional Development Day on January 29 
NYC Public Schools will hold its annual professional development day for teachers and administrators of high schools and grades 6–12 schools on Monday, January 29, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Office of School Wellness Programs is offering a variety of new 90-minute webinars designed to help educators deliver high-quality instruction in PE and Health Education and support student well-being. Join our office content specialists and trusted partner organizations and connect with other DOE educators. 
CHAMPS Winter Season Highlights 
Participation in CHAMPS (opens in new window) is one way that some of our school communities create opportunities for physical activity and movement. CHAMPS allows students to stay connected, learn new physical and fitness activities, and learn how to work as a team, all while having a safe space to practice the skills they learn in Physical Education (PE). Check out some images of our current winter programs in action:
Queens: Middle Village School (Q087) CHAMPS Running Program
students lifting one knee to their chest to stretch
Staten Island: The Carteret School Elementary (31R026) CHAMPS Active Kids
students bridging. Hands and feet are on the floor with belly's and heads facing up.
Manhattan: Dyckman Valley Middle School (M152) CHAMPS Volleyball 
students playing volleyball on both sides of a net
Brooklyn: Curtis Estabrook Elementary (18K272) CHAMPS Basketball   
Two students playing with a ball bouncing
Bronx: International Middle School for Liberal Arts (10X342) CHAMPS Volleyball
students playing volleyball
Know Any Awesome PE Teachers? Nominate Them For a 2023-2024 Big Apple Award! 
The Big Apple Awards (opens in new window) nomination process is open until Friday, January 19, 2024. This is an annual Citywide recognition program that celebrates teachers who go above and beyond to serve our students and families. Each year an outstanding Physical Education (PE) teacher is selected through a multi-step process to receive a Big Apple Award.  

Students, families, administrators, and community members can all nominate any public-school teacher. Nominate a deserving PE teacher by completing this form (opens in new window).    
Physical Education
Move-to-Improve Has the Power of Movement: All-Star Deadline is January 31  
As a reminder to all NYC public elementary schools, the Move-to-Improve (MTI) All-Star deadline is January 31, 2024. Move-to-Improve Champions, submit sign-in sheets for all MTI trainings to your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team (opens in new window), and get on track to be a Move-to-Improve All-Star School for the 2023-2024 school year. 

As a reminder, all teacher and classroom Move-to-Improve resources (opens in new window) are available for free on WeTeachNYC (opens in new window). New and untrained teachers are encouraged to register (opens in new window) for our online Move-to-Improve workshops for classroom teachers offered during the month of January.  

Move-to-Improve workshops (opens in new window) provided by the Office of School Wellness Programs give grades K-6 teachers ideas and strategies to use healthy physical activity as a means of instruction, including during assessments, and to have fun! 
 
Health Education
Reminder: Display Menstrual Product Availability Posters in K-12 Schools  
Echoing our message in the Dec. 14 School Wellness Weekly (opens in new window), support equitable access to menstrual products for students!

Educators and school staff: Help ensure NYC students know that free menstrual products are available at school, and where they can access them. Print and post the notices below: 

 
Teachers:  
The required Health Education (opens in new window) course for grades 4-12 includes information about puberty and menstruation. The following resources are also available to support teachers providing Health Education:   

 
Principals and School Staff:  
 
Questions about Health Education?  
Building the Wellness Community
lifeguard running in the shallow water
Summer Job Opportunity for High School Students: Become a Paid NYC Lifeguard 
The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation is recruiting lifeguards (opens in new window) for New York City’s beaches and pools this summer—and this year, qualifying applicants will receive valuable free training (opens in new window). All potential lifeguards must take a series of swim and vision exams offered at multiple locations Citywide.

Registration for qualifying tests close on January 29; visit the Lifeguard Qualifying Test page (opens in new window) to sign up now. 
 
Lifeguards work five to six days each week and first-year lifeguards earn a minimum of $16 an hour. To qualify, individuals must be at least 16 years of age by the start of employment.  
 
For more information, visit the Become an NYC Parks Lifeguard page (opens in new window).  
Food Education Corner
GrowNYC School Garden Workshops - January 23 and February 1 
Join GrowNYC’s School Gardens team for an upcoming workshop!  
  
High School Teachers: GrowNYC Workforce Development Program Info Session 
Invite your high school students (aged 16-19) to learn about GrowNYC’s 7-week summer internship program in an online webinar on Friday, February 12, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Summer interns rotate through each of GrowNYC’s programs: Education, Conservation, Green Space, and Food Access, completing both hands-on field work and course work to learn about GrowNYC’s environmental initiatives.  
Health Corner: Vaping and Cannabis Prevention Resources
Drop the Vape Poster
Learn the Risks, Help Students Quit Vaping 
Youth vaping and cannabis use remain threats to the health of students: 
  • Both nicotine and cannabis can have serious impacts on young people whose brains are still developing. 
  • Vaping can expose students to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. The nicotine in vapes is also addictive and can make it harder for students to learn and focus.  
  • Negative effects of cannabis for students can include difficulty thinking, learning, and solving problems; poor memory or focus; and reduced physical coordination. 
  • Starting cannabis use at a younger age or using it frequently can be associated with earlier onset of psychotic disorders for those already at risk.   
  • There also continue to be health and safety issues locally with unregulated cannabis products, including cases of e-cigarette- or vaping- associated lung injury and accidental ingestions of cannabis edibles. 

Families and school staff can help protect kids from the harms of vaping and cannabis products: