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Register Now! Election Day Professional Learning on November 4

Last year on Election Day, more than 3,000 NYC Public Schools educators joined us for professional learning from Office of School Wellness Programs instructional specialists and trusted partner organizations. We’re back again this year and hope to see familiar and new faces—with a warm welcome to PE and health education teachers new to NYCPS for 2025-2026!

Join us on Tuesday, November 4 for dozens of live and asynchronous webinars. Live webinars are offered in three 90-minute sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Topics range from coaching to mental health, vaping prevention, navigating healthy relationships, and much more! Can’t join us on November 4? Check out our self-guided CTLE-eligible courses that can be taken anytime! 

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(Photo by Kirsten Luce. Design by Office of School Wellness Programs.)

Wellness Highlights

Big Apple PE Award Winner Reyes Andon Takes the Spotlight

Shout-out to 2025 Big Apple Physical Education Teacher Award winner Reyes Andon of P.S. 376 Felisa Rincón De Gautier School of Technology (32K376) for his recent appearances on the Today Show and in a U.S. Soccer Foundation video, sharing and modeling how PE benefits students and the school community.

Mr. Andon was featured in a back-to-school segment of the Today Show on September 14 and in a U.S. Soccer Foundation video in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. The video, “Beyond the Stadium: Coach Reyes Builds Community Through Soccer,” is part of a series celebrating coaches working to make an impact in their communities.

Learn more about Mr. Andon’s approach to physical education in the June 24, 2025 edition of School Wellness Weekly. Congratulations again, Mr. Andon—your work continues to inspire!

Build a Strong School Community with a School Wellness Council

A School Wellness Council (SWC) is a school-based advisory group made up of students, families, educators, and staff who care deeply about creating a healthier school environment. Councils assess school wellness needs, develop goals, and implement activities that promote physical activity, physical education, health education, and social-emotional learning.

School Wellness Councils also help schools bring Empowering Strong and Healthy Students: The NYCPS School Wellness Policy to life by collaborating with School Leadership Teams and advocating for high-quality PE and health education instruction. Effective wellness councils meet regularly, reflect the diverse voices and needs of the school community, and celebrate successes throughout the year. 

Educators and school staff, visit the School Wellness Councils section of the Office of School Wellness Programs Support Center for guidance and tools, and reach out to your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team for questions and support.

(Photo: Video still, “Beyond the Stadium: Coach Reyes Builds Community Through Soccer,” U.S. Soccer Foundation.)

Physical Education

Move to Improve This November

November is a great time to keep students moving—especially with holiday breaks and colder weather on the horizon. Move to Improve (MTI), NYCPS’s classroom-based physical activity program for grades K–5, helps schools build a culture of movement all year long. MTI All-Star schools can supplement PE time and frequency toward meeting NYSED PE requirements.

To support teachers' planning and use of daily MTI in the classroom, we’ll share MTI Monthly Moves in each School Wellness Weekly to highlight an MTI activity, movement, and cool-down to try throughout the month!  

November MTI Activity: Nature Walk

Visit a historical period, take a trip across a geographical region, or explore a book. Use physical activity to express creativity and imagination as you add movement to visualization with Nature Walk. Check out the Nature Walk video to see the activity in action. 

November MTI Cool Down: My Mind Is Calm

Hold your hands, palms up, in front of you. Inhale deeply. As you exhale, touch your thumbs to each of your fingers as you say the words “my mind is calm.” Repeat, each time lowering the volume of your voice until you are saying it silently to yourself. See MTI Breathing Techniques in WeTeachNYC. 

November MTI Movement: Tree Pose

Balance on one leg. Place the sole of your opposite foot on the inside of your standing leg, either above or below your knee joint. Reach your arms up alongside your head. Hold the pose and breathe deeply. Switch legs and repeat. For the entire set of MTI visual aid cards, go to WeTeachNYC.  

The full Move-to-Improve Collection of classroom resources is available on WeTeachNYC. Educators, for questions about MTI, contact your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team.



(Photo: Video still, “Nature Walk” video, Office of School Wellness Programs. Image: Tree Pose from MTI Visual Activity Guide, Office of School Wellness Programs.)

Prepare for HIV/AIDS Awareness in December: Start or Continue Teaching HIV Education Curriculum

HIV/AIDS Awareness Month in December will be here soon: a time to honor progress in HIV prevention and treatment, and to recommit to inclusive, student-centered health education.

It is a meaningful moment to begin instruction using Growing Up and Staying Safe: New York City K–12 HIV Education Curriculum. The curriculum offers age-appropriate, culturally responsive lessons for every grade and reflects NYCPS’s commitment to equity and wellness. As a reminder, New York City requires annual instruction on HIV and AIDS prevention for every student in grades K–12.  

Teachers: Register for a free, upcoming live webinar to gain skills and confidence to teach the required lessons:

• HIV Education: Exploring Curriculum Concepts and Skills
• Grades K-12: Monday, November 17, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)

• Recommended prerequisite and asynchronous opportunity: Enroll in the self-guided WeLearnNYC course and complete on your own time: HIV Education: Introduction to Requirements and Resources (K-12)



External Partner Opportunities

New York State AHPERD Annual Conference: November 19-22, 2025

The 87^th annual New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD) Conference takes place November 20–23 in Verona, NY. This statewide event brings together educators to share best practices, explore new resources, and strengthen health and physical education across New York.

Learn more and register at nysahperd.org. Discounts available for registration before October 31.

Grant Opportunity for PTAs: Up to $7,000 Available to Support Parent-Student Dialogues About Health

PTAs and other school-based family/caregiver organizations can apply for a mini-grant up to $7,000 for family engagement events that support students’ health and well-being as they navigate school, friendships, family, and hobbies in this digital age. The grant is sponsored by SHAPE America, Cairn Guidance, the National Association of Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), and Pinnacle Partnerships. Funds should be used to support in-person or virtual family engagement events and activities from January through June 2026. Learn more and apply by the November 7, 2025 deadline.

“Climate Education in Your Classroom” Election Day Professional Learning: November 4

K-12 educators, join the Office of Energy & Sustainability’s Climate Education Leadership Team and partner organizations for virtual professional learning opportunities on Election Day. Pick and choose the CTLE-eligible sessions below or attend all four. Register here.

1. The Horticultural Society of New York and NYC Department of Transportation - Open Streets How-to (10:00 - 11:00 a.m.)
2. Climate Education Leadership Team - Climate 101 (11:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m.)
3. NYC Parks - Learning Hub (1:00 - 2:00 p.m.)
4. Climate Action Day Training (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)



(Image: New York State AHPERD.)

Physical Education | Health Education | Adapted PE | CHAMPS | Move-to-Improve

 | Condom Availability Program | NYCPS School Wellness Policy

 NYC FITNESSGRAM | School Wellness Councils

Professional Learning Catalog | Wellness Hub