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School Wellness Weekly
May 3, 2022
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It's Teacher Appreciation Week! |
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Though we may be entering a transitional phase in the pandemic (opens in new window)— with shifting infection rates—teaching high-quality Health and Physical Education ensures our students learn the foundational skills they need to maintain their physical, mental, and social-emotional well-being now and throughout their lives. We know our educators who are teaching these state-mandated subjects are wearing multiple hats this school year, often going above and beyond to meet the needs of students and their schools.
Acknowledging that teachers deserve our thanks every day of the year, we’re especially proud to announce this year’s Big Apple Physical Education Teacher Award finalists:
- Andrew Bieber, P.S. 040 Augustus Saint-Gaudens (02M040)
- Catherine Scouroudis, P.S. Q023 @ Queens Children Center (75Q023)
- Daniel Matos, The River School (02M281)
- Lisa Cohen, P.S. 091 Richard Arkwright (24Q091)
- Kathy McDermott Green, Bayside High School (26Q495)
These teachers inspire their students, model high-quality PE instruction, and enrich their school communities throughout the year. The Big Apple Awards (opens in new window) is an annual Citywide recognition program that celebrates teachers who go above and beyond to serve our students and families. Continue to read School Wellness Weekly and follow us on Twitter for the announcement of the winners in June.
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In the National Spotlight: NYCDOE’s Condom Availability Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) highlighted the NYCDOE’s Condom Availability Program (CAP; managed by Office of School Wellness Programs staff) in a recent success story (opens in new window), “Increasing Students’ Access to Sexual Health Services with Virtual Staff Training.”
In response to the challenges of the pandemic, the Office of School Wellness Programs created new guidance and training for high school staff to operate a CAP and refer students to health services in-person or virtually. These resources provide approximately 16,800 students at 28 high schools with greater access to sexual health resources, information, and referrals to health services no matter their location or learning environment. Interest in and demand for the initial training opportunities prompted the Office of School Wellness Programs to create a three-part virtual CAP webinar series in Spring 2021 that allowed more school staff to attend and gain knowledge that is needed to connect students to proper sexual health services.
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All Schools: Provide the Mandatory HIV/AIDS Lessons by June 10
As part of Health Education in New York City public schools:
- students in grades K-6 must receive five HIV/AIDS lessons per year;
- students in grades 7-12 must receive six HIV/AIDS lessons per year.
This year, schools must provide the required lessons on HIV/AIDS to their students by Friday, June 10. For help preparing to teach the HIV/AIDS lessons, teachers can register for these live webinars this month:
Photo: Table with Health Resource Room poster, pamphlets, and other sexual health information for high school students. Photo courtesy of Laura Bilotti, Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School.
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Flashback Tuesday: P.S. 049 Willis Avenue in the Bronx Embraces CHAMPS
“The CHAMPS Sports and Fitness Program supports a safe and nurturing environment for our diverse student body and creates a peaceful and sustainable school community.” - Buny Garcia, CHAMPS Teacher-Coach
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On this Flashback Tuesday, we highlight the CHAMPS program at P.S 049 Willis Avenue Elementary School in the Bronx—supported by teacher coach Buny Garcia and volunteer parent coordinator/coach Carlos Sosa. Their weekly program gives students the opportunity to learn a new skill or health-related concept and practice them independently and with their peers, all while promoting fair play, problem solving, mediation and conflict resolution. Students work together to create dance choreography and learn how to play hockey, badminton, volleyball, and tennis in a safe space.
Mr. Garcia shares that his students keep him motivated by reminding him every day how important it is to stay active and make healthy choices. He notes that the CHAMPS program has a positive impact on its students at P.S 049 by:
- teaching student-athletes to apply key school values (teamwork, respect for rules and others, cooperation, self-discipline, and tolerance)
- encouraging students to be present
- strengthening students’ physical, social, and communication skills
- building their confidence to try something new in a non-judgmental space
When we asked Mr. Garcia for some words of wisdom to share with DOE staff and other CHAMPS teacher-coaches, he responded, “Getting to know your students in and out of the gymnasium helps us to better understand them, which makes them trust you as their coach.”
Photo (top): Teacher-coach walking towards a group of student-athletes standing near a goal net. Photo (left): Students in a classroom doing a dance move with their arms in the air while wearing face masks. Photo courtesy: Buny Garcia, CHAMPS teacher-coach.
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Health Education and Physical Education |
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Save the Date! Think-Move-Achieve Online Professional Learning Opportunities for Physical Education, Health Education, and School Wellness on June 9
On Thursday, June 9, Chancellor’s Conference Day, the Office of School Wellness Programs will once again host a full day of live webinar sessions related to PE, Health Ed, physical activity, social-emotional learning, and school wellness, presented by DOE content area specialists and partner organizations. Look for updates and registration information in the Office of School Wellness Programs Professional Learning Catalog (opens in new window) and in upcoming issues of School Wellness Weekly.
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Full Scholarships: “Teaching Food and Nutrition for All” Online Course
Individuals who live in New York State and/or work with children and youth in New York State can receive a full scholarship for a Teaching Food and Nutrition for All course (opens in new window) offered by Teacher’s College at Columbia University. The course takes place Wednesday, July 6 to Tuesday, July 26 and is eligible for CTLE (24 units). The course will provide participants with activities, resources, and curricula that can be used in school gardens, cooking activities, field trips, and cafeteria tastings. Participants will also learn how learning about food and nutrition can meet standards in science, social studies, literacy, math, art, health, and other subjects.
High School Students: Rising Scientist Awards: Addressing Children’s Mental Health
- A $2,000 scholarship for college expenses.
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An opportunity to share their research at the Child Mind Institute’s annual On the Shoulders of Giants Scientific Symposium (opens in new window), attended by world-class scientists (to be held virtually on Tuesday, October 4, 2022).
- Recognition at an awards ceremony, which is attended by VIP guests.
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Invitations to attend a special educational event with representatives from the Child Mind Institute’s research programs (opens in new window) and to shadow a Child Mind Institute researcher for a day.
- Recognition in press releases distributed to national media outlets, on the Child Mind website, and in social media promotion.
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