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School Wellness Weekly
12.04.18
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Just in Time for Tobacco Awareness
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Even though November has come and gone, it’s never too late to bring tobacco awareness into your classrooms. Use this time before Winter Recess to help students learn how to avoid health risks like tobacco. You can also start a conversation with them around the growing popularity of e-cigarettes among their peers: in 2017, 17.3% of NYC high school students reported using e-cigarettes, making e-cigarette use over three times as common as cigarette use among high school students.
By teaching comprehensive health education, with skills-based lessons that focus on decision-making, goal-setting, communication skills, and personal responsibility, we can help ensure that all students Citywide have the knowledge they need to take care of their minds and their bodies. Hone your own skills as a health educator by registering for an upcoming health education workshop in this issue (see below under
Wellness Highlights
).
Don’t forget to check out this issue's “Office of School Health Corner” for a detailed overview of e-cigarettes, the health risks they pose, and tips to share with families and caregivers on how to talk to young people about e-cigarettes. Read about
Teen Vaping: What You Need to Know
from the Child Mind Institute.
(Cover art: Nora Haque, grade 7, J.H.S. 074 Nathaniel Hawthorne, Queens, 2018 School Wellness Campaign winner.)
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Don’t miss our December workshops that will give educators the strategies for providing quality, standards-based physical education instruction in limited spaces, tools to bring an equity lens into the classroom, and communication tools necessary to advocate for sexuality education for high school students with disabilities. Continue to check our
2018-19 Professional Learning catalog
for upcoming sessions throughout the year.
- December 6: Make it Work Workshop in Manhattan: Register Now! All K-5 PE teachers, register for Make it Work: Mastering PE in Creative Spaces for Elementary Physical Education this Thursday, 12/6 in Manhattan.
- December 11: Middle and High School Health Education Basics IV: LGBTQ Affirming Schools. Grades 6-12 staff, including health and physical education teachers, CAP-trained staff, school counselors, school aides, and SAPIS counselors register for the workshop in Queens.
- December 14: Condom Availability Program: Supporting Students with Disabilities. CAP-trained staff, register for the workshop in Brooklyn.
K-5 Schools: Excellence in School Wellness Awards Application Open
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Excellence in School Wellness Award recognizes elementary schools for their efforts to create a healthy school environment that helps promote student health and improve academic achievement. All NYCDOE elementary schools are eligible to
apply
by
3/1
. Visit the
Healthy Children/Healthy Schools page
for more information; contact
healthyschools@health.nyc.gov
with questions.
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Register for December PE Professional Learning Community (PE PLC) Meetings
Register
for the
12/10
sessions and join your fellow physical education (PE) teachers at this month’s Citywide professional learning meetings. Meetings take place in every borough during Monday professional learning sessions for K-12 PE teachers. Network with other PE professionals and work together to strengthen the instructional practice and leadership skills needed to champion PE and wellness in your school communities. More than 350 PE teachers Citywide attended November PLCs! Check our
2018-19 Professional Learning catalog
for upcoming sessions throughout the year.
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December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month:
And in honor of World AIDS Day (December 1
st
), we commemorate the day by reminding educators and partners that education and prevention are key to an AIDS-free generation. Make sure instructional staff teach yearly lessons on HIV/AIDS using the
NYC DOE’s HIV/AIDS Curriculum
,
required for all NYC students in grades K-12. DOE staff can access HIV/AIDS parent notification letters and other resources on the
Health Education page
of the DOE’s InfoHub (log-in required).
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Building the Wellness Community
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Still Time to Apply for a Sustainability Grant
Looking to spruce up your school’s gardening program? Does your school have a student-led Green Team and an appointed Sustainability Coordinator? If so, the DOE Office of Sustainability’s 3
rd
annual Sustainability Project Grant provides up to $5,000 in funding support to help with your school’s garden projects. Funds can be used for equipment, project supplies, training, educational materials, and promotional items.
Apply
by
Tuesday, 12/11
.
(Photo: Sustainability Grant-funded project. Photo courtesy: Nichelle Hudlin)
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Office of School Health Corner
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What You Need to Know About E-cigarettes
E-cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid, called e-liquid, into a vapor that the user can inhale. Common nicknames are e-cigs, e-hookahs, vapes, or vape pens, and the practice is often known as vaping or JUUL-ing. E-liquids do not contain tobacco, but they almost always contain flavors, chemicals, and nicotine, which is addictive.
What are the risks? The vapor from heated e-liquids can contain harmful chemicals, flavorings, and heavy metals that are linked to cancer and lung disease. Children and adults can be poisoned by swallowing e-liquid or absorbing it via their skin or eyes.
Why are they so popular? E-cigarettes come in a variety of sweet flavors which appeal to youth. E-cigarette companies, some of which are owned by tobacco industries, developed products that are addictive and appealing to youth. These companies have created hundreds of candy and fruit flavored e-liquids that make e-cigarettes seem harmless. E-liquid ingredients are not currently regulated and the long-term effects of e-cigarettes use are unknown.
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