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School Wellness Weekly
September 15, 2023
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Back-to-School Issue: Building a Strong Wellness Foundation for Long, Healthy Lives |
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Whether you are a school or student leader, vibrant Physical Education or Health Education teacher, caring coach, or dedicated parent or school wellness champion (and maybe you wear many hats!), you’re foundational to Chancellor Banks’s third pillar (opens in new window) focused on student well-being. Your daily dedication to helping students learn and practice health-related skills is more important than ever, and the Office of School Wellness Programs aims to share trusted guidance and information to lift your wellness efforts to new heights.
For a deep dive into school health policies and recent research, check out the CDC's (opens in new window) practical, evidence-based strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity environments.
Need inspiration to start the year? First build your wellness allies by forwarding this issue to anyone in your school who would benefit from the School Wellness Weekly newsletter (opens in new window); then keep reading about a principal in the Bronx and his focus on student wellness and its link to creating happy learners!
(Photo: Krisanne Johnson)
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Championing Student Wellness at P.S 1X Courtlandt School |
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This month we shine a spotlight on Jorge Perdomo, principal at P.S. 1X The Courtlandt School in the Bronx (07X001), who advocates for health and wellness programs that promote the importance of Physical Education, community, physical activity, and wellness.
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What do you think are the most important skills students can learn in Physical Education or organized sports?
Both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and understanding the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. Students will learn at a young age how to cope with achievement as well as disappointment. It’s so important for children to understand that no matter how well you did or how much you struggled taking part in something, you must always find the positive. There are things that will not always go our way in many walks of life, so we must learn to cope, adapt, and build on those challenges we face and come out as stronger individuals.
What do you enjoy most about promoting health and wellness in your school community?
Seeing the impact a healthy learning environment has on students’ daily academic performance and well-being. We can see that students, without being aware of it, are happier and willing to learn because they are healthier. We believe that a healthy student tends to be happier and, as a result, have a more successful learning experience and academic growth.
Physical Education classes are a main source of health and wellness for all our students. Additionally, we encourage all members of our learning community to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activities and to make healthier food choices in the cafeteria during lunch.
How do you encourage solidarity and teamwork among your students inside and outside the classroom?
We have implemented a peer-to-peer coaching model that allows students to provide feedback to each other and to peer-assess their learning and work. Students also lead events during extracurricular activities such as the basketball team, as part of a District 7 league, including 12 different schools. During these events, our students become the guest speakers and motivational speakers.
By giving students leadership roles, they have an opportunity to exhibit their athletic abilities and contribute to their learning environment. Roles may include line leader and leader in an exercise movement as a brain break. Students take a lot of pride in their leadership roles, and it allows them to understand the importance of working together and helping each other out as well.
If you could share anything that you do to improve student well-being through physical activity and sports development, what would it be?
PS1 has created basketball tournaments to engage our students in playing and participating in games with other elementary schools within the district. These tournaments culminate with an exhibition game that takes place at the Barclays Center. This yearly event is the largest school-parent engagement event of the year. We also use Leadership Day’s celebration to combine the arts with physical education and allow students to celebrate their artistic and athletic achievements as part of their presentations and performances.
Any words of wisdom or advice for other school leaders to elevate the power of sports?
Students who are healthier, physically fit, and engaged in sports activities have a greater opportunity to develop their social skills and enhance their levels of confidence and self-esteem. I believe that as we educate the entire child, it is these additional opportunities for students to develop as athletes and express their talents that gives them an additional reason to want to come to school to learn.
(Photo: Courtesy Jorge Perdomo)
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Back to School With Physical Education! Teacher Resources for a Strong Start
As the 2023-2024 school year starts with the buzz of new ideas, new students, and new plans, take time to access free PE resources from these sites to bolster your planning and instructional practice.
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OPEN Phys Ed (opens in new window) provides free, high-quality curriculum materials to all schools to help ensure equal access for the entire physical education community.
(Photo: Kirsten Luce)
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Updated K-12 HIV Curriculum Coming Soon! Get Started With Intro to HIV Education Online Course
Coming in late September! New York City Public Schools is launching Growing Up and Staying Safe: New York City K-12 HIV Education Curriculum, the first update to the HIV curriculum since 2012. The new curriculum is standards- and skills-based, student-centered, and culturally responsive. The lessons use inclusive language and incorporate social and emotional learning throughout. Additional new features include slide decks, fillable worksheets, and a visually engaging format. Look for links and more information in the next School Wellness Weekly.
In the meantime, we strongly encourage school administrators and teachers to complete a 30-minute self-guided Introduction to HIV Education course on WeLearn NYC (opens in new window). This course covers parent communication, programming considerations, a preview of the lessons, and more.
New York City has been in the Vanguard of HIV and AIDS education since 1987, when the DOE first required annual HIV lessons to all students K-12. The DOE first developed its own HIV curriculum to provide students with the essential knowledge and skills to prevent HIV transmission, reduce stigma toward people living with HIV, and care for their health throughout their lives.
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Autumn Opportunities with Bike New York
Fall is a beautiful time of the year for young people to experience the freedom and joy that comes from bicycling.
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Middle and High School Students: Grow-NY Youth Food and Agriculture Business Competition
Calling all youth food system and technology entrepreneurs! Students can now apply to enter the Grow-NY Youth Competition (opens in new window), a food and agriculture business competition in Binghamton, New York, November 14-15, designed to inspire and invest in the future of food. The event is hosted by Grow-NY, Cornell University, New York State 4-H, New York Future Farmers of America and New York Agriculture. If chosen, students will have the opportunity pitch their food system and/or agriculture-related business idea to a panel of judges at the 2023 Grow-NY Summit (opens in new window). One winner will be selected, and the top pitches will be awarded a cash prize. Submit your application by October 6 at 5:00pm EST.
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Download New Guide to Preventing and Responding to Street Harassment
CGE seeks to ensure every girl, woman, intersex, transgender and gender non-conforming and gender non-binary person throughout the five boroughs is treated equally and feels safe; the commission works collaboratively to advance economic mobility and opportunity, health and reproductive justice, and safety.
GrowNYC School Gardens Workshops in September
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Virtual: Gardening for Climate Change (opens in new window): Calling school gardeners, community gardeners, and anyone interested in agriculture and climate change! Learn how climate change affects growing zones, pests, extreme weather events, and more, while exploring solutions and ways to introduce these complex topics to your garden communities. This online workshop will take place on Monday, September 18, at 5:00 p.m.
(Photos: Top: Bike New York. Middle: Grow NY. Above: NYC Commission on Gender Equity)
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K-12 Educators: Culturally Relevant Farm-to-School Workshop
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September 28, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST)
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October 7, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. PT (6 a.m. to 8 a.m. EST)
Culturally relevant teaching focuses on academic success, increased engagement, and better attendance. Educators will receive a $100 stipend and a new framework for culturally relevant farm-to-school education.
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