Listening to and Learning from Families and Caregivers | | |
The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) community is encouraged to join Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels at the remaining “Conversations With the Chancellor” in-person event on Saturday, April 25 in Staten Island. The event is part of a citywide engagement series hosted by Chancellor Samuels at schools across New York City that brings together students, families, educators, staff, and community partners for honest dialogue about where our schools are today and where we must go next. Register and share your voice!
Read more below about resources and opportunities to share with families/caregivers, students, and school communities to support students’ health, safety, and well-being.
Note: All hyperlinks, including those above, open in a new tab.
(Photo Adobe stock. Design by Office of School Wellness Programs.)
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Support LGBTQ+ Students: Register for OUT for Safe Schools Training
OUT for Safe Schools® is a national effort to equip school staff with visible badges that signal to LGBTQ+ young people that they have supportive, trustworthy adults in their building. Research shows that LGBTQ+ students who can identify 11 or more affirming adults at school report feeling safer, attending school more regularly, achieving stronger academic outcomes, and experiencing a deeper sense of connection within their school community.
Help strengthen that network of support: All New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) staff can sign up for a Build an Affirming Community with OUT for Safe Schools webinar—invite your colleagues to join you!
• Grades K-12: Monday, May 4, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)
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New Date: Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit on June 4
Due to weather, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit, hosted by New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and PFLAG NYC, was rescheduled to Thursday, June 4, at LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The annual NYC GSA Summit is a day for NYCPS students in grades 6-12 and faculty advisors of GSA clubs to celebrate, find community, and learn from one another. Everyone who previously registered for the original event in January must re-register to attend. Registration closes Monday, May 11 at 5:00 p.m.
Visit the GSA Summit page for detailed information on the schedule, how to register, requesting bus services, requesting a table at the exhibit fair, and more! For questions, email gsasummit@schools.nyc.gov.
(Image: Courtesy PFLAG NYC.)
| | | CHAMPS and the Jr. Knicks: Primetime at Madison Square Garden and School Takeovers
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) CHAMPS basketball participants have been busy this winter and spring, shining on the court at Primetime events at Madison Square Garden and at Jr. Knicks School Takeovers with Knicks legends!
- On January 30, students from I.S. 027 Anning S. Prall (31R027) on Staten Island hit the court pre-game at the Jr. Knicks Primetime event at Madison Square Garden, creating memories to last a lifetime. One student sank a three-pointer at the buzzer, turning an 8–10 score into an 11–10 win. The impressive shot earned a feature on the Jr. Knicks social media.
- On February 4, students from Fannie Lou Hamer Middle School (12X286) in the Bronx attended the Knicks vs. Nuggets game at Madison Square Garden. Ten students suited up and played a Jr. Knicks 5-on-5 game on the Madison Square Garden court. There were nerves at first, then buckets and big smiles once the students settled in and heard the crowd cheering!
- On March 10 and March 12, P.S. 306 (10X306) in the Bronx and P.S. 7 Samuel Stern (04M007) in Manhattan hosted Jr. Knicks Takeovers, where students participated in basketball drills led by the Jr. Knicks team before hearing from the great Walt “Clyde” Frazier Jr. The Knicks legend spoke about his experiences, the importance of hard work, and his book Winning & Grinning. The event combined the importance of physical fitness and reading; all students who participated received a free book and had the opportunity to ask questions and have their books autographed by Clyde.
(Photo collage: Upper right and lower left: Staten Island’s I.S. 027 students at Madison Square Garden; photos: Kerice Di Resta. Upper left: Students from P.S. 306 in the Bronx; lower right: Walt “Clyde” Frazier Jr. at P.S. 306; photos: Andra Roig. Office of School Wellness Programs.)
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PE Teachers: Complete NYC FITNESSGRAM Assessments by May 15
Note that the deadline for entering student data into the NYC FITNESSGRAM web-based application is Friday, May 15 (extended from original deadline of March 27). NYC FITNESSGRAM is the City’s annual health-related fitness assessment. Schools are required to complete height and weight assessments for 100 percent of students in all grades and additional fitness assessments for at least 85 percent of their students in grades 4–12.
- For additional guidance, review the NYC FITNESSGRAM InfoHub page or visit the Office of School Wellness Programs (OSWP) Wellness Hub Support Center. For questions, email your OSWP borough team.
- Access to NYC FITNESSGRAM application: Eligible PE teachers have two options to gain access to the NYC FITNESSGRAM web-based application:
- Enroll in the self-guided course and complete it on your own time:
Grades K-12 Introduction to NYC FITNESSGRAM (CTLE: 60 minutes)
- Register for a live webinar, which includes time for Q&A:
Grades K-12 Tuesday, April 14, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)
Grades K-12 Tuesday, April 14, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (CTLE: 90 minutes)
NYC FITNESSGRAM and Fitness Resources for Families and Caregivers
Parents and caregivers are essential to helping their children develop lifelong healthy habits. They can access their children’s NYC FITNESSGRAM results via their NYC Schools Account to help foster conversations about fitness, health, and goal setting.
PE Teachers:
- Visit the NYC FITNESSGRAM Support Center for resources to share with families, including a sample letter that can be edited and shared with your school community.
Families and Caregivers:
- Parents/guardians can log into their NYC Schools Account and view/print their child(ren)’s NYC FITNESSGRAM reports. If parents need assistance creating an account, they should contact their school’s parent coordinator.
- For more resources to help families stay active, check out:
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A Guide to Healthy Eating and Active Living in NYC (available in multiple languages!)
- NYC Parks Department offerings: Visit Shape Up NYC to register for a free fitness class, and review free offerings from the City Parks Foundation, including tennis lessons, yoga, instruction and fitness activities for all ages.
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U.S. Soccer: Soccer for Success In-Person School Curriculum and Training
Join this in-person, three-hour workshop designed to equip physical educators to teach soccer skills. All PE teachers are welcome to register, regardless of whether you completed the 90-minute webinar on the Soccer for Success School Curriculum and Training. Those who participated in that webinar can apply the information and skills they learned and practice on the field with fellow teachers and U.S. Soccer trainers.
Location: Grand Street Settlement at Rutgers Community Center, 200 Madison St., Manhattan
(Photo: Kristen O'Brien. Courtesy Office of School Wellness Programs.)
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Save the Date: National PE & Sport Week, May 1 – 7
Start planning now to highlight and celebrate National PE & Sport Week! Visit SHAPE America’s National PE & Sport Week page for resources and ideas. How will YOU promote the joy of PE and sport in your school community this May?
(Photo: Courtesy SHAPE America.)
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Physical Education Online Professional Learning Community
K–12 physical education teachers, join the Office of School Wellness Programs Physical Education team for the next Online Professional Learning Community (OPLC) session to connect, collaborate, and strengthen skills‑based instruction across grade bands.
Check out the upcoming topics and register:
| | Move-to-Improve Monthly Moves | | |
Move-to-Improve (MTI), New York City Public School's (NYCPS's) classroom-based physical activity program for grades K–5 (and grade 6 in K-6, K-8 and K-12 schools), helps schools build a culture of movement all year long. Check out the Monthly Move below and access the full Move-to-Improve Collection of classroom resources on WeTeachNYC. Visit our new professional learning catalog and select “Move-to-Improve” from the top menu to see available webinars. Questions? Email your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team.
Get Families Up and Moving with Move-to-Improve
This Move-to-Improve Overview for Families, available in all NYCPS languages, is a great resource for school staff to share with parents/guardians, families, and school communities so they have a general understanding of the Move-to-Improve (MTI) program. Parent coordinators, teachers, and administrators can use this overview at parent-teacher conferences, PTA meetings, or other family-focused events.
Encourage students to share the MTI Monthly Move with their families at home! Families can use the Move-to-Improve World Beats Album, an homage to the diverse cultures and musical traditions of NYC’s communities. Share the Move-to-Improve: World Beats NYC tracks far and wide!
(Video: Move-to-Improve "Yoga Breathe and Pose." Office of School Wellness Programs.)
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MTI Activity
Yoga Breathe and Pose
Give students an opportunity to practice flexibility while skip counting, practicing math facts, or reciting just about anything!
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Cool Down
Hissing Breath
Students mimic the sound of a snake in this cool down! Have them inhale through the nose and then slowly exhale through their teeth, hissing like a snake.
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Movement
Chair Pose
Students pretend to sit in the most comfortable, invisible chair while working on muscular strength and flexibility.
| | (Images: Move-to-Improve video stills and Visual Aid Cards. Office of School Wellness Programs.) | | |
National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and STI Awareness Week
Each April reminds us of the importance of supporting young people throughout the school year with age-appropriate health education lessons about HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This year, April 10 was Youth HIV Awareness Day and April 12-18 is STI Awareness Week.
Health teachers: What can you do?
- Have open, accurate conversations about these health topics to help students understand how infections spread, how to prevent them, and why early testing and treatment matter.
- Make sure you provide students with required annual HIV instruction – see below for links and professional learning.
(Image: CDC.)
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K-12 HIV Education: Provide Required Lessons by June 5
The New York State Education Department and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Academic Policy require that students receive HIV education lessons yearly: five lessons per year for students in grades K–6, and six lessons per year for students in grades 7–12. This year, schools should provide these lessons by June 5.
To help schools provide age-appropriate instruction and ensure students receive the required HIV education, NYCPS offers Growing Up and Staying Safe: New York City K–12 HIV Education Curriculum. This digital curriculum is skills-based, student-centered, and comes with student-facing materials in Spanish and Chinese as well as family-facing materials in all NYCPS languages.
Use the following resources to learn about the curriculum:
Questions? Contact your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team for support.
Grades 9-12 Staff: Get Trained in the Condom Availability Program
High school educators and staff: Sign up for our next webinar series and learn how to support your school’s health resource room to ensure students have access to resources and health referrals to keep them safe. High schools are required to have at least two New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) staff members who have been trained to implement the Condom Availability Program (CAP). Staff must register and attend all three webinars to become CAP-certified. All sessions are CTLE-eligible.
Health Education Online Professional Learning Community
K–12 health education teachers, join the Office of School Wellness Programs Health Education team for the next OPLC session to connect, collaborate, and strengthen skills‑based instruction across grade bands. All sessions include small-group break-out discussions for elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
Check out the upcoming topics and register:
Topic: Growth and Development (Elementary) Sexual Health Education (Secondary)
Topic: Mental Health
| | External Partner Resources | | |
Take Climate Action! Celebrate Health, Wellness, and Green Space in April
Climate Action Days are an opportunity for New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) communities to learn how to take climate action with sustainable and responsible practices. Each day is based on a theme and showcases the importance of climate education and sustainability practices.
The Climate Action Day focused on Health, Wellness and Green Space is just around the corner, on Wednesday, April 22.
(Photo: Courtesy NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability.)
Share With High School Seniors: Yankees-Stonewall $10,000 Scholarship – Apply by April 27
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS), in partnership with the Stonewall Inn and the New York Yankees, are accepting applications for the annual Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship. Five students—one from each borough—will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000. This scholarship celebrates graduating seniors who have demonstrated academic achievement and impactful support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Encourage your high school seniors to apply by the deadline of Monday, April 27, at 11:59 p.m. Questions? Email LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov.
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Educators: Request a Free Bike NY Field Trip
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and Bike New York are partnering to provide free 2-hour bike education field trips to New York City students in grades 5 and up. Students learn important bike safety and bike handling skills, and aspiring cyclists can learn how to ride a bike. Visit the Bike NY Bicycling Field Trip page to view available locations and to request a field trip. Field trips are open to students ages 10 and older, and there is a limit of 20 students per session.
(Photo: Courtesy Bike NY.)
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Every Kid Healthy Week in April: Register for Ideas
Action for Healthy Kids: Every Kid Healthy Week is hosting a week-long celebration April 20-24 focusing on wellness activities students can practice every day.
Visit everykidhealthyweek.org for ideas and resources to celebrate, including an overview, a planning toolkit to help you get started, and a customizable flyer for outreach to families and volunteers. For questions and assistance, email contactus@actionforhealthykids.org.
(Photo: Courtesy Action for Healthy Kids.)
Food Education Professional Learning in April
The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Food Education Team invites you to explore the lineup of April professional learning workshops designed to energize your teaching and strengthen school communities. This month’s session offers practical strategies that highlight how food connects to literacy, science, social studies, wellness, and student engagement. Register at the link below:
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