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School Wellness Weekly
September 15, 2022
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Recommitting to Health, Safety, and Well-being in Our Classrooms and Throughout the School Day |
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When school started for students last Thursday, September 8, many teachers and school staff saw classrooms full of smiling student faces, unmasked, for the first time since March 2020. If the past few years have underscored anything, it is that health—physical, mental, social, emotional—is closely linked with student success and overall well-being. This year, we have an opportunity to reimagine the student experience by recommitting as a system to placing health, safety, and well-being front and center in our classrooms and throughout the school day.
To superintendents, newly expanded district team members, principals, PE and health teachers, School Wellness Council members, and all school staff who work on student health and wellness programs:
We are here for you.
And to parents, caregivers, and families: we’re here to answer questions and provide opportunities for feedback (read the item below about NYCDOE’s Citywide Wellness Policy review in 2022-2023).
When we collectively empower young people to take care of their hearts, minds, bodies, and the people around them, we prepare them for lifelong learning.
- Physical education and health education requirements, curricula, lesson plans, and other instructional resources
- Starting and maintaining a strong, effective School Wellness Council
- Move-to-Improve and other physical activity opportunities to get students moving
- High school Condom Availability Program, HIV prevention, and connections to health services for middle school and high school students
- Free professional learning opportunities for teachers and school staff
Photo: Move-to-Improve at P.S. 085, Queens (30Q085), 2017. Photo by Kirsten Luce.
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PE and Health Education Teachers:
Bookmark These Essential Links for Year-Round Guidance
Health Education
Physical Education
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Save the Date!
Election Day Professional Learning, Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Stay tuned for details and registration information on webinars and other professional learning offerings on Tuesday, November 8, on Physical Education and Health Education topics, physical activity, and other programs to build strong, healthy student and school communities.
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Free Professional Learning Continues in 2022-2023
Bookmark the Office of School Wellness Programs Professional Learning Catalog (opens in new window) and check back frequently for free virtual training opportunities for educators and school staff. We continually update the site with events and professional learning sessions, including online options to be added throughout the fall.
Health Education and PE Online Professional Learning Communities Kick Off in October
Online Professional Learning Community (OPLC) sessions provide opportunities to network, collaborate, and learn with your colleagues. OPLC participants explore practical solutions and share instructional practices that support them in the delivery of an equitable, safe PE and/or Health Education program at their schools. By participating in OPLCs, teachers enhance their leadership skills as they work with colleagues in ongoing, high-performing, collaborative teams that focus on improving student learning.
Yes, We Have a Policy For That: Check Out the NYCDOE’s Citywide Wellness Policy Refresh!
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Advocate! You'll notice a few updates in the wellness policy with the latest school structures, contacts and resources, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the strong recommendation that your school have a School Wellness Council (opens in new window) to advocate for high-quality Physical Education and Health Education, along with nutrition and physical activity programs, as cornerstones of your school wellness plans. For more information about starting a School Wellness Council and making it successful, email the Office of School Wellness Programs support team for your borough (opens in new window).
Educators: Subscribe to School Wellness Weekly: Teachers and Leaders Edition
This year we will again publish separate issues of School Wellness Weekly, the Teachers and Leaders edition, targeted to educators and school leaders. Content will include:
- Information about upcoming professional learning opportunities (including conferences)
- Links to register for monthly Online Professional Learning Communities for PE and Health Education
- Important updates to Health Education and PE policies and requirements
All School Wellness Weekly subscribers whose self-reported profile information indicates they are educators and school leaders will receive this issue. If you’re a teacher or school administrator, be sure to scroll to the very bottom of this email, click “Update Profile,” and follow the quick and easy directions so you don’t miss out!
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Get Students Moving While Learning: Move-to-Improve Training Workshops for Elementary Teachers in September and October
Move-to-Improve (opens in new window) (MTI) is the NYC DOE’s free, classroom-based activity program that helps teachers of elementary grades enhance their lessons by integrating physical activity into academic instruction. By having at least 85% of its eligible staff trained, a school becomes an MTI All Star school, which entitles it to use Move-to-Improve activities to supplement its PE program toward meeting NYSED requirements. Review and share the 2022–2023 Move-to-Improve guidance (opens in new window), which includes information and requirements for implementing the program. Schools have until January 31, 2023 to become an MTI All-Star school for the 2022-2023 school year.
We’ve just added multiple 60-minute online workshops open to all elementary classroom teachers who wish to be trained to use Move-to-Improve in their instruction. Sign up now, and encourage all your colleagues to join you!
Teach Hub Physical Education Instructional Resources
- PE Scope and Sequence
- PE Instructional Toolkits
- Supplemental lesson plans
- Other materials for elementary, middle and high school teachers
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All High Schools: Online Training for the Condom Availability Program
The NYCDOE’s Condom Availability Program (CAP) (opens in new window) is designed to help your students access vital health resources, information, and referrals that can keep them healthy and safe—including information about healthy relationships. All high schools are required to provide Health Resource Rooms for their students, with at least two trained staff members to support the program.
Photo: Kirsten Luce
Need a Refresher on Affirming Pronouns and Inclusive Practices? Watch the Free LGBTQ+ 101 Pre-Recorded Webinar
Help create an inclusive culture in your classroom and at your school by learning or brushing up on LGBTQ+ terms in preparation for the school year: Watch the LGBTQ+101 Webinar: Introduction to Concepts and Terms (opens in new window). This 30-minute on-demand video examines concepts and terms like sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and offers tips to use in the classroom and school community. Creating an inclusive environment benefits all students by promoting diversity and is related to fewer hostile experiences, better attendance, increased feelings of connectedness at school, and academic achievement.
Teach Hub Health Ed Instructional Resources
- Health Education Scope and Sequence
- Health Education Instructional Toolkit
- Supplemental lesson plans
- HIV lesson Google Slides
- Other materials for elementary, middle and high school teachers
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Be Informed, Stay Healthy: Latest Guidance on Preventing Infectious Diseases
Health education promotes the skills we all need to seek out trusted information and stay up-to-date on the latest guidance to prevent disease and illness—not only COVID-19 but also flu and other diseases. As the last several years have taught us, this information can change from month to month, or even day to day, so bookmark these sites for the latest and/or reach out to your district’s Health Director.
Image: Courtesy Public Health Communications Collaborative
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COVID-19: Access the DOE’s COVID-19 information page (opens in new window) for the latest on vaccinations and tests, masking, exposure and ventilation guidance, and a map of active cases.
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Monkeypox: To help minimize potential exposure in schools, access this guidance sheet (opens in new window) from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; it includes information on addressing suspected cases, reporting cases, and notifying families.
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General immunizations: Under State public health law, all students require certain immunizations to attend school. Read about immunization requirements (opens in new window), and the NYCDOE’s Health Services (opens in new window), including health forms for parents.
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Polio: Polio (poliomyelitis) (opens in new window) is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by paralysis or weakness in arms, legs or both. Poliovirus was found in wastewater in New York City and surrounding counties in August 2022. The polio vaccine is included in the required immunizations and is the best form of protection for children and adults.
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Parents and Caregivers: Free After-School and Saturday Sports Programs for Children 5-13: Register by September 19
The New York branch of Volo Kids Foundation (opens in new window) is offering free physical activities this fall, including soccer, basketball, flag football, and volleyball, for kids ages 5 to 13 at various locations around the city. Activities are scheduled after school and on Saturdays. See details and register (opens in new window) for fall programs by Monday, September 19.
Free Virtual Workshop on Grant Writing and Finding Funds for Your School
Free Webinar: Implementing Restorative Practices for Young People
Educators, coaches, and administrators are invited to register for Implementing Restorative Practices for Young People (opens in new window), a free virtual training Thursday, September 22, 11:00a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Participants will learn and practice methods that help students feel safe and supported in their learning environment, as well as how to move through conflict and restore a group experiencing tension.
City Parks Foundation – Experiential Learning: Using Parks as Outdoor Classrooms
Getting kids engaged outdoors is one of the NYCDOE’s wellness priorities (opens in new window). Now grades 2-8 educators can join a 3-part training series starting Saturday, October 8, to get academic and administrative tools to conduct science lessons using a New York City park as their outdoor classroom. Get details and register for CityParks Learn Teacher Training (opens in new window). Topics will include urban forest cycles and wildlife adaptations with hands-on activities, such as learning to identify NYC trees and catching and observing aquatic species.
Middle and High School Students: Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Business Competition
Grow-NY, Cornell University, NYS 4-H, New York FFA, and New York Agriculture partner to host this food and agriculture business competition to inspire and invest in the future of food. Questions? Email Katie Carpenter at kse45@cornell.edu (opens in new email window)
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