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School Wellness Weekly
April 4, 2024
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Growing Up and Staying Safe in NYC: Honor National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day April 10
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National Youth HIV/Awareness Day (April 10) and STI Awareness Week (April 14-20) exist to remind us to raise awareness year-round about the impact of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on young people. In New York City, the rate of new HIV diagnoses among people aged 13-29 has decreased over the past 5 years, but fewer high school students are getting tested.1, 2 The number of STIs has increased overall across the City, and about 58% of all newly diagnosed chlamydia cases in 2022 were in young women aged 15 to 24.3 If left untreated, sexually transmitted infections can cause lasting health effects, including infertility. Having an STI can also make it easier to get or transmit HIV.
School administrators and educators, learn about the Growing Up and Staying Safe curriculum and how to teach it:
Together, we can help young people stay healthy by encouraging HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. Explore and share the following resources:
Graphic by Office of School Wellness Programs
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Respecting Yourself and Others: Teaching Students about Consent and Boundaries at P.S. 124 in Queens
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Kaitlyn Fiore, Health Education teacher from P.S. 124 Osmond A. Church (27Q124) in Queens, recently taught the “Respecting Boundaries and Asking for Consent” lesson to her middle school students. They practiced asking for consent and respecting the boundaries of their classmates in situations that might come up during the school day by writing dialogues and then role-playing the scenarios. |
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K-12 Educators: Register for an Upcoming Webinar to Support LGBTQ+ Students
The OUT for Safe Schools® campaign is a national initiative that supports school-based staff to visibly identify as trusted adults to LGBTQ+ students. School staff receive training in building affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students before receiving badges for their school community.
Register for the upcoming session on Tuesday, April 16, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Photos: (Top) Office of School Wellness Programs. (Above) Kirsten Luce.
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Physical Education and Health Education |
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K-12 Health and Physical Education Teachers: New National Standards Released
SHAPE America (opens in new window) released the new National Physical Education Standards and National Health Education Standards this Spring after a multi-year revision process. The revised standards provide a comprehensive framework for educators to deliver high-quality instruction and make a positive difference in the health and well-being of every student. Download information and new educator kits from SHAPE:
In the upcoming months, the Office of School Wellness Programs will explore how these changes impact our work and the support and guidance we provide for educators and school-facing staff.
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Health, Wellness, and Green Space Climate Action Day – Wednesday, April 17
The next Climate Action Day is coming up on Wednesday, April 17. Schools have the opportunity to make the connection between our health and sustainable, clean and green environments. Focus on taking student learning experiences outside—with outdoor physical activity and PE, school garden activities, or lessons on how to walk or bike safely to school.
Check out the lesson banks below, and share with your colleagues:
Please tag @nycschools and use hashtag #ClimateActionDays on social media! Schools must have a DOE media consent form on file for each student to use their images. Need help planning your school’s Climate Action Day? Contact your district’s Sustainability Specialist (opens in new window) for support.
High School Seniors: Yankees-Stonewall $10,000 Scholarship Opportunity – Apply by April 6
NYC Public Schools in partnership with the Stonewall Inn (opens in new window) and the New York Yankees are accepting applications for the sixth annual Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship. Five students—one from each borough—will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000. This scholarship honors the achievements of college-bound seniors who have demonstrated strong academic achievement and impactful support of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Free Citi Bike Rides: Car-Free Earth Day on April 20!
Connect Students to the Planet in April: Offerings from Office of Sustainability
All Grades (K-12):
Middle and High School (6-12):
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Youth Volunteer Days (opens in new window) – See dates below. Open to youth ages 12-24: Join the Gowanus Canal Conservancy to learn about local street trees and the importance of our urban forest. Volunteers will participate in street tree care, including tree identification and maintenance.
- April 6: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- April 25: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- May 4: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Photos: (Image 1) NYCPS Office of Energy and Sustainability (Image 2) New York City Department of Transportation
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K-12 Educators: Register for New York Agriculture in the Classroom Upcoming In-Person Events
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"Mind Your Own Beeswax" Educator Workshop: April 16, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn. Explore the world of honeybees and their second-most popular byproduct, beeswax. Learn about excess beeswax in honey extraction and engage in an activity to transform this byproduct into a marketable item.
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Tour of Mi Oh My Hydroponic Farms: April 18, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 2550 Olinville Ave, Bronx. Learn about the cultivation of microgreens and mushrooms happening in the Bronx.
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Teaching with Chickens: Exploring Urban Agriculture in the Classroom: May 8, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at P 177Q, 56-37 188th St, Queens. Visit a school to see firsthand what a successful chicken project looks like. Explore opportunities for funding these types of projects and participate in a hands-on activity to dive more into understanding chickens.
It’s Earth Month! Webinars and Events to Celebrate Sustainable and Healthy Food Practices
Photo: New York Agriculture in the Classroom
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My Health, My Right, World Health Day April 7:
Accessible Oral Health Care Through School-based Dental Care
Vulnerable populations tend to suffer with more oral disease because affordable, appropriate dental care is not accessible to all. NYCPS, in partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), offers dental services to students in schools, with parental consent, regardless of whether they have health insurance, and at no cost.
This World Health Day on April 7 and year-round, encourage oral hygiene and healthy habits.
Educators and administrators:
Parents and caregivers:
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Dental care can be low-cost or no-cost and is covered by Medicaid and Child Health Plus. Find a low-cost dental provider (opens in new window) in your neighborhood. Call 311 to assist in finding care or dental insurance.
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Did you know fluoride helps prevent tooth decay? It is in New York City tap water, toothpaste, and rinses. Fluoride varnish (opens in new window) can be applied to a child’s teeth by a medical provider.
School Dental Programs:
Almost 1,000 NYC schools have an approved school-based dental provider, and of the children examined in schools, nearly 40% have untreated tooth decay! Services take place at fixed clinics located in buildings with School Based Health Centers (SBHCs), or by portable/mobile providers who bring services on-site to buildings.
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For information on how to participate in a dental program, visit the “Oral Health” section on the Infohub (opens in new window).
- School-based dental programs rely on participation through signed parental consent forms. Help these programs achieve as many consents as possible to address the critical need for dental care!
For general questions, to learn more about the status of your school’s no-cost school-based dental care, or to start a program at your school, please email NYCDOHMHDental@health.nyc.gov.
Photo: World Health Organization (WHO)
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