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School Wellness Weekly

06.26.19


Summer Goals: Be Active, Stay Healthy, Start Planning
June is a month to celebrate the achievements of the school year with colleagues, families, and students who inspire us to set new goals and try new ideas for building robust PE, health, and wellness programs. We know that healthy students and school communities are a critical foundation for successful learning. This month we tipped our hats to champion students, educators, and school wellness councils at several events, including the School Wellness Awards on 6/12, held in partnership with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and its Excellence in School Wellness Award program; the inaugural Health Ed Works end-of-year event on 6/14; and a celebration of PE Professional Learning Communities on 6/24 (see more below).

As you catch a collective breath this summer, keep these opportunities in mind for the 2019-20 school year:

  • Renew or Apply for a School Wellness Council Grant. This year our grant application will be available in early September! Check School Wellness Weekly for updates.

  • K-8 Schools: Apply for Free CHAMPS Physical Activity Programs. The CHAMPS Sports and Fitness Program offers elementary and middle-grade students the opportunity to participate in free, before- and after-school sports and physical activity programs. The application for the 2019-20 school year opens July 18 and closes September 18. Principals apply for the CHAMPS program at their schools; teacher-coaches supervise the activities. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions, email CHAMPS@schools.nyc.gov.

  •  High Schools: Nominate a Student Voice Committee Representative. The Student Voice Committee, part of the DOE's District Wellness Advisory Council, welcomes high school students with a deep interest in health and education who meet monthly to work on a wellness promotion initiative. Nominations are due Friday, Oct. 4. Past student committees have developed a Mental Health Awareness Month toolkit and conducted research on how much sleep high school students get at night. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about health research and connect with professionals at the DOE and other City agencies.

School Wellness Weekly will be on summer hiatus and return in September with more resources and opportunities to help you in the 2019-20 school year. Happy summer!

"Transforming NYC School Culture" idea board at the School Wellness Award ceremony, June 13. Photo: Kirsten Luce.
Wellness Highlights
Register for Summer Health Education Training–CTLE Credits Available

It can be a challenge to leave the classroom during the school year to attend professional development, but now middle school and high school health education teachers can complete Health Ed Basics I-IV trainings in one week this August. Join us for the inaugural Summer Health Education Professional Learning Institute from 8/19–8/22 at Hunter’s Point Community Middle School in Long Island City. Participants can register for individual workshops or all four . Each one-day training provides 5 hours and 20 minutes of CTLE.  

  • Aug. 19: Basics I: Comprehensive Skills-Based Health Education
  • Aug. 20: Basics II: Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
  • Aug. 21: Basics III: HIV/AIDS
  • Aug. 22: Basics IV: LGBTQ Affirming Schools
Physical Education
Queens Educators Win PE Professional Learning Community of the Year Award

Congratulations to the PE Professional Learning Community (PLC) at P.S. 163 Flushing Heights (25Q163), winner of the 2018–19 Physical Education Professional Learning Community of the Year Award. PLC participants from across the City gathered for the end-of-year award ceremony on Monday, 6/24, at Major League Baseball headquarters. PLC 25Q163 is a model for how PLCs operate, comprised of educators who work together to solve problems and elevate teacher practice and effectiveness that, in turn, impacts student learning. Facilitators Christopher Esquierdo (25Q163), Anthie Milonas (25Q165), and Sean Adkins (25Q021) played an essential role in leading  their colleagues toward the goal of student improvement by collaborating on creating resources for assessing students.

Check School Wellness Weekly and our Professional Learning Catalog in early Fall to register for future PLC meetings.

Photo: Professional Learning Community of the Year, P.S. 163 Flushing Heights (25Q163).
K-5 Schools: New Move-to-Improve Materials Available 
As part of the DOE's commitment to making physical literacy equitable and accessible for students, this month all public elementary schools in districts 1-32 received a collection of free Move-to-Improve program materials to use in their classrooms next year. Move-to-Improve activities build on what students learn in physical education and in their other subjects. Check with your principal for your materials, and make MTI a joyful daily tradition in your classrooms.These materials supplement the online Move-to-Improve collection available 24/7 on WeTeachNYC.org.
Health Education
News from Health Ed Works: Celebrating Our First Year

What does it take to build a model health education program in New York City public schools? Twenty teachers and administrators from the 2018-19 cohort of Health Ed Works Focus Schools gathered at The Center in Manhattan on 6/14 to explore this question, sharing ideas and celebrating the first year of their work to strengthen health education and supportive environments at their schools. Health Ed Works is a multi-year initiative to ensure that more New York City students receive comprehensive health education that meets State requirements and helps them develop the skills to make healthy decisions and avoid high-risk behaviors throughout their lives. Jump-start your quality health education instruction next year by reviewing the new health education Scope and Sequences for all grade levels at WeTeachNYC.org . 

Teachers reflected on achievements and developed new goals at the Health Ed Works event on June 14. Photo: Krisanne Johnson.
Building the Wellness Community
Spread the Word: Summer Meals Program for Everyone Ages 18 and Under

Nearly one in five children in New York City live in food-insecure households – that number rises to 37% for children in the Bronx. From 6/27 to 8/30, the NYCDOE Summer Meals program will provide free breakfast and lunch to all children ages 18 and under at 1,200 locations in all five boroughs. Meals will be served at schools, community pools, public parks, and libraries, as well as from three mobile food trucks.

Explore STEM-Based Food and Environment Curricula with Green Beetz  

Grades 5-7 educators can earn P-credits through the After School Professional Development Program by taking  Systems Thinking through Green Beetz training from 8/1 to 9/6. This online and in-person course explores systems thinking methods through Green Beetz’s STEM-based curriculum, which focuses on teaching students about healthy, sustainable eating. Register through  ASPDP  by 7/31 . For more information, email  Green Beetz   or call 212-572-3596. 

Teens for Food Justice Is Hiring

Teens for Food Justice, a nonprofit organization that works in Title I middle schools and high schools in food desert communities, is looking to hire two hydroponic farmer-educators , one at Far Rockaway High School in Queens and one at the MLK Jr. Educational Campus in Manhattan. 

NYCDOE mobile food trucks like these are part of the City's free Summer Meals program. Photo: Tremis Skeete.
OFFICE OF SCHOOL HEALTH CORNER 
Summer Health Tips
Today, June 26, is the last day of school for all students, and that means summer is officially here. Keep these helpful tips from the  Office of School Health handy to protect you and your family from the sun and heat:            
  • Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your skin from sunburn as well as various forms of skin cancer.
  • Drink water. Staying hydrated (especially in the sun and heat) is key to ensuring that your body functions correctly. Grab a bottle of water and add some fruit or veggies for a flavor infusion.
  • Make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Before traveling, talk to your doctor regarding any extra vaccinations that may be needed. Make sure you get vaccinated 4-6 weeks prior to travelling. This will give you enough time to get a second dose of vaccines (if necessary), as well as ample time for the vaccine to actually work.
  • Get your child’s medical forms in order. There are six different medication administration forms that could benefit your child if needed–asthma, diabetes, allergies and anaphylaxis, a general medication administration form, a 504 form for special accommodations in school, and a request for provision of medically prescribed treatment. Get a head start and speak to your child’s pediatrician about any forms that may need to be completed for the upcoming school year.