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School Wellness Weekly

03.15.19


Spring Forward, Reset, And Re-Energize
Spring is a great time to reset priorities and re-energize by learning something new. Before the frenzy of end-of-school-year activities and state testing kicks in, use these weeks leading up to the April break to review your lesson plans and set professional learning goals for the rest of the school year.

Elementary-level Health and PE teachers can use the new K-5 Health Education Scope and Sequence and K-5 Physical Education Scope and Sequence to keep their instruction on track and focused on student outcomes. All educators can find guiding resources, including lesson plans and pacing guides, on WeTeachNYC.

Attend an upcoming professional learning workshop to expand your network of colleagues and your teaching toolkit, and come back to your school with fresh ideas to keep you going through June. See our Professional Learning catalog for a full list of trainings and registration links, including these highlights:

  • Find new, engaging ways to incorporate rhythmic movement into your PE class by registering for an upcoming Teaching Dance for Understanding in Queens on 3/25 for grades 6-12 PE staff or on 3/26 for grades K-5.
  • Discover classroom strategies and lesson plans that promote inclusion at these LGBTQ Affirming Schools Workshops for grades K-5 staff on 3/21 in Brooklyn and grades 6-12 on 5/10 in Manhattan. Teachers, counselors, school aides, and other staff are welcome.

Photo credit: Krisanne Johnson
Wellness Highlights
All PE Teachers: NYC FITNESSGRAM Deadline Reminder
The deadline to complete your students’ NYC FITNESSGRAM assessments and enter and validate student scores is 5/17 . Your principal was notified in the 3/12 issue of Principals’ Weekly . Student scores will be available in both the NYC FITNESSGRAM web application and in students’ NYC Schools Accounts within 24 hours of validation. Reports will only be available for students whose scores are listed as complete in the web application. See the Office of School Wellness tech support page for details, FAQs, or to submit a help desk request.
John Rowbotham from Bigger Faster Stronger will evaluate your weight room and make recommendations to improve safety in the design and set-up of your space. Grades 6-12 PE teachers and school administrators can register for the 3/18-3/19 Staten Island session or the 3/20-3/21 Manhattan session.  
K-12 Health Teachers: Mandated HIV/AIDS Lessons Reminder
Need help preparing the HIV/AIDS lessons required every year for every grade? You’ll find the HIV/AIDS curriculum on WeTeachNYC . Health educators in grades 6-12 also can sign up for the   Middle School/High School Health Education Basics III: HIV/AIDS session on 3/20 in Brooklyn. 
Physical Education
Upcoming Professional Learning:
Register for these dynamic physical education trainings that cover recess strategies and how to run an inclusive PE class. 
 

Photo credit: Kirsten Luce
Health Education
Upcoming Professional Learning:
Register for one or more of these health education trainings on growing your seed-to-table programming, and training teens to be nutrition advocates. 

Meatless Mondays Menu Debuts Citywide Next Year
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chancellor Richard A. Carranza, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams recently announced that Meatless Mondays will roll out Citywide in the 2019-20 school year, providing students with healthy, environmentally friendly, all-vegetarian breakfast and lunch menu options every Monday. This is a great opportunity to review the nutrition unit in the K-5 Health Education Scope and Sequence, and make this a teachable moment for your students.

Photo credit: Shelley Cunningham, MS 51 Brooklyn (15K051)
Building the Wellness Community
Last Chance to Register for Free Rising NY Road Runners Spring Programs
Help students build their confidence, motivation, and desire to be physically active for life with free, easy-to-implement programming from New York Road Runners.  Rising New York Road Runners  (NYRRs) develops movement skills in kids through a mix of running and fitness activities. Rising NYRRs offers schools a free teacher/coach-led program that provides customizable resources and training. The registration deadline is March 31, apply  today; email  risingnyrr@nyrr.org  with any questions.  
Book a Free NYC H2O Field Trip 
Sign up for a free ecology and engineering field trip with NYC H2O to reservoir sites in Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan’s Central Park (above).

Students: Share Innovations at the DOE’s Sustainability Showcase
Students who present at the NYCDOE’s 3rd Annual Sustainability Showcase on 5/22 at the Brooklyn Expo Center can win $2,500 to use toward sustainability projects at their schools. Applications are due 3/22 .
 
Photo courtesy of Central Park Conservancy.
School Wellness Tip
Did you know that NYC Parks offers free, drop-in fitness classes through Shape Up NYC in all five boroughs? You’ll find this and other helpful tips in the Guide to Healthy Eating & Active Living in NYC . So shake off the winter doldrums and get moving!