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School Wellness Weekly

03.27.20


This is an image of the Office of School Wellness Programs logo that says, Think, Move, Achieve.
SPECIAL ISSUE
Making Virtual Your New Ritual During the COVID-19 Pandemic
First things first: A deep thank you to our PE and health teachers, principals, parents, families, and caregivers who are navigating this new remote learning reality. You are making it possible for our students to continue to learn absolutely essential skills: how to keep themselves and others safe, healthy, and physically active.

We understand that this is an especially challenging time. Educators are creating and giving lessons from small apartments, homes shared with their own families, on rooftops, and in other makeshift spaces. Those who must continue to leave their homes to keep the essential functions of the City going are under similar stressors, and we applaud you.

Regardless where you and our students are experiencing their learning—at home or at one of the DOE’s Regional Enrichment Centers throughout the City—our mission remains the same: to partner with you to create conditions where health and physical education thrive, and to engage the school community with programs to support student well-being.

As New Yorkers, we are known for our resilience, and we will no doubt get through this together. See below for updates, tips, and resources to help you teach and support our students.
Teacher Resources
Status of Professional Learning Opportunities
To keep educators, staff, and partners safe and healthy, all professional learning opportunities scheduled through April 20 are postponed. We will update our Professional Learning Catalog as we receive further guidance from the DOE. We are exploring the possibility of making some of our sessions available online, and we will share updates in School Wellness Weekly and our catalog as soon as we have more details. Questions? Email wellnesspd@schools.nyc.gov .

Remote Learning: Health and Physical Education Curricular Materials
Like other State-required academic content areas, Health and Physical Education curricular material—including lesson plans, worksheets, links to videos, and student-facing activities—is available on the DOE’s TeachHub (requires DOE log in). These online instructional materials will be updated every week so that you can meet your virtual classroom needs. 

IMPORTANT TIPS for accessing TeachHub and supporting apps:

  • Make sure you are logged into your DOE Google account and not into a personal account. The TeachHub—and all accompanying apps—are accessible only to DOE staff:
  • In your web browser, open a new window and make sure to sign out of your personal Google accounts and log back in using your DOE alias (person@schools.nyc.gov)
  • Once you enter your DOE alias in the Google sign in page, you will be taken to a DOE log in page; log in using your DOE credentials
  • Now you can access the DOE TeachHub link above

  • Once you are logged in, you will be taken to a “My Apps” landing page with helpful apps to support your remote learning experience:   
  • Elementary, Middle, and High School Instructional Materials (DOE’s Google Drive containing curricular material for all subject areas organized by grade band)
  • Google Classrooms
  • Office 365
  • TeachHub (accessible only to DOE educators)

  • Navigating the Instructional Material Google Drive folders and find one that is empty? Simply refresh your browser, and the material in the folder should appear.

See the Teach from Home page on the DOE’s InfoHub (requires DOE log in) for more information, helpful tips, and current announcements regarding Remote Learning.

Health and Physical Education Remote Learning Guidance and Resources
We created guidance and resource documents for Health Education and Physical Education teachers to help you through this new reality. We will continue to update these documents as we receive feedback from educators regarding their remote learning experiences and as we receive more information from the DOE.
Parent, Family, and Caregiver Resources
The DOE’s Learn at Home page contains links to materials, websites, and activities that families can use to help students practice physical education, physical activity, and health education skills at home any time.

Physical Education : Children and teens should be physically active for 60 minutes each day. The Physical Education and Physical Activities section links to videos, activity cards, games, and more to help your child reach that goal.  

  • Move-to-Improve World Beats: Produced by Hip Hop Public Health in collaboration with the DOE, the Move-to-Improve World Beats album reflects the diverse communities of New York City and is free to download. Each track comes with recommendations on movements to incorporate.
  • Hip Hop Public Health HYPE at Home: Continue the dance party with HYPE at Home and master moves like the side slide and the dribble bounce by following along to Hip Hop Public Health choreographers.
  • BOKS: Join BOKS for live workouts on Facebook every weekday at noon. For at-home activity packs, visit the BOKS website.
  • GoNoodle: Find movement, yoga, and meditation videos on GoNoodle’s Good Energy at Home page.
  • Playworks: Students can participate in virtual recess at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. on Facebook live.
  • Yoga Foster: Free resources include live yoga classes and meditation videos in both English and Spanish.

Health Education : Normal routines have been upended. Your children are missing their friends and teachers. Help manage anxiety in this stressful time by using resources in the Health Education section .

  • Common Sense Media: Meditating for even a few minutes a day can boost concentration and reduce anxiety. Common Sense Media’s meditation apps are broken down by age group.
  • Education.com: Students in grades K-5 can engage in social emotional learning by making a mood meter that allows them to check in with how they’re feeling.
  • Move This World: Middle schoolers interview an adult family member or caregiver about how they manage their emotions in this social emotional learning activity.
Community Resources
ThriveNYC's New Guide to Mental Health Services
This guide produced by the Mayor’s Office has information on a wealth of mental health resources for all New Yorkers, as well as services tailored to the needs of aging New Yorkers, veterans, students and young people, and people harmed by violence, crime or abuse. All services are free to New Yorkers, regardless of insurance coverage or immigration status. For the latest updates, follow the Mayor's Office of ThriveNYC on Twitter at @MentalHealthNYC . NYC Well is available 24/7: Call 1-888-NYC-WELL, text "Well" to 65173, or on the web at nyc.gov/nycwell .

Child Mind Institute Resources for Families
Family resources include Facebook Live video chats with expert clinicians, remote evaluations and phone consultations, and parenting tips for managing anxiety, discipline, and behavior. 

GrowNYC’s Greenmarkets
Most Greenmarkets are open and operating on schedule, so you can still shop for fresh, healthy food and support local farmers. Check GrowNYC for updates.