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School Wellness Weekly
January 13, 2023
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The Right to Quality Health Education, PE, and Wellness |
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Next Monday, January 16, is a national holiday to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision of equality, social and racial justice, and systemic change. MLK Day is the only federal holiday that is a National Day of Service: an opportunity to not only reflect but also take action in our communities.
In a 1967 speech in Atlanta (opens in new window), Dr. King acknowledged the progress marked by the dismantling of legal segregation and described a new phase, “a struggle for genuine equality on all levels… Now we are in a period where it will cost the nation billions of dollars to get rid of poverty, to get rid of slums, to make quality integrated education a reality.”
With their service to schools and students, New York City educators, school leaders, City employees, and family and community members play an integral part in Dr. King’s vision of national investment in quality integrated education. The Office of School Wellness Programs is no exception. We believe that all students, regardless of social position or other determining circumstances, have a right to access quality, inclusive physical education and health education that supports their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These critical academic subjects help students develop lifelong skills to make informed decisions about their health, their bodies, and their futures.
See the DOE’s Citywide Wellness Policy (opens in new window) for a comprehensive description of the DOE’s approach to providing all students with PE and health education, as well as environments and opportunities that allow all students to practice healthy behaviors throughout the school day.
Learn more:
For ideas on how to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at your school, check out:
Photo: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963. Credit: History in HD on Unsplash
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Secondary Educators: Register for High School Professional Development Day on January 30
The DOE is holding its annual professional development day for teachers and administrators of high schools and 6–12 schools on Monday, January 30, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Office of School Wellness Programs is offering multiple 90-minute webinars on January 30 designed to help educators deliver high-quality instruction in PE and Health Education and support student well-being. Join our office content specialists and trusted partner organizations and connect with other DOE educators!
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Move-to-Improve is Physical Activity in the Classroom! All-Star Reminder
Move-to-Improve (opens in new window) (MTI) is a classroom-based elementary physical activity program that gets students moving while learning. Move-to-Improve workshops provided by the Office of School Wellness Programs give grades K-6 teachers ideas and strategies to use healthy physical activity as means of instruction, including during assessments, and to have fun!
Move-to-Improve resources are available free to all on WeTeachNYC (opens in new window). Simply type the words “Move to Improve” in the search box to find an entire library of materials, including a physical activity guide, visual aid cards, downloadable music, and a slew of videos to help you implement movement into any child’s daily routine. View the students in action with the Move-to-Improve activity Listen Up! (opens in new window) in a first grade classroom.
Encourage teachers new to the school to register (opens in new window) for our online Move-to-Improve Workshop for classroom teachers offered during the month of January.
Image: Move-to-Improve Classroom Demonstration video, "Listen Up"
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Cannabis, Vaping, and Drug-Use Prevention: Health Ed Online Professional Learning Community Hot Topic of the Month
If you're teaching Health Education, join us on Monday, January 23, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m to discuss and learn about effective strategies for teaching about cannabis, vaping, and other drug-use prevention topics. View details and register (opens in new window) (DOE login required).
We will take a look at current issues in our schools and Citywide, and discuss how we can shift behavior through health ed instruction. We want to hear from you: What makes teaching about substance abuse prevention successful in your classroom? What are the challenges? CTLE: 60 minutes for each session. (Also see resources below from our partners at the NYC Department of Health.)
Elementary K-5 Teachers: Access the Complete Health Education Pacing Guide
- HealthSmart K-5 2nd Edition
- Harmony Social and Emotional Learning 3rd Edition
- NYCDOE HIV/AIDS Curriculum 2012 Edition
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Grades 6-12 Student Poster Contest: Promote Health Resource Rooms and Get a Chance to Win $200
Staff in grades 6-12 schools: Encourage your students to participate in the Health Resource Room Promotion: Student Poster Contest (opens in new window). Deadline for artwork submission is Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Students may choose to submit artwork on their own or a school staff member may submit artwork on the student’s behalf.
Two winners from middle school and two winners from high school will each receive a $200 Visa gift card in spring 2023; their school will receive an $800 grant in Fall 2023 to start or sustain its Health Resource Room. The winning posters will also be printed and made available to secondary schools Citywide, starting Fall 2023.
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Apply to Advocate at SHAPE America's Speak Out! Day in Washington, D.C
Teachers and school staff, use your voice in Washington, D.C. to educate legislators about the importance of effective health and physical education programs. Apply (opens in new window) by Wednesday, January 18 to attend SHAPE America’s Speak Out! Day 2023 (opens in new window) on February 14-15. Attendees will build relationships with members of Congress and fellow SHAPE America members and represent New York State and your school community.
CDC Public Health Law Fellowship Opportunity
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Law Program and Change Lab Solutions (opens in new window) are partnering to sponsor the Public Health Law Fellowship (opens in new window). Graduate students (e.g., MPH, MPA, PhD), law students, and recent graduates focused on careers in public health law or policy are eligible for this paid, part-time opportunity. Apply by Monday, January 23 at 3 p.m. Multiple groups will start at different times throughout 2023: January, May/June, August/September.
The Public Health Law Fellowship was created to strengthen the public health law workforce by increasing diversity within the field and preparing the next generation of public health law professionals to respond to critical issues. For questions, email PHLFellowship@cdc.gov with reference code CDC-CSTLTS-2022-0396.
Become One of America’s Healthiest Schools – Start Your 2023 Award Application
Healthier Generation’s annual recognition program, America’s Healthiest Schools (opens in new window) celebrates schools for implementing best practices to support the physical, mental, and social-emotional health needs of the learning community. Applications are being accepted for the 2023 year and must be submitted by April 18, 2023.
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Virtual Workshop: Conversations Around Sexual and Reproductive Health
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is hosting a virtual workshop series on February 7 and 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., to support families and teens in having open, honest, and supportive conversations around sexual and reproductive health. Gift cards will be provided to all participants, up to $60 for guardians and $25 for youth (ages 13-19). Share the English and Spanish language flyer (opens in new window) with families in your community.
Applications Open: Spring 2023 Reproductive Literacy Training Program at Teachers College
The Sex Education Initiative at Teachers College, Columbia University (opens in new window), invites education and health professionals to apply for a free, reproductive literacy training program in Spring 2023. The online, five-week, fully funded professional development opportunity provides participants with training on Reproductive Life Planning (RLP) and Reproductive Identity Formation (RIF). Participants will learn from content area experts, explore their own personal values and norms, and gain skills and tools for engaging their students and community in these topics.
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Summer Job Opportunity for High School Students: Become a Paid NYC Lifeguard
Lifeguards work five to six days each week and first-year lifeguards earn a minimum of $16 an hour. To qualify, individuals must be at least 16 years of age by the start of employment.
Photo: NYC Parks
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Office of School Health Corner:
Vaping and Cannabis Prevention Resources
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Youth vaping and cannabis use remain threats to the health of students. Read this information from the New York City Department of Health and Hygiene to learn how you can help:
- Both nicotine and cannabis can have serious impacts on young people whose brains are still developing.
- Vaping can expose students to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. The nicotine in vapes is also addictive and can make it harder for students to learn and focus.
- Negative effects of cannabis for students can include difficulty thinking, learning, and solving problems; poor memory or focus; and reduced physical coordination.
- Starting cannabis use at a younger age or using it frequently can be associated with earlier onset of psychotic disorders for those already at risk.
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There also continue to be health and safety issues locally with unregulated cannabis products, including cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, associated lung injury and accidental ingestions of cannabis edibles.
Access these resources to help protect kids from the harms of vaping and cannabis products:
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