Twitter ‌
This is an image of the New York City Department of Education logo.
This is an image of the Office of School Wellness Programs logo that says, Think, Move, Achieve.


School Wellness Weekly

March 3, 2023
Happy 50th National Nutrition Month: Your Future is Bright!  
Celebrating National Nutrition Month® (opens in new window) is a 50-year-old tradition with a forward-thinking theme this year. Fuel for the Future inspires school communities and families to consider ways to develop healthful eating and physical activity habits that are good for our bodies and our planet. In New York City, Mayor Adams has made healthy food policy (opens in new window) a Citywide priority. 

The DOE and Office of School Wellness Programs offer plenty of options for educators, families, and students to learn about why healthy food is important and to reimagine our food experiences—from Plant Powered Fridays to nutrition education lessons, to school gardens and School Wellness Councils. 

Looking for ideas? 

  • Check out the many links under “PE and Health Education Resources,” below, including the New York City Physical Education and Health Education Scope and Sequences that give PE, Health Education and classroom teachers multiple opportunities to coordinate and teach nutrition skills and concepts. 


  • Start up or join your School Wellness Council (opens in new window) to create healthy snack policies, advocate for Health and PE instruction, and plan food and physical activity campaigns and events for the school community. 

The DOE Citywide Wellness Policy (opens in new window) offers school policies, recommendations and resources that, when coordinated, make a supportive school environment for nutrition and physical activity, outdoor learning and healthy eating, where the best choices are the easiest choices at school. 

Continue reading for a wide range of nutrition and food-related resources you can use the whole month of March, and year-round, to ensure NYC DOE students are empowered to make lifelong healthy choices about nutrition and wellness. 
PE and Health Education Resources: Nutrition and Healthy Food 
Explore nutrition-related topics all month long! See the following resources to educate and inspire students to make healthy food and physical activity choices: 
 
  • The NYC DOE Physical Education and Health Education Scope and Sequences, available on WeTeachNYC (opens in new window), include standards-based nutrition units and concepts: 

Physical Education 

 
Health Education 


 




 



 
Share with Families and Caregivers:  


Wellness Highlight
Student and Parents: Tell NYC Public Schools How to Give Students the Best Food Possible 
Want to see more of a particular food? Or share how you learn what's on the menu? Promote the 2023 Office of Food and Nutrition Services Spring Survey (opens in new window) to parents and students so they can help NYC Public Schools provide the best food service program possible. Students can weigh in on what they want to eat while giving parents a chance to share how they learn about menus and menu information. Visit the Menus page (opens in new window) on the DOE website for more information. 
Columbia University Tisch Center: One-Stop-Shop for Nutrition and Wellness Info  
The Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy (opens in new window) is a hub for the intersection of food policy, nutrition education, and just, sustainable food systems. Check out the Food Ed Hub Weekly Digest (opens in new window) for food and nutrition-specific events and opportunities, and the Wellness Program Finder (opens in new window) to find community-based food, nutrition, physical and mental health programs for PreK-12 students. See information about Tisch’s upcoming NYC Food Ed Career Fair in the Building the Wellness Community Section, below.

Celebrate Student Upstanders and Trusted Adults! Say Something Week, March 13 - 17  
Each year, thousands of schools and youth organizations nationwide participate in Say Something Week (opens in new window) organized by the nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise (opens in new window) The Say Something program teaches students to recognize the warning signs of someone at risk of hurting themselves or others and how to say something to a trusted adult to get help.
 
Any school or community organization serving grades K-12 can participate in this year’s Say Something Week or join in the celebration any week in March. Register (opens in new window) and receive access to free resources, updates on activities and educational events taking place during the week, and tips to sustain your training and program.

(Photo credit: Columbia Tisch Center for Food, Education, and Policy) 
Health Education
Grades 9-12 Health Ed Teachers: Join the Condom Availability Webinar Series in March  
Register for the Condom Availability Program Overview (Part 1 of 3) on Wednesday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and learn characteristics of a trusted adult and NYC DOE mandates and requirements to effectively operate a Condom Availability Program (CAP) in schools. Participants must attend all webinars of the three-part training series to become CAP-certified. Visit the Condom Availability Program Page (opens in new window) in our Professional Learning Catalog to see more information about the series, including Parts 2 & 3. CTLE: 90 minutes. 

The Condom Availability Program (opens in new window) is part of the DOE HIV/AIDS education program, which requires HIV/AIDS education for all students, every year. Students in grades 9-12 can go to their school’s Health Resource Room to find support regarding HIV/AIDS and other reproductive and sexual health topics; free condoms and other resources; and referrals to local health clinics and services. 
Building the Wellness Community
Opportunity for Students! NYC Food Ed Career Fair on Wednesday, March 8 
 
The Tisch Center’s Food Ed Hub (opens in new window) is hosting the second annual NYC Food Ed Career Fair (opens in new window) on Wednesday March 8 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Teachers College, Columbia University. Participants ages 16 and up will be able to connect with employers from across the food education space, from garden and nutrition-based programs in schools, to environmental education programs, urban farms, community wellness programs, culinary and more. 

 
Share with Graduating Seniors: Annual Yankees-Stonewall $10,000 Scholarship Opportunity  
The DOE in partnership with the Stonewall Inn (opens in new window) and the New York Yankees are accepting applications for the fifth annual Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship to celebrate the achievements of college-bound seniors who have demonstrated strong academic achievement and impactful support of the LGBTQ community. Five students—one from each borough—will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000. Encourage your high school senior students to apply (opens in new window) by the deadline of Monday, April 10. Questions? Email LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov.  

The Office of School Wellness Programs and the DOE are committed to supporting LGBTQ students with ongoing resources, support, activities, and events. Thank you to all school staff who have continued to be allies to LGBTQ students and build safe and affirming environments. Continue to learn more about OUT for Safe Schools® training sessions (opens in new window) and GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliances) (opens in new window). 
9th Annual Be BRAVE Anti-Bullying Video Contest for Middle and High School Students 
The United Federation of Teachers Be BRAVE Against Bullying program (opens in new window) is now accepting submissions for the Be BRAVE Video Contest (opens in new window). Encourage your middle and high school students to submit a 3-to-5-minute video about bullying; submissions (opens in new window) are due by Wednesday, April 19. Winners will receive cash prizes for their schools and attend an awards ceremony in May. 
 
Calling Employers: Summer Youth Employment for LGBTQ+ Students 
The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (opens in new window) supports New York City youth and their families by funding a wide range of high-quality youth and community development programs, including summer work opportunities.

New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) (opens in new window) is launching a new SYEP Pride (opens in new window) initiative to connect LGBTQ+ youth with supportive, safe, and affirming work and career exploration opportunities. Employer partners can offer unique employment and learning experiences that will support and empower LGBTQ+ youth.

SYEP is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer. Teens and young adults between 14 and 24 years of age may submit applications (opens in new window) by March 31, 2023. 

Potential employers: Register to join a virtual briefing to learn more: 

To learn more, visit nyc.gov/syep.
K-12 Schools: Hip Hop 50 Competition to Promote Traffic Safety: $1,000 First Prize! 
The majority of young New Yorkers walk to and from school, to transit, and around New York City each and every day, and it’s imperative that we work together to keep pedestrians safe.  
The New York City Department of Transportation is hosting the We’re Walking Here competition (opens in new window) for K-12 students to use written rap lyrics, videos, or dances to create their own original hip hop-inspired public service announcement on traffic safety. 
 
Cash prizes go to winning classes: $1,000 first prize, $750 second, and third place $500. Winning PSAs will be professionally produced and made available to the general public and used by the NYC DOT. The first 100 educators who register receive a Starter Kit with curriculum, student hand-outs, and promotional items. 
 
All New York City schools, K-12, are eligible. The contest runs March 6 – 31; submissions are due March 31. For more information and complete rules, see the Teacher’s Guide (opens in new window). 

(Photo credit: First image: Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food Education and Policy Center, second image: United Teachers Federation, third image: NYC DOT)