Forwarded to you? Subscribe today!
School Wellness Weekly

12.20.18


Register Now for NEW Student Events and Teacher Training in January
Winter Recess is well-deserved time for self-care, friends, and family. Before you pack up and head out (or from the comfort of home) be sure to check out the dynamic, FREE new events and workshops featured below, and register NOW – space is limited and registration is time-sensitive. Opportunities include a dance residency for high-school students, emotionally powerful theater performances for grades 6-12 students, a PE supplemental certification program for teachers at Brooklyn College, and an invitation to review and give us feedback on grades 6-12 physical education curricula. Start the new year with a great plan to get your students moving; support their physical, mental and emotional well-being, and continue honing your skills and strategies as an educator.
 
School Wellness Weekly will be on hiatus through January 1; look for the next issue after Winter Recess. 

(Photo above: Kirsten Luce)
Wellness Highlights
Deadline Jan. 4: Supplemental Certification Opportunity for Elementary PE Teachers:  The DOE is partnering with Brooklyn College to offer in-service, K–5 teachers who are not certified in physical education an opportunity to apply for a 12-credit program leading to the Supplementary Certificate in Physical Education; the DOE will cover tuition and fees. Coursework begins 2/5 and concludes in fall 2019; participants must attend a mandatory orientation at Brooklyn College in late January. Application deadline is Friday, 1/4 ; Share this application and additional information   with eligible teachers who may be interested. Questions? Email  TeachPE@schools.nyc.gov .

Free High School Dance Residency Opportunity: MOVES! Physical Activity through Dance Application
The Office of School Wellness Programs is partnering with Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, Dancewave, and Dreamyard to offer high school students the opportunity to participate in a free after-school, 15-week physical activity residency in hip-hop, West African, or modern dance at your school beginning January 25. All DOE high schools may apply by Friday, 1/11 (application takes no more than 20 minutes to complete!). We will announce the selected schools on 1/18; residencies begin 1/25. Some after-school residencies will offer a showcase opportunity, and we expect all residencies to be complete by June 22, 2019. For any questions contact wellnesspartnerships@schools.nyc.gov .

(Image courtesy Ping Chong + Company, photo by Adam Nadel)

Growing Up as "Generation NYC": Free Youth-Based Theater Performances for Grades 6-12 Students
The Office of School Wellness Programs and Office of Safety and Youth Development are partnering with the theater group Ping Chong + Company to offer grades 6-12 students and their chaperones private performances of Undesirable Elements: Generation NYZ on Wednesday, 1/30 at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday, 1/31 at 11:30 a.m. at La MaMa Theater in Manhattan. The production features seven New Yorkers, ages 18-22, who share their personal stories on stage for an audience of their peers. This is a valuable opportunity to get conversations going with your students on health education and social-emotional topics like depression, bullying, domestic violence, gender identity, sexual orientation, and more. Chaperones, register on Eventbrite for the 1/30 performance or 1/31 performance . Questions? Email wellnesspartnerships@schools.nyc.gov . 
 
Teachers and Wellness Champions: January 2 Deadline to Apply for a 2019 SHAPE Conference Scholarship
NYCDOE physical and health educators and school wellness champions: Don’t forget to apply for a scholarship from the Office of School Wellness Programs to attend the 2019 SHAPE America National Convention and Expo , April 9 – 13 in Tampa, Florida. The SHAPE convention is the country’s largest annual gathering of health and physical education professionals. The scholarship covers a one-year SHAPE America Professional Membership and the cost of conference registration, a value of $519. Complete the  online application by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 1/2 ; there are a limited number of scholarships. Questions? Email  wellness@schools.nyc.gov .

K-5 Educators: Become a Move-to-Improve All-Star School by January 31, 2019
Want a fun and simple way to increase your elementary students’ motivation, improve their concentration, and help your school supplement the State physical education time and frequency requirements this year? Become a Move-to-Improve All-Star school and maintain your status by 1/31 . Move-to-Improve is the DOE’s free, classroom-based physical activity program for elementary schools. Whether you are on track for being a Move-to-Improve All-Star this school year, looking to train your classroom teachers, or would like to train your PE teacher to be a Move-to-Improve Champion, connect with us at mti@schools.nyc.gov for help implementing this program. View our popular videos and training resources at weteachnyc.org . 
New CDC Resources to Promote Physical Activity in Your Classroom
For more ways to get students moving at school, download Strategies for Classroom Physical Activity in Schools , a new guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that’s chock-full of resources and ideas you can use in the new year. See the CDC’s Classroom Physical Activity website for more resources, including what parents can do to advocate for classroom physical activity in your school. 

(Image: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Physical Education
Grades 6-12 Physical Education Teachers and Administrators: We Need Your Feedback on PE Curricula
The Office of School Wellness Program is looking to work with a talented group of teachers and assistant principals to review a series of current and relevant curricula for physical education for grades 6-12. This is a per session opportunity. Must be available to meet in person on Saturday, 1/26 in Queens or Saturday, 2/2 in Brooklyn. If interested, complete this application by Monday, 12/31 .

Mark Your Calendars for January Professional Learning
Take time during Winter Recess to peruse our Professional Learning Catalog and register for upcoming trainings to keep current on the latest research-based practices in physical education, including a new workshop for K-12 teachers on supporting learning for students with IEPs.

  • January 8 (Queens): Secondary PE Basics I. Grades 6-12 PE teachers, register to learn the components of health-related fitness education and how to incorporate the NYC FITNESSGRAM assessments into your PE program.
  • NEW Workshop! January 8 (Bronx): IEP Writing and Co-Teaching Strategies for Physical Education Teachers. K-12 PE teachers, register to explore all aspects of PE components in the IEP.
  • January 9 (elementary) and January 10 (secondary) (Brooklyn): Make it Work: Mastering PE in Creative Spaces. Learn strategies for providing quality physical education instruction in limited space with limited equipment. Grades K-5 teachers, register here. Grades 6-12 teachers, register here.
  • January 10 (Brooklyn). Strong and Fit. Grades 6-12 teachers, register to learn strategies to design safe physical education instruction in a weight room.
Health Education
Our January workshops and webinars train elementary teachers on how to implement comprehensive, skills-based health education; show K-12 school staff how to be upstanders for LGBTQ youth; and equip high school Condom Availability Program staff with new strategies to promote the program. Continue to visit our  2018-19 Professional Learning Catalog for added trainings.

  • January 7: Elementary Health Education Basics I: Comprehensive Skills-Based Health Education. Grades K-5 teachers, register for this session in the Bronx.
  • January 7: Being Upstanders for LGBTQ Youth - An OUT for Safe Schools® Webinar. Grades K-12 school staff, register for this 75-minute webinar to learn how to implement the OUT for Safe Schools program in your school and identify strategies for building safer, more affirming schools for LGBTQ students.  
  • January 14: Taking Your CAP Promotion to the Next Level (webinar): Condom Availability Program-trained staff, register for this 75-minute webinar to learn innovative ways to promote CAP services to your students. Co-hosted by fellow a CAP champion.
Building the Wellness Community
Register for the 2 nd Annual DOE Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit on January 28
Join the NYC Department of Education on Monday, 1/28 for the second annual Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Summit at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. The GSA Summit is an opportunity for students and faculty advisors of these clubs to celebrate, network, and learn from one another. The event includes separate workshops for student leaders and faculty advisors, an exhibitor area, and breakfast and lunch. Dance party to follow the event (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.). Students register here ; adult chaperones register here . 
 
Register for the DOE Youth Climate Summit
In partnership with the Wild Center, the Office of Sustainability will host the first-ever DOE Youth Climate Summit on Friday, 1/18 at the United Federation of Teachers offices in Manhattan. This day-long sustainability event for public and charter high school students will include keynotes, workshops, and expos where students will develop critical leadership and problem-solving skills through experiential learning. Participants will gain climate action knowledge and build peer networks to expand sustainability in their schools and communities. Register here to bring a group of students.
 
Last Chance! Apply for a Grow with Us Grant for School Gardening
Applications are due Sunday, 12/23 for the Grow with Us Grant from New York Agriculture in the Classroom. Awarded schools receive free supplies to engage students in learning through gardening and eating healthy food year-round. Grades K-12 teachers can apply for four different types of garden grow systems . Apply online here . Questions? Email Katie Carpenter at kse45@cornell.edu .
 
High School Principals: Apply by January 31 for Free Traffic and Driving Safety Program for 12 th Grade Students
As part of NYC's Vision Zero Initiative , the DOE in partnership with the National Safety Council and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is introducing Alive at 25 , which provides classroom lessons on traffic safety to young drivers. The program is delivered in four 60 minute sessions taught by certified DOT instructors, and has been successfully piloted at ten NYC high schools. Interested principals, email Serge St. Leger, Jr., at sstleger@schools.nyc.gov by 1/31 .
 
NYC Neighborhood Grants for Community and School Projects: Apply by January 21
School Wellness Council members, here’s your chance to secure more funding for your school garden and nutrition efforts, school recycling drives, and more: The Citizens Committee for New York City awards micro-grants of up to $3,000 to resident-led groups to work on community and school projects throughout the city. Priority to Title I public schools and groups based in low-income neighborhoods. Application deadline 1/21 ; see the Neighborhood Grants webpage for more information and to apply, or contact Andre at AMozeak@citizensnyc.org or 212-822-9595.
Office of School Health Corner
Champion Spotlight:
Dr. Lisa Jenkins

In this issue, we highlight the work of Dr. Lisa Jenkins , an Office of School Health physician who works with the Connecting Adolescents to Comprehensive Health Care (CATCH) program.

The CATCH program offers reproductive health services and health education at 54 high school sites, serving 90 high schools (grades 9-12) without School Based Health Centers. As a school physician, her goal is to promote students’ mental and physical well-being to enable them to reach their highest academic potential.
What does a School Physician do on a daily basis?
We work with the school nurse to provide students with physical exams, evaluate students with chronic illness such as diabetes, serve as a liaison with community providers and as a resource to school staff, and review special accommodations. For each student I see, I take the time to listen and understand their health concerns and provide information and referrals to services that could benefit them.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Sharing information with students and knowing the greater impact this knowledge will make on their lives. For example, the rates of unplanned pregnancies among teens has dropped. This feels like a huge accomplishment knowing that I may be contributing to this change through the CATCH program. As school health physicians we have the opportunity to serve as a role models to some students who may not see a physician on a regular basis.

What are the most memorable things that your students have taught you?
Students have taught me that adults need to listen without judgement. They need to consider each student’s thoughts and feelings on all matters, regardless of their personal views. This allows students to make their own informed decisions. Especially with mental health issues, I have found that talking to students about their problems confidentially is important. Students are more likely to reach out and talk to you if they trust you. They want to be heard without judgment and take responsibility for their health, and they care about their futures.

What is one thing about your job that others may not know?
A lot of parents and health care providers generally don’t know that there are 57 doctors in schools who are there to support students and provide medical services in the place where students spend most of their time. 

There is also a misconception about the CATCH program. We offer a space where students can feel comfortable talking about their needs, and we provide information and services, such as contraception, they may not have been able to afford otherwise. The same goes for mental health, vision, and dental services in school. It’s about providing access and support to students. 
School Health and Wellness tip
All public high schools in New York City have Health Resource Rooms where free condoms, health information, and health referrals are available to students in grades 9-12 by trained staff. For more information, see the Condom Availability Program webpage or email CAP2@schools.nyc.gov.  For more information about the CATCH Program, see the DOE Health Services webpage or contact Pamela Haller at phaller@health.nyc.gov.