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School Wellness Weekly
05.17.18
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Mental Health at the Forefront in Our Schools:
A Student-Led Mission
“
People don't realize how important mental health can be to the entire holistic view of well-being; that's why we decided to fight for it
.”
---Jerry Ye, Stuyvesant High School, Student Voice
Committee
New York City students continuously face challenging situations inside and outside of school, whether it’s managing relationships, staying safe, or facing housing and food insecurity. In 2015, 29.4% of NYC adolescents reported feeling sad or hopeless over the previous year, with homeless and LGBTQ students faring worse.
1
And teenagers have trouble asking for and sticking with treatment for mental health disorders.
2
The good news? Our own students are rising to these challenges, emerging as dedicated mental health advocates to champion the social, emotional, and mental well-being of their peers.
We’re proud to announce the first result of this student-led mission: a valuable new Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit for educators, created by the DOE’s Student Voice Committee, an arm of the Office of School Wellness Programs’ District Wellness Advisory Council.
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The 7 members of this committee – all public high school students who volunteer their time – chose the toolkit as their collective passion project to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The toolkit gives school staff concrete, student-focused resources for learning about mental health and how to teach and support it in the school environment including:
- A guide to arranging for mental health guest speakers
- Lists of mental health lessons for elementary, middle, and high school
- Information about NYC DOE School Mental Health programs and resources
- Information about community-based resources
- Places to go for additional mental health information
- Useful stress-relieving strategies
- Downloadable student artwork that can be used to raise awareness about mental health
The Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit complements multi-pronged DOE efforts to ensure that schools promote students’ healthy social, emotional, and behavioral development. Start by teaching the
NYCDOE's recommended Health Education curricula
, and be sure to familiarize yourself and your school staff with the
School-Based Mental Health Program
, which provides an array of confidential, on-site services.
Health Education Teachers:
Don’t forget to register for an upcoming interactive workshop led by sex ed and emotional literacy expert Karen BK Chan, designed to increase emotional intelligence (EI) and equip you with strategies for incorporating EI practices into your health and sexual health education lessons. See the 4/13 issue of
School Wellness Weekly
for the Spring lineup.
Artwork by Chelsea Li, J.H.S. 074 Nathaniel Hawthorne, Queens (26Q074); Emily Feng Zhang, Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn (13K430); Kayla Sie, J.H.S. 074 Nathaniel Hawthorne, Queens (26Q074) 2018 School Wellness Campaign Contest.
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Grades 3-8 Students: Join Girls on the Run's 5K Celebration
Looking for an end-of-year event that inspires students to be joyful, healthy, and confident? School staff and grades 3-8 students of all genders are invited to participate in
Girls on the Run's
5k run/walk and end-of-year celebration on
6/3
at Firefighters Field on Roosevelt Island. Pre-course activities including a photo booth, Happy Hair Station, bib-frame decorating and more starting at 8 a.m., rain or shine.
Register
today – space is limited and available first-come, first-served. Questions? Email
wellnesspartnerships@schools.nyc.gov
.
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"Big Feats" Across SHAPE America
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It's Easy as...Riding a Bike! But You Need the Basics First
The Office of School Wellness Programs is partnering with
Bike New York
to provide free bike education field trips for middle and high school students. Students learn how to ride a bike for the first time; those who know how to ride get basic bike handling and safety skills.
Request
a field trip today. Questions? Email
wellnesspartnerships@schools.nyc.gov
or Rich Conroy,
RConroy@bike.nyc
.
Don't forget to request a free Bike Safety Student Assembly for your grades K-12 students to learn safe cycling and the rules of the road.
Request
an interactive school presentation today!
(
Above photo: Bike New York event. Photo: Samantha Dorfler)
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Last Chance to Attend a Condom Availability Program (CAP) Training This School Year
High school and community-based organization staff, including health teachers and educators, guidance counselors, social workers, school aides, and SAPIS counselors: it's not too late to
register
for our first-ever Staten Island CAP training on 5/24.
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Big Apple Award Winners Include PE Teacher Mike Rosario!
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Congratulations to Physical Education teacher Mike Rosario of P.S. 279, Captain Manuel Rivera, Jr., in Queens (29Q118), one of 17 Big Apple Award winners for 2018, and the second PE teacher winner in the award’s history. Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Rose presented the news in person to Mr. Rosario on Friday, 5/11; see a
video of the surprise visit
. Mr. Rosario teaches grades 7 and 8 PE at P.S. 279, has been a CHAMPS coach for many years, and has not missed a day of work in his 20 years at the school. Deputy Chancellor Rose praised Mr. Rosario as a model Physical Education teacher and noted his emphasis on instilling a love of learning and lifelong fitness in his students. Read details in the
DOE press release
, and see photos and watch videos in the
Morning Bell
. One student interviewed said of Mr. Rosario: “He teaches us how to be a student first, then an athlete.”
(Above photos: P.S. 279, Captain Manuel Rivera, Jr., 29Q118, May 11, 2018.)
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Building the Wellness Community
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Paid Summer Agriculture/Environmental Science Internship for Teens
Teens interested in environmental science, gardening, and composting:
Apply
by
Sunday, 5/20
, for the Green Teen Summer Internship offered by Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger. Get job training and networking experience and study under master farmers and professionals this summer to pump up your knowledge and give back to your community. Comes with a bi-weekly stipend. Contact Jenae at
jjoseph@bedstuyagainsthunger.org
for more information.
Free Workshops on Creating Gender Inclusive School Communities
DOE teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers: Join the
Ackerman Institute
for a full-day workshop on building gender inclusive classrooms that are welcoming to transgender and gender expansive youth. Participants will learn best practices for addressing gender-related bullying, creating gender-inclusive school environments, and speaking with children and families about gender.
Register
today for one of the three workshops in Manhattan (May 21, June 4, June 25).
All K-12 Public Schools: Funding to Support Student-led Diversity Clubs
Student-led clubs that support LGBT youth, new immigrants, students of color, and broad diversity, including
Respect for All
student groups, are eligible to receive up to $2,000 to support a project or initiative. Per session is available for advisors for clubs that are just starting or are two years old or less. These clubs can help decrease bullying and increase student connectedness within the school community. School staff members:
Apply
on behalf your students by
5/25
. Questions? Email Jared Fox,
jfox16@schools.nyc.gov
, or call 212-374-6908.
Serve Up Tennis in Schools: Net Generation Offers Free Equipment and Resources
PE teachers and school staff: Give your students the opportunity to learn, play, and enjoy tennis with free assistance from
Net Generation
, a United States Tennis Association (USTA) program. Register as a Net Generation school to access free, easy-to-follow curricula for any grade level, a mobile app, lesson plans, and equipment starter kits that include:
- 1 tennis rolling bag
- 30 youth racquets
- 45 tennis balls
- Net tape and chalk
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