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This is an image of the Office of School Wellness Programs logo that says, Think, Move, Achieve.


School Wellness Weekly

May 3, 2024
Move in May and Celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!
“Exercise makes us healthier and stronger….It boosts mental health, easing depressing and anxiety while improving memory and sleep. It helps young people build lasting friendships—teaching key lessons about discipline, teamwork, and winning and losing and preparing them to be leaders.” 
 
— White House Proclamation on National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2024 
 
As the largest school district in the country, what we do as New York City Public Schools has an impact on the health of a large share of our nation’s students. We want students to succeed in school and have the best chance to lead a healthy life—and research shows strong connections between fitness, activity, and academic achievement. That’s why NYCPS provides multiple options for movement before, during, and after the school day, and robust support for quality Physical Education (PE) instruction.  
 
In honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, you can start simple with your students and yourself: Move more, sit less, and get outside if you are able to. For many young people without access to safe playgrounds and parks, PE and school-based programs provide a critical opportunity not only for movement and enjoyable play, but also to get the 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (opens in new window) recommended by national guidelines.  
 
Thank you to the teachers, school and district leaders, families, and partners working to give NYC’s young people quality Physical Education, physical activity programs, and better outdoor experiences.  
 
See the NYCPS Citywide Wellness Policy (opens in new window) for more information on these and other requirements and opportunities:   

Photo: Students at P.S. 216, Brooklyn (21K216). Photo by David Peysakhov.
Wellness Highlights
From the Bronx to Queens and Everywhere in Between (Including Madison Square Garden!): CHAMPS Programs in Action 
This school year, thousands of NYCPS students have participated in more than 500 CHAMPS (opens in new window) programs across the city, including basketball, bocce ball, swimming, running, and many more! CHAMPS gives elementary and middle school students the opportunity to engage in and learn physical and fitness activities and movement before and after school. CHAMPS stands for Cooperative, Healthy, Active, Motivated and Positive Students. 
 
CHAMPS helps students stay connected and learn how to work as a team, all while having a safe space to practice the skills they learn in Physical Education. Check out the photos below for a sense of the programs and events from the 2023-2024 school year. 
 
If you are interested in a CHAMPS program at your school in 2024-2025, keep an eye out for the application announcement in School Wellness Weekly in the Fall. 
Basketball practice with the Jr. Knicks (opens in new window) at Madison Square Garden in March 2024: Esperanza Preparatory Academy (04M372), P.S. 109 Glenwood Academy (22K109), Evergreen Middle School for Urban Exploration (32K562), Queens Collegiate: A College Board School (28Q310), and Creston Academy (10X447).
Interborough unified bocce ball match in the Bronx in February 2024: I.S. 25 Adrien Block School (09X229) and I.S. 229 Roland Patterson (25Q025) were among several schools participating. 
The first CHAMPS swimming program at J.H.S. 217 Robert A. Van Wyck (28Q217) in Queens: Several student volunteers from Francis Lewis High School (26Q430) join in the water as swim instructors in training.
Running and basketball: (Left) Middle school running program at I.S. 087 Middle Village (24Q087). (Right) Middle school basketball program at Legacy School of the Arts (19K907). 
Photos: Jr. Knicks, CHAMPS bocce ball, swimming program: Office of School Wellness Programs. Running program: I.S 087 Middle Village. Basketball program (above right): Legacy School of the Arts.
Partnering For Healthier Futures: NYRR x NYCPS Initiative Announced in April
New York Road Runners (NYRR) and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) recently announced (opens in new window) an expanded partnership to bring free running programs to at least 100 middle schools in 20 districts across the city over the next five years. This new initiative will reach more than 7,000 students to help them develop the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life. 
 
See some highlights from the April 17 launch at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, where local middle school students ran and dashed to celebrate this milestone expansion of our collaboration with NYRR. 
  
Thank you to long-time partner NYRR (opens in new window) and support from the Fund for Public Schools (opens in new window) for helping bridge the gap in access to physical activity for thousands of NYCPS students.  
Photos: Courtesy New York Road Runners, except above left (two students at starting line) by Office of School Wellness Programs.
Physical Education
Grades 6-12 PE Teachers: Upcoming Workshop on Safe, Effective PE in Weight Rooms and Fitness Centers 
The Office of School Wellness Programs is planning to offer a full day, in person, Strong and Fit Workshop in June, where secondary PE teachers will learn high-quality instructional approaches for providing safe, effective Physical Education in weight rooms and fitness centers. Join Anthony Carrano, NSCA-certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Physical Education and Wellness Instructional Lead for District 20, for this interactive, CTLE-eligible session (320 minutes). The workshop will take place during Regents Week, on Tuesday, June 18 and/or Friday, June 20. 
  
We need your input to confirm workshop details! Tell us your date and borough preference by completing this short Strong and Fit Interest Survey 2024 (opens in new window) by Thursday, May 23. We are also looking for host locations. If your school has a weight room/fitness center, please speak with your principal about hosting this workshop onsite and let us know in the survey if you are able to host. For questions, contact Dignorah Laporte at dlaporte@schools.nyc.gov.  

Photo: Kirsten Luce.
Health Education
Monday, May 6: Last HIV Education Curriculum Trainings for This School Year 
K-12 educators, make sure you are prepared to teach the required HIV lessons through the remainder of this school year and in 2024-2025: Join us for an interactive webinar introducing the concepts and skills taught in Growing Up and Staying Safe: New York City K-12 HIV Education Curriculum. Read more information and register for your grade band below. These are the last HIV curriculum trainings offered this school year. 
 
Transform Your Classroom this Spring Using Culturally Responsive Teaching
Since the summer of 2022, more than 30,000 migrant children have enrolled in New York City public schools, and 40% of NYCPS students speak a language other than English at home. Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) views this diversity as a source of knowledge and connects students’ identities to their education. Join nationally recognized facilitators and explore how CRT can positively impact your instruction and student academic outcomes. See details below and register today—space is limited! 
Building the Wellness Community
Grades 3-12 Students: Free Tennis Opportunity: Mayor Dinkins Cup 2024 
New York Junior Tennis & Learning will host a free, interscholastic tennis competition, the Mayor Dinkins Cup (opens in new window), for students in grades 3-12 at the Cary Leads Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, June 1 to 9. Registration is open through May 20, at 6:00 p.m.   
  
Visit the registration page (opens in new window) for more information about eligibility and to secure your child’s spot! Questions? Contact the Tournament Director, Michele Cope, at mlcope@chevents.com. 
 
Teachers and Parents/Caregivers: Child Mental Health Resources in English and Spanish 
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and NYCPS is committed to sharing mental health education and prevention resources with school staff, families, and caregivers whenever possible. The Child Mind Institute (opens in new window) offers many useful video resources to support child mental health, including:  
 
Teachers and parents can access the evidence-based videos in both English and Español. 

Photo: New York Junior Tennis & Learning
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Celebrate, Learn History, Join Activities 
New York City Parks is offering various activities (opens in new window) throughout the month of May to honor and learn about Asian American and Pacific Islander culture, history, and achievements. 

Educators and families: Visit the New York City Public Schools Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month page (opens in new window) to find:  
  • ideas for readings, video and audio resources 
  • educator resources for the classroom  
  • hidden voices stories 
  • places to visit and events to attend throughout the city!   
K-12 Students: NYCPS Disability Pride Arts Contest – Submit by May 14 
New York City Public Schools wants to showcase the talent and passion of its students as they celebrate disability pride and justice. All students are invited to create an original piece of visual art that represents the theme “Nothing About Us Without Us,” adopted by the Disabilities Rights movement and represented by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Visit the information and guidance document (opens in new window) for details about the contest.  

Students must submit artwork by 11:59 p.m. on May 14 via the submission form (opens in new window). Ten finalists and one grand finalist will have their artwork showcased by NYCPS and honored at a reception on June 20. Questions? Email InclusionSummit@schools.nyc.gov. 
Food Education Corner
Food Education Conference on May 10: Join Tisch Food Center for a Day of In-Person Workshops about Nutrition 
Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy (opens in new window) is hosting an upcoming conference, "Recipes for Growing Food Literacy," on Friday, May 10, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Explore topics like healthy eating, plant power, youth food justice, food education, school wellness, policy, and more. Participants will have an opportunity to meet other educators, advocates, students, government agencies, and partner organizations from across the city.  
 
Space is limited: register now (opens in new window) to secure your spot.  
 
K-12 Educators: Upcoming Food Education Professional Learning Opportunities 
The NYCPS Office of Food and Climate Education offers a wide selection of free, online and in-person opportunities to help teachers across all grades and subjects incorporate food and nutrition topics into their classes. Visit the Food Education Professional Learning catalog (opens in new window) to see upcoming opportunities in May and June. All sessions are eligible for CTLE credits; those taking place after school are eligible for per session. 

Illustration: Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy
Health Corner: May 7 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day
What’s fentanyl? A synthetic opioid that’s now the most common synthetic drug involved in overdose deaths in New York City. You can’t taste it, smell it, or see it when it’s mixed with other drugs. Check out the resources below to learn how you can raise awareness in your community on May 7, Fentanyl Awareness Day, and beyond.  

More resources for vaping/tobacco and other drug-use prevention:   

Families can also watch a free NYC Department of Health webinar (opens in new window) on how to help prevent smoking, vaping, and alternative product (hookah, cannabis) use.  

NYCPS grades 6-12 school staff can join us on Chancellors Conference Day, Thursday, June 6, for workshops on “The Dangers of Fentanyl: What You and Your Students Need to Know.” Look for registration links in an upcoming School Wellness Weekly issue. To request more information, including requests for this presentation to be provided to your school, please email info@snp.nyc.gov.  

Illustration: www.fentanylawarenessday.org/