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Hi! I'm Grace Kaler, your new NJAHPERD editor. This is my first official FYI, how exciting! I teach elementary Health and Physical Education (K-4) at Fleetwood School in Mount Laurel. This upcoming school year will be my third year as a teacher, and wow have these past two years flown by. As a young professional, I learn best digitally and hope to include some of that into the FYI. In the upcoming months, I hope to include articles and information that link us to various social media platforms and include things like "Who to follow" on Twitter, several Facebook "groups", and what Voxer groups to join. I hope you join me! In the meantime, everything will still be the same in the FYI, you will still receive all the great information below. Speaking of great information, please send me anything you think could be relevant to the FYI and may help fellow teachers. I would appreciate any information, articles, links, groups that you are willing to share with me and the rest of NJAHPERD! Looking forward to hearing from you: Email:  [email protected] Twitter: @GraceKaler Voxer: GraceKaler

                               

   

Dear Colleagues;

 

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a very productive, rewarding, and fun filled summer break. As you start getting ready for a new school year with your lesson plans, SGO's and PIP's, please keep in mind you are writing them for children, not compliance. These will assist you to keep focused on what your students should be learning so that they have the knowledge and skills to live a healthy, and active lifestyle. Make all your plans meaningful and achievable. NJAHPERD is committed to providing resources and professional development opportunities to help you reach your professional goals.  

 

As health and physical education teachers, we often relish opportunities to face new challenges.  We often enjoy facing the unknown and seeing the culmination of our efforts. We expect the same of our children, and students. We constantly challenge them to think about their future and to embrace opportunities, both in school and out.  We challenge them to change, to go beyond what they think is possible, to take a chance to see what they're made of.  This year let's challenge ourselves!

 

We are currently at a crucial time in our health and physical education profession.  The research and information is out there for all to see.  We know there is a health crisis in our nation. We know that physical activity stimulates the brain and that active students learn better.  We know that regular physical activity and a healthy diet are linked with living a longer and happier life. 

 

This school year I challenge you as health and physical education professionals to make an impact beyond your gym walls, and classroom doors. I challenge you to sign up your school for Active Schools and Jump Rope/Hoops for Hearts.  Use the online resources to improve your program and join other schools across the nation in saying that physical education and health is an important part of our schools.  Attend a NJAHPERD workshop and/or conference.  Volunteer at a NJAHPERD sponsored event or attend one of our monthly meetings.  Write a letter to a politician advocating for PE and health in schools.  Go out and become an advocate for health and physical education/activity in your school by organizing activities before school, at recess, and/or after school.  Visit the NJAHPERD website often to stay connected to what's new and upcoming. 

 

This summer your Executive Board has been working tireless to put together excellent professional development programs all throughout the state. We kicked off on August 16th with another valuable Drivers Education Workshop. It was inspiring to see so many professionals during last days of summer to seek to improve the scope of their knowledge. Please take advantage of these opportunities!

Click here to view NJAHPERD's upcoming  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS.

 

Our annual Convention will be held on February 25th-28th at the Ocean Place Spa and Resort in Long Branch, get your registration in early!

 

This year ESSA will be put in place! Are you fully aware that HEALTH and PHYSICAL EDUCATION are NOW part of "A WELL ROUNDED EDUCATION?" GET ONBOARD as funding for YOUR professional development and your programming will come through different sources.

 

NJAHPERD Mini Grants are available. Act fast as all applications are due by September 30, 2017.

   

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

 

Have a great start and best wishes for a successful year. Remember NJAHPERD is here for you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Laurie A. Cancalosi, EdD.

Submit  a session proposal before the September 30th deadline.

SHARE YOUR BEST TEACHING PRACTICES! Your expertise would be an asset to our members and a great opportunity to highlight the best teaching practices happening in your district! 

Speakers receive complimentary registration the day that they present.

All submissions must be made online.

 

Submit a Proposal

Additional names to be announced soon!

Will your name be on the list to present?

  

FREE Webinars!
NJAHPERD has received funding from the NJ Department of Health to provide professional development via SHAPE America webinars. If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please send an email to the NJAHPERD office with the subject line "NJAHPERD webinar". You will be required to complete a NJAHPERD evaluation after viewing the webinar. You will earn a certificate for 1.0 contact hour for each webinar you view through SHAPE America. All webinars are held from  3-4 p.m. EDT  and will be recorded.

Eligible webinar List

     

 

What you need to know about ESSA

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into Federal law in December 2015 and replaces the No Child Left Behind Act.
• The NJ DOE's State Plan was approved by the US Department of Education in August 2017.
• The District's ESSA Committee names should have been reported to the NJDOE by mid-July by the superintendent. 

  What you need to know about ESSA funding for Health and Physical Education in your district:

• Health and Physical Education are part of a "well-rounded education."
• Funding is available under Title IV, Part A to support health and physical education, safe and healthy students and effective use of technology.
• Funding is available for Professional Development under Title II.
• Funding is available for before and after school programs in your school district throughTitle IV, Part B.

 

Call to Action

If we do not get a seat at the table we will not get a piece of the funding for our programs and students. Ask your principal /supervisor about the funding for your Health and Physical Education program.

Find out who is representing the HPE Department on your district ' s ESSA Committee.

1. Register to attend SHAPE America's ESSA webinar on September 6
2. Become a backyard advocate
3. Support our Thunderclap before September 14
4. Take action on September 14th by sending an action alert for Online Advocacy Day

 

Be A Backyard Advocate!  You don't have to go all the way to Capitol Hill for your voice to be heard on the value of health education and physical education in schools. Throughout the year, members of Congress return home from Washington, DC, to their state and district offices to meet with constituents. During this webinar, learn how to conduct "backyard advocacy" meetings in your own state with members of Congress using our backyard advocacy toolkit. It's critical that Congress hears from us about the impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act on health and physical education programs in your state and the importance of fully funding this legislation. 

 

As a state affiliate of SHAPE America, we are grateful for the sponsorship by SHAPE America for one year of service with Congress Web. 

Approximately 50 million students are currently enrolled in America's elementary and secondary schools (grades pre-K to 12).

SHAPE America wants to ensure that by the time today's preschoolers graduate from high school in 2029, all of America's students are benefitting from the skills, knowledge, confidence, desire and opportunities to enjoy healthy, meaningful physical activity. MORE   

The  #PhysEdSummit is a FREE online conference put on by Health and PE professionals for Health and PE professionals. Their mission is t o provide digital professional learning opportunities for health and physical education professionals by sharing, discussing, and reflecting on best practices. The conference was held on August 26th, but all videos are archived and uploaded into their youtube channel found  HERE

It's almost time to go back to school. Homemade or low budget equipment can be easily implemented into your curriculum. This Pintrest board has great ideas for PE on a budget. PE Central not only has great lesson ideas, but also how to made your own homemade equipment.

For Info or To Register:

  CLICK HERE

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month-a time to share resources and  stories  in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention. Get resources HERE

Being active in youth may change the inner workings of brain cells much later in life and sharpen some types of thinking, according to a remarkable new neurological study involving rats. Read more from the New York Times article from August 30th HERE

jerseydrives.com  is a web site with resources for New Jersey's new drivers, their parents, and Driver Education teachers. The web site is also the new home of the The UGotBrain Championship School Program.  

Yes, there is a new manual. The 2017 edition was distributed by MVC at the August DE conference. Schools will receive the manuals in the usual way that MVC distributes supplies to your school. In addition the old Parent's Guide To Teaching Teens to Drive pamphlet will be replaced with the Share The Keys pamphlet. 

Yes, there is also a new exam. Some non publics received version 6.0 in June. 6.0 SHOULD NOT BE USED. Due to problems with 6.0 MVC is going to be replace it. MVC announced at the August DE conference that the new exam will be ready and distributed by the time students take the exam in the new school year.  

Resources from the August Driver Education Conference can be found on the NJAHPERD website; 

Driver Education Teacher Conference

Project Fit America provides,fitness playground equipment,indoor fitness equipment,and training to improve fitness for elementary and middle schools. AtlantiCare is providing the funding for Atlantic County area schools.

Eligible schools

 Check out the NJAHPERD Grant page on the website for an array of grants available for the 2016-17 school year.

Support for your School Wellness Efforts
Check out our new 'Funding Opportunities' page where the Alliance for A Healthier Generation shares grant and other funding opportunities that support schools like yours in implementing healthier physical activity and nutrition policies and programs. Be sure to check back often for updates. MORE

Score New Equipment with a Good Sports Grant
The new school year is here! And what a better to start a new year than with new fitness equipment! Good Sports equipment grants are open to all K-12 schools that serve youth in an economically disadvantaged area of the country. Schools that indicate enrollment in Let's Move! Active Schools on their application will receive priority access. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply.

Additional Grants opportunities are available on the NJAHPERD website.