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Jan. 5, 2022
Cultivating Joy in 2022
For years, my mother-in-law has repeatedly told me that everyone needs three things to be happy:
  • Something to do
  • Someone to love 
  • Something to look forward to

While I am sure she borrowed this concept from a book or magazine, I appreciate her reminder that a good life doesn’t have to be complicated. As we enter 2022, I encourage each of you to cultivate the life you want by making sure that the things you do, the people around you, and the things in your future empower you – and that we encourage the same for our students!

Something to Do
  • Prioritize what makes you happy: Set aside time every day to do small things that fill your heart.
  • Follow your inspiration: Live your favorite mantra or hashtag – bring it to life every day!
  • Try something new: Innovation can be fun for you and your students. 

Someone to Love
  • Cultivate your support system: Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
  • Lead with your heart: People in your life (including students) need to know that you care.
  • Prioritize relationships: Make time for the people who make you smile.
  • Love yourself: Self-care is important too.

Something to Look Forward To
  • Make a list of small actions that make you happy: Put them in your calendar REPEATEDLY until they become part of your daily routine.
  • Commit to filling your bucket: Set aside time each week for something fun so that there is always something positive right around the corner.
  • Start checking off your bucket list: Don’t wait to make your life goals a reality!

As you focus on identifying something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to, I encourage you to engage your students in the same. The better we model and promote these actions, the more likely our students will cultivate joy in their life as well. Cheers to a joyous 2022!

Please do not hesitate to contact me at pmetz@sdcoe.net if there is anything I can do to support you, your site, or district. Wishing you a fantastic school year!
Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
Up to $250,000 in Grant Funding Now Available

SDCOE is now accepting applications for districts and charter schools to apply for grant funding of $50,000 to $250,000 to update K-12 health education programming. SDCOE K-12 Comprehensive Health Education Grants may be used to:
  • Analyze local data and needs
  • Facilitate strategic planning to update programming in any of the following health education content areas:
  • Nutrition and Physical Activity
  • Mental, Social, and Emotional Health
  • Growth, Development, and Sexual Health
  • Injury Prevention and Safety
  • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
  • Personal and Community Health
  • Select, update, and/or design health education curriculum that is aligned to the California Health Education Framework and meets Education Code requirements
  • Participate in and/or facilitate professional learning 
  • Create an inclusive and safe environment for health education instruction
  • Develop an ongoing district health education community of practice
Grant Information Session on Jan. 24
For more information, including eligibility, funding levels, contract requirements, application details, and the link to apply, visit the K-12 San Diego County Health Education Grant Webpage or register to attend the SDCOE K-12 Comprehensive Health Education Grant Information Meeting that will take place Jan. 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Contact Paige Metz if you have any questions.
Physical Fitness Test/FITNESSGRAM Update
The California Department of Education (CDE) has announced updated Physical Fitness Test (PFT) protocols for the 2021-22 school year. Critical updates include:
  • All students in grades 5, 7, and 9 will continue to be tested on physical fitness using the FITNESSGRAM assessments and their results recorded. However, there will be no submission of student-level data to the secure portal. Instead, local educational agencies will now be required to submit participation results for each of the five assessed areas. Only participation information will be collected and reported on the School Accountability Report Card.
  • Students with disabilities are to be given as much of the test as their condition will permit. Matrix Two is available on the PFT Variation/Accessibility Resources webpage.
  • Information related to calculating a student’s body mass index will no longer be collected.
  • PFT can only be administered during the testing window from Feb. 1 through May 31.
  • The PFT exemptions for students who did not take the test in grade 9 (those current 10th and 11th grade students) are limited to those exemptions identified in the California Education Code sections 51241 and 51242. An exemption based on the pupil satisfactorily meeting five of the six standards of PFT is not available for these particular students. See CDE Physical Education FAQs webpage for more information.
  • Physical education classes should emphasize the importance of physical and mental health as well as the importance of exercise.
  • CDE released CDE PFT Webinar notes document to describe the 2021-22 testing process. Physical educators are encouraged to share this information with their peers and administrators.

SDCOE will continue to include updated information in the SDCOE Health and Physical Education Monthly Update.
Congratulations to Trent Suzuki, the 2022 Western District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year!
Trent Suzuki, physical education teacher at Central Elementary in Escondido Union School District, was recently recognized as the Western District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America. Trent is one of five finalists for SHAPE America National Elementary Teacher of the Year. This is a great, and well deserved honor as Trent is a model teacher, passionate leader, and dedicated advocate for quality physical education. We wish him good luck in the National Teacher of the Year selection process.
HOT OFF THE PRESS! California Health Education Framework Is Here
The highly anticipated Health Education Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve has been released. This PDF is also featured on the California Health Education website and the document, as well as other resources and information, can be found on the CDE Health Framework webpage. Looking for support in implementing the new framework? Check out the SDCOE Health Education Framework professional learning series that begins this month.
ASHWG Releases Review of Curricula That Identifies Extent of Compliance With the California Healthy Youth Act
The California Healthy Kids Resource Center, together with the Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group (ASHWG), conducted an intensive review of growth development and sexual health curriculum in accordance with the California Healthy Youth Act. A total of nine publishers submitted curricula to be reviewed. Access all of the curricula reviews by expanding the Links to Compliance Assessment Tools and Resources tab, which includes the following:
  • A table that lists the curriculum reviewed along with the information on where it can be borrowed or purchased
  • Compliance assessment tools (used to grade the curricula against Education Code) that are specific to each curriculum that was reviewed
  • A California Healthy Kids Curricula Review Introduction Methodology that describes the law, review process, and the compliance assessment tool grading

This 2020-21 California Healthy Youth Act curricula review is intended to be an update of previous reviews done by ASHWG, and these reviews will also be posted on the ASHWG website. The California Department of Education will host a webinar about the ASHWG curricula reviews on Jan. 27 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Please contact Paige Metz at pmetz@sdcoe.net if you are interested in participating in the presentation by CDE.
San Diego County Updated Guidance for Extracurricular Activities
San Diego County recently announced that it is aligning its indoor sports play guidance with the updated California Department of Public Health guidance that was issued on Nov. 24. The updated guidance strongly recommends weekly testing if masks are not used during competition, practices, or conditioning sessions. Please see Item 16 of the COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year for specific details. Please note: This guidance is not applicable to physical education.
Come Hang out with Fellow Health and Physical Educators
Hang out with your health and physical education peers at the SDCOE Health and Physical Education Hangouts on the second Wednesday of every month from 3 to 4 p.m. and receive the latest updates, resources, materials and best practices in health and physical education. Use this Zoom Link to join each month. Following each hangout, from 4 to 5 p.m. there will be grade-level collaboration meetings for those who would like to collaborate with others who teach the same grade span. Attendees will receive follow-up emails with the information and resources that were shared.
Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute Is Back and Better Than Ever
The Physical Literacy Institute is a series of three virtual meetings that are designed to help you empower students with the confidence, competence, and passion for a lifetime of physical activity. Participants will develop the mindsets, understanding, and skills to strategically increase the physical literacy of all students by incorporating:
  • Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  • Standards-Based Assessment
  • Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning (CRTL)

Click the following link for more information and to register for the spring (Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 16) series.
Health Education Framework Series Empowers Teachers to Develop Students’ Health Literacy
The Health Education Framework Series, a combination of asynchronous and synchronous professional learning, is designed to help teachers implement skills based instruction to build students’ health literacy. Click the following links to learn more about the complete spring series, or attend individual sessions.
  • Session 1: Framework Overview (March 2)
  • Session 2: Nutrition and Physical Activity, AND Mental, Emotional and Social Health (March 23)
  • Session 3: Growth, Development, and Sexual Health, AND Injury Prevention and Safety (April 6)
  • Session 4: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs, AND Personal and Community Health (April 19)
Mark Your Calendars for In-Person CAHPERD and SHAPE America Conferences
Both CAHPERD and SHAPE America have announced the return to in-person events this spring. Mark your calendars and put the wheels in motion for you to attend.
  • The 2022 CAHPERD State Conference is scheduled to take place March 3 to 5 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Visit the CAHPERD website for more information.
  • SHAPE America’s 2022 National Convention will be held in New Orleans from April 26 to 30. Check out the SHAPE America website for details.
California Health Education Website Helpful for Educators
Last year a new website went online that is a one-stop-shop for all things related to health education programming. CaliforniaHealthEducation.org features critical resources for each of the six content areas that include:

Bookmark the CaliforniaHealthEducation.org website, as it will continue to be updated and populated with content to support the implementation of the new California Health Education Framework.
New and Updated Resources to Support LGBTQ+ Youth
The CDE has added significant updates to its Supporting LGBTQ+ website. The additions to the website include specific resources to support educators, students, and families. Even better news is that the resources will include links to local resources in San Diego County. Be sure to share this information with administrators, counselors, teachers, and families. In addition, schools may use this information to update their comprehensive sexual health instruction to make sure that experiences are inclusive and accessible for all students.

Also, the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council’s Youth Services Committee — under the leadership of San Diego Pride, the SD LGBT Community Center, The North County LGBTQ Resource Center, and Trans Family Services — has recently released LGBTQ+ Youth Standards of Care. The standards outline best practices and relevant resources that reflect and comply with California Education Code and laws.
San Diego County Live Well Schools Releases Tools for Schools Searchable Resource Database
Check out the Tools for Schools searchable resource database from Live Well Schools. More than 300 resources, searchable by topic, will connect you to programs, partnership ideas, policy strategies, and tools to meet short-term needs of students and families and facilitate long-term planning for schools and districts. Tools for Schools provides a wide array of resources based on a broader definition of wellness that includes social and emotional health and a focus on addressing health disparities.
If you have any questions or comments about Health and Physical Education Monthly Update, please contact Paige Metz.
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