November Content
- Fall 2025 Healthier NC Garden Grant
- Free Webinar: The Power of Choosing Love
- Group Study and Incentives for 14 - 19 Year Olds
- New Mecklenburg Vaping Cessation Video
- 14 NC School Districts Receive National Awards for Making School Meals Healthier
- SHAC 101 - Scheduling for 2026
- November / December Health Observances
 Fall 2025 Healthier North Carolina Garden Grant – Apply by Dec. 15!
Schools in the north and southeastern regions of North Carolina are invited to apply for the Fall 2025 Healthier Generation, Healthier North Carolina Garden Grant. The garden grant flyer is attached.
For questions, contact:
Free Webinar: The Power of Choosing Love
December 3, 2025 | 3:00–4:00 PM EST
Join the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Character Education Initiative for a free Character Education webinar featuring Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. Scarlett Lewis is the mother of Jesse Lewis, one of the children who lost his life in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Since then, she has dedicated her life to spreading the message of choosing love over anger. Scarlett’s journey from unimaginable tragedy to transformation gave rise to a global movement rooted in three powerful words: Nurturing, Healing, Love.
This inspiring session will explore how the Choose Love Formula can strengthen school culture, student well-being, and community connection — while sharing a message of healing, hope, and courage.
🗓 Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2025
🕒 Time: 3:00–4:00 PM EST
📍 Register or share the flyer: Free Webinar Flyer Link
Presented by NCDPI Character Education —
Supporting schools in climate, culture, and well-being
 Group Study and Incentives for 14 - 19 Year Olds
Interested in Health Education or Nutrition? Join Yes and Know!
Who can join?
→ You must be 14–19 years of age
→ Speak English
→ Have not participated in the study before
Attend Group Sessions!
Join us for ten 1-hour virtual classes where you will be in a program focused on Sexual Health & Wellness or Nutrition & Wellness.
Topics include:
- Building healthy relationships
- Sexual health education
- Nutrition and healthy eating tips
- Reaching your education
and career goals
- Communication skills
Earn up to $200 in gift cards for participating in the program, plus up to $100 in gift cards for participating
in the surveys!
Interested Youth should complete form at: Interest - Yes and Know
Questions?
Contact Robin Pittman, Family Life Senior Director at r.pittman@poehealth.org or 919-231-4006.
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New Mecklenburg Vaping Cessation Video
Mecklenburg County Public Health collaborated with Charlotte-based production company Loyd Visuals in creating a new video to promote vaping and nicotine cessation for youth and young adults in North Carolina. The project was made possible through Region 4 REACH funds. Please share this video with your networks along with Mecklenburg's youth tobacco prevention webpage for additional resources.
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14 NC School Districts Receive National Awards for Making School Meals Healthier
"School districts across the state are implementing changes to improve the nutritional quality of meals served to students. In October, 14 North Carolina school districts received Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) recognition awards from Action for Healthy Kids as part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The awards honor school food authorities (SFAs) — also known as school nutrition departments — that have made operational changes to improve the nutritional quality of school meals or that have engaged students and families in nutrition education and in the planning and preparation of school meals, according to the award website.
This includes introducing new scratch-made menu items, engaging students in taste-test events, swapping in new products that are lower in added sugar or sodium, providing nutrition education to students, and more. Districts have seen a range of impacts from the efforts recognized by these awards, including positive feedback from students and increases in school meals participation."
Read the full article here. Congratulations to the 14 districts who earned this honor!
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Scheduling SHAC 101 for Early 2026
It's time to schedule a virtual SHAC 101 session! if you are interested in participating in a SHAC 101 Virtual Session, please email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov by December 1st. I’ll follow up with the date that works best for most of those interested… Please help share with other SHAC members.
SHAC 101: Opportunities for Leadership and Outcomes
New to School Health Advisory Committees (SHACs) or you’re looking for some tips to revive your current engagement? Join us to learn about the essential steps to develop your SHAC; the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model; building your team; creating an action plan; sharing out your successes, and more. It is also an opportunity to meet other SHAC leaders, share about your work, and ask the questions you always wanted to know…
Email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov before December 1st to be included in the initial email to identify a date for early 2026.
November / December Health Observances Include:
- November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
- November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month
- November is National Diabetes Month
- November is Healthy Skin Month
- November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
- November 20th is the Great American Smokeout
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- December 1st - 7th is National Hand Washing Awareness Week
- December 1st - 7th is National Influenza Vaccination Week
- December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Interested in Subscribing?
If you are not directly subscribed to this newsletter and would like to be, you can select the button below, enter your email address, and select "NC Healthy Schools, WSCC and SHACs" within the "Department and Division News" topics.
Or you can email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov.
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