Staff Transitions for NC Healthy Schools
Welcome to Joyce Loveless, NC Healthy Schools Consultant
We are very excited to announce that Joyce Loveless joined the team in April as the Healthy Schools Consultant at NCDPI! Joyce is not a new name or face for many of you, but we are fortunate to have her work with us all in this capacity and look forward to her steady calm and thoughtful approaches…
As part of her role, she will support statewide strategies to improve student health and academic achievement through CDC-funded initiatives aligned to the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model.
Her work centers on helping districts move from data to action. She provides technical assistance to priority school systems, supports cross-agency coordination with public health partners, and contributes to professional learning focused on nutrition, physical activity, chronic condition management, and student and staff wellbeing.
With more than twenty years of experience across North Carolina’s education and community landscape, Joyce brings a systems-level perspective to her work. She has supported innovative and early college high schools, advanced peer-to-peer mentoring initiatives across the state and partnered with schools and organizations to strengthen student engagement and belonging.
Please join us in welcoming Joyce to the “team” in her new role as the Healthy Schools Consultant!
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Wishing Burt Jenkins Well as Retires from NCDPI May 1st!
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After serving as the Healthful Living Consultant for the past 13 years, Burt Jenkins will be retiring May 1st. Please wish him well as he enters this next phase of life and after providing PD to enhance physical activity and health education, leading the standards process, supporting the graduation requirement for CPR, and much more...
Thank you, Burt - we appreciate your years of service and your dedication to the field!
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SUN Bucks is Back for Summer 2026!
SUN Bucks is a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides grocery-buying benefits in a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child on a debit-like card that can be used to buy nutritious food during the summer months when schools are out.
Visit ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks for all the details, including eligibility information and FAQs.
 Connections Matter for Early Childhood Professionals
Positive Childhood Alliance NC is hosting a virtual Connections Matter: for Early Educators training on Thursday, April 30 from 9am to 2pm. This training is designed specifically for early childhood professionals who support young children and families. It explores the science of connection, adversity, and resilience, and most importantly, provides practical strategies to strengthen relationships and create supportive, trauma-informed environments. Registration is $40.
Reserve your spot today: https://form.asana.com/?k=9OpuNX_6Kr6iaO9LwdRKxA&d=152553337440027
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)
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In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), NCCASA is proud to partner with local rape crisis centers, community advocates, and community leaders to raise awareness and honor 25 years of the anti–sexual violence movement.
This year’s theme, “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” celebrates the resilience of survivors and recognizes the dedication of the communities that have worked tirelessly to create change.
NCCASA invites you to join us throughout the month of April as we commemorate SAAM. To help support your participation, NCCASA has created a SAAM Tool Kit designed to guide and assist you in your outreach efforts. The Tool Kit includes:
- The official proclamation
- Social media themes and content ideas
- Important reminder dates
- Additional ways to stay engaged and support awareness efforts
Together, we can honor the progress made over the past 25 years while continuing to work toward a future free from sexual violence.
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 Bike & Roll to School Day is May 6!
National Bike & Roll to School Day is Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and registration at www.walkbiketoschool.org is now open. While May 6 is this year’s official date, communities are welcome to celebrate any day in May – and any way -- that best fits their schedules and local needs.
Bike & Roll to School Day invites participants to celebrate the joys of active commuting while building a sense of community, safety, and school spirit. An event can be as informal as a few families arranging to ride or walk to school together, or a big, splashy event with a program of activities and special guests.
How will you build YOUR Bike & Roll to School Day? Here are 20 event ideas to get you started. Also, check out the bike bus guide, which offers guidance on launching and running a bike bus – a great way to celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day!
Over 40 schools in North Carolina have already signed up! Will your school join them?
 National Schools of Character: Panel Discussion
May 13th | 3:00–4:00 PM
Do you want to strengthen your school's climate and culture? Are you looking for proven strategies to enhance character development? Join us for an engaging conversation with State and National Schools of Character. Learn from and be inspired by our National Schools of Character:
- Person Early College for Innovation and Leadership
- Haynes-Inman Educational Center
- North Shelby School
- Patriot STEM Elementary
- Union Academy
Hear directly from schools that are using the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education to build stronger relationships, foster respect and responsibility, and create positive, thriving learning environments. You will walk away with practical strategies and fresh inspiration to begin transforming your own school's culture — one principle at a time.
👉 Register here: https://go.ncdpi.gov/5.13.26
Join the District Impact Network with Action for Healthy Kids
Action for Healthy Kids’ District Impact Network is our new national community for district-level health and wellness professionals. The Network is designed to help school district leaders access practical tools, evidence-based resources, peer learning, professional development, grant opportunities, and individualized support to strengthen healthier school environments for students.
District leaders working in student health and wellness can learn more and join here: https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/district-impact-network/
We encourage district-level school health and wellness professionals to join the District Impact Network (it’s free!) to learn more, access grant opportunities, engage in peer learning, participate in professional development, and stay connected to national opportunities that support healthier school environments for students.
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 Fight the Bite Poster Contest is Back!
The North Carolina Division of Public Health is bringing back the Fight the Bite campaign for 2026.
Fight the Bite is a poster artwork contest that encourages students grades K-12 to fight the bite of ticks and mosquitoes, and to prevent vector-borne diseases. Winners will be announced in late May, and winning posters will be featured on the Division of Public Health website. The official announcement and directions for the Fight the Bite contest are available from Emily Herring. Please reach out and distribute this information widely to any applicable parties. All entries are due by 5 pm on Monday, May 18. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact emily.herring@dhhs.nc.gov.
You can see previous years' winners at: NC DPH: Fight the Bite Contest Winners
May is Mental Health Awareness Month Free Resources from EVERFI
Below are a few turnkey resources from EVERFI that districts often use to support student well‑being with minimal lift.
One resource many schools highlight during May is Understanding Mental Wellness, which helps secondary students build awareness, coping strategies, and help‑seeking skills around stress, anxiety, and overall mental health. In addition, Everfi offers:
- Short, interactive mental wellness lessons for elementary, middle, and high school
- Standards‑aligned content that fits easily into health, advisory, counseling, or homeroom
- Flexible implementation ideas that can align to your local priorities
👉 To support planning, we’ve pulled everything together in a Mental Health Awareness Toolkit, including suggested lessons and sample calendars by grade band. If helpful, please feel free to share this resource with a counselor, student services leader, or building administrator who may be coordinating MHA Month efforts.
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Have a Story to Share About Your School Health Efforts? We Want to Hear...
We want to help elevate the work you are doing to address the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child across NC.
Please take a moment to share about your district and school-level efforts to enhance wellbeing for students, staff, and families. And provide any pictures you may have to help convey your story.
Email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.govto share your initial success (just a few statements) and we can collaborate to develop further and include in upcoming issues of the NC Healthy Schools Update.
Thank you!
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Or you can email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov.
April / May Health Observances Include:
- April 12th - 18th is STI Awareness Week
- April 20th - 24th is Every Kid Healthy Week
- April 22nd is Earth Day
- April is Minority Health Month
- April is Autism Awareness Month
- April is Alcohol Awareness Month
- April is Defeat Diabetes Month
- April is IBS Awareness Month
- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
- April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
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- May 6th is Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day
- May 6th is National School Nurse Day
- May is Adolescent Health Month
- May is Better Sleep Month
- May is National Bike Month
- May is National Employee Health and Fitness Month
- May is National Mental Health Month
- May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
- May is Food Allergy Awareness Month
- May is National Water Safety Month
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