March 2023
In this issue:
Don’t miss out on some exciting opportunities this spring to bloom and make a difference! In March, plan to attend the free Let’s PLAY (Physical and Lifelong Activity for Youth) workshop scheduled for March 9th-10th at the Okemah High School Gym. Also, learn how to support your elementary physical education program by applying to the Healthy Schools OK (HSOK) program. In this edition, learn about these opportunities and more.
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Do you have questions about the Health Education Act? Join the Director of Health and Physical Education on Thursday, March 23rd, at 9:00-10:00 a.m. or at 4:00-5:00 p.m. to discuss the requirements of the Health Education Act. This requirement will go into effect at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. Administrators, principals, and teachers are welcome to join us for this informative meeting. Find meeting information below.
For increased security, you will be required to use the meeting password (provided below).
Join the ZoomGov Meeting at the following link:
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615716356?pwd=VDhKV0dkaUZnRm8zVXVUQm5GWi9lUT09
Meeting ID: 161 571 6356
Passcode: 502644
Dial by your location
+1 551 285 1373
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 Amy Cox teaches a semester-long adapted physical education (APE) course at Carl Albert High School. Amy’s curriculum cultivates a love of movement and emphasizes lifetime/recreational activities. She also aims to build self-esteem and self-confidence in her students so they can participate in physical activity in school and in community settings.
One strategy that makes Amy’s APE class unique is that she incorporates high school students in a program she calls “Partners in Adapted Physical Education (PAPE).” With this program, regular education students are considered as “techs” in her APE class and are selected through an application and teacher recommendation process. Techs must be effective peer helpers in a reverse inclusion setting who work in the field of special education as a peer tutors and role models in the adapted physical education class. The techs are provided with hands-on experience in working with individuals who have diverse abilities. The techs assist with the following events: pumpkin patch visits, super market trips, Winter Olympics, and Special Olympics Track Meets (area and state competitions). Debra Strecker, special education teacher at Carl Albert High School, says, “Amy took it upon herself to develop a new course selection in order to help bridge the gap between our general curriculum student and the Autism students in her adaptive Physical Education class. The class has been overwhelmingly successful under her guidance and encouragement.”
Amy is very proud to have created this program from the ground up, and she attributes her success to her college professor, Dr. Max Dobson, who shared his passion for APE during her days at Oklahoma Christian University. Thank you, Amy, for your innovation and for being a positive role model for Oklahoma’s Physical Education and Health teachers.
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The Fitness Challenge Calendar was created by Alliance For A Healthier Generation as a way to help students stay active and lead healthy lifestyles.
Click on the calendar below to download and/or print the Fitness Calendar.
 The Let’s PLAY (Physical and Lifelong Activity for Youth) workshop is scheduled for March 9th-10th at the Okemah High School Gym (Panther Dome). This free two-day workshop is a partnership between the Wewoka Indian Health Center, the Indian Resource Center of Tulsa, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Diabetes Program, and the Tulsa Health Department – It’s All About Kids program.
Come learn to implement high-quality physical education from this year’s award-winning presenters.
Day one – March 9th – Chip Candy
Day two – March 10th – Jenna White and Marlys Gwaltney
Call Renee at 405-257-7364 to register for this amazing opportunity or call Scott Robison at 405-683-1690 for more information.
The Healthy Schools Oklahoma (HSOK) application cycle for the 2023-24 school year is open! HSOK promotes health and wellness in elementary schools across the state. Participating schools receive resources, curriculum, funding, etc. to have a quality physical education and health program at their school. The first step in the process is to complete the Letter of Interest (LOI). Once the Letter of Interest is completed and the school is determined eligible, HSOK will send an in-depth application. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsi Lemons.
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On the National Day of Unplugging (sundown to sundown on March 3-4), encourage students to join in the challenge of spending an hour or a full day away from technology. SHAPE America's Unplugging Challenge Packet includes: Tips for a Successful Day of Unplugging, Activity Ideas, To-Do List, Planner Sheet With Mood Tracker, and a Reflection Activity. |
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 Beginning February 28, OSDE’s Family and Community Engagement Department will host in-person CAFEs (Conversations About Family Engagement) for Oklahoma educators. The CAFEs will introduce a new course on OSDE Connect: Pathways to Engaging Families, Schools, & Communities: Oklahoma’s Framework. The course is an in-depth look at The Oklahoma Family Engagement Framework and invites educators from around the state to examine evidence-based practices for supporting student learning through partnerships with families and community members. The dates, locations, and links to register for these free events are provided below. Any Oklahoma educators involved in family engagement at their school, district, or program are welcome to attend.
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Date
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Time
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City
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Location
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Tuesday, February 28th
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9:30-11:30 a.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
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Tulsa
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Tulsa Tech. - Lemley Campus, 3420 S. Memorial
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Wednesday, March 1st
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9:30-11:30 a.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
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Stilwell
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Jerry White Activity Center, 150 North 6th Street
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Thursday, March 2nd
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9:30-11:30 a.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
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Atoka
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Kiamichi Tech. Ctr, 1763 W. Liberty Road
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Tuesday, March 7th
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9:30-11:30 a.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
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Yukon
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Canadian Valley Tech. Ctr., 1701 S. Czech Hall Road
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Thursday, March 9th
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9:30-11:30 a.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
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Chickasha
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Canadian Valley Tech. Ctr., 1401 Michigan Ave.
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If you have questions about any of these resources, please call the Family & Community Engagement Office at 405-522-6225.
 The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism are gearing up for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) 2023 to be held March 20-26. NIDA’s flagship health education observance is held in partnership with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). NDAFW is an annual, week-long health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. NDAFW offers educators, prevention specialists, counselors, and other youth intermediaries flexible programming to identify topics of greatest interest to their community and science-based information and resources that help improve knowledge and awareness while also promoting skills that support informed decision-making, healthy coping, and other skills that are critical to the prevention of substance use among youth. To plan for NDAFW 2023, the Institute’s resources can help support social media, web and email promotion. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email at drugfacts@nida.nih.gov for assistance and please register an event today.
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