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The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach. The Friday Beat is a free publication of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). It is edited and compiled by the School Health Program.
May is Asthma Awareness Month
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Local, state, and national groups use this month to educate the public about asthma and allergies, risk factors, symptoms and treatment. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Lung Association, and Allergy and Asthma Network have information on their websites including webinars, trainings and social media toolkits to learn more about asthma and allergies.
Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas Seeking Applicants
The Texas Department of Agriculture is looking for student leaders in grades 9, 10, and 11 for the 2025-2026 school year. These leaders will work with their school’s nutrition teams to promote school lunches, healthy eating, and the importance of Texas agriculture. Applications are open to join the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Health Ambassadors for a Ready Texas (HART) program. For more information or to apply, visit the HART program webpage. Applications close August 22, 2025.
Safe School Ambassadors Youth Advisory Board
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) is looking to recruit young people in 9th-12th grade who want to help educate their peers about living a healthy, drug-free life, increase awareness about mental health, and help create positive school climates. The TxSSC Safe School Ambassadors Youth Advisory Board will host awareness and prevention projects during the 2025-2026 school year. Board members will work with TxSSC staff to plan future training sessions and events that encourage student participation in keeping schools safe. Applications for the 2025-2026 Safe School Teen Ambassadors Youth Advisory Board are now open and due by May 30.
School Lunch Hero Day is May 2, 2025
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) celebrates School Lunch Hero Day on the first Friday of May every year. Every school day, nutrition staff create menus, prepare meals that meet nutrition standards, and navigate student food allergies. School Lunch Hero Day is about recognizing the hard work of school nutrition staff and their efforts to create a healthy future for children. Check out these TDA resources for schools to use to celebrate nutrition staff.
National School Nurse Day
National School Nurse Day is on May 7, 2025. Established in 1972, this day celebrates and encourages the understanding of the role of school nurses in educational settings. The National Association of School Nurses offers a promotional toolkit, including ways schools can honor their nurses.
School Health Professional Development Webinar Series
Action for Healthy Kids is hosting free webinars on various school health topics. Below is the schedule:
Each webinar is from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (CST). Click on the link next to each of the times to register.
Trauma-Informed Care Trainings
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) is hosting workshops on trauma-informed care. These workshops will explain what trauma is and how it affects student behaviors in the classroom. Participants will learn about the role of mental health in everyday life, how trauma impacts the brain, and the importance of executive function skills. The workshops will also review how neurodiverse conditions can affect student behavior. Attendees will gain practical strategies to support all learners using a trauma-informed approach in schools and classrooms. You can register for upcoming sessions for elementary (grades K-5) and secondary (grades 6-12) on the respective webpages.
Texas School Nurse Administrators Association (TSNAA) 2025 Conference
TSNAA is hosting their annual conference from June 2-4, 2025, in Houston, Texas. This year’s theme is “Houston Energy: Empowering School Nurse Leaders,” and the goal is to bring together passionate leaders to connect, learn, and strengthen joint efforts to shape the future of school nursing. The TSNAA conference is designed for school nurse leaders in administrative roles, such as executive director, director, coordinator, lead nurse, or districts with a single nurse. View frequently asked questions and register on the conference webpage.
Healthy Out-of-School Time (OST) Champions Webinar
The Collaborative for Advancing Healthy Experiences in Out-of-School Time (OST) is hosting a virtual event on May 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. CT to share success stories from out-of-school time professionals across the nation. These stories will highlight how they support the health and wellness of young people and their staff. Share this event with school health professionals and staff to join and learn ideas to bring to local programs.
Starting a School Garden
The KidsGardening website is a resource for school professionals wanting to start a school garden. The Starting a School Garden Program: Overview webpage provides everything you need to know about designing a garden, getting support from the community and school administration, and finding resources. The program overview also goes into detail by connecting the garden to the classroom.
Care Coordination for Students with Chronic Health Conditions
The National Association of School Nurses created a toolkit to help school nurses coordinate care for students with chronic health conditions. It is divided into five sections and contains fact sheets, guidelines for communication between school and home, school procedures, and additional resources.
CATCH Mental Health Education Training
CATCH Global Foundation is providing free mental health education resources and training for elementary and middle school teachers. This training helps teachers teach their students about mental health, wellbeing, and resilience using evidence-based methods. CATCH wants to work with local education offices, school districts, and community organizations. For more information check the Training Interest Form.
“Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” –Anthony J. D’Angelo
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The articles and hyperlinks to external websites appearing in Friday Beat are intended to be informational and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Other websites may not be accessible to people with disabilities. External email addresses may also be provided as a courtesy. If you choose to correspond, please be advised that DSHS policies may not apply. For information about any of the programs listed, contact the sponsoring organization directly. For comments or questions about Friday Beat, email the School Health Program at schoolhealth@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7279.
Public Domain. Permission granted to forward or make copies as needed.
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