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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.
Happy Holidays
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) School Health Program wishes everyone a happy and safe winter break. Thank you for your service to Texas students and families! The Friday Beat will not be published on December 26, 2025 or January 2, 2026, and will resume January 9, 2026.
Health Alert: Increase in Pertussis Cases
For the second consecutive year, the number of pertussis cases in Texas has increased significantly. DSHS advises clinicians to follow the recommendations in the health alert and report any cases to their local health department within one workday. Please send questions to the Vaccine-Preventable Disease Team at VPDTexas@dshs.texas.gov.
School Nutrition and Environment Services Webinar
Action for Healthy Kids is hosting a webinar on School Nutrition and Environment Services on January 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. The webinar will cover ways to improve school nutrition environments in Texas by discussing and identifying options that best fit the needs of schools and school districts. Register for the webinar today.
Understanding Polysubstance Use and How to Make Health-Enhancing Choices
The National Institute on Drug Abuse and SHAPE America have created lesson plans for high school students to help them understand how using multiple substances at the same time can be harmful, and ways to make healthier choices. This lesson teaches decision making using the DECIDE model. This model helps teens feel confident in making good choices about their health.
Move Your Way
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services and Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion updated the Move Your Way resources. Parents can use an interactive webpage to find how their children can reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity. This can include activities before, during, and after school as well as in the evenings.
Stay Active During Winter Break
Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) has provided resources for students and families to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle during the holiday season. There are options for indoor and outdoor activities, along with tips to limit screen time. Visit the activity webpage and 12 Days of Fitness for additional information.
Have a Healthy Holidays
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration shares four food safety measures to navigate the holiday season safely. More information is available in English and in Spanish on recognizing symptoms of foodborne illness and practicing safe food-handling practices.
Asthma Medication in Schools
The American Lung Association offers resources to help schools manage asthma. These resources include model policies for school districts, tools to assess student readiness, asthma action plans, and kits for storing medication.
Holidays with Food Allergies
The Allergy and Asthma Network offer a webinar called Holidays with Food Allergies. Managing allergies and asthma can be challenging on a regular day, and the holidays can introduce even more challenges. This webinar helps participants stay safe during the holiday season. Participants will learn how to navigate the holiday season safely with food allergies.
Take Care of Texas Holiday Guide
Take Care of Texas offers a series of blogs focused on holiday sustainability. These blogs aim to help you reduce waste, save energy, and make environmentally friendly choices during the holidays. You can find tips for sustainable decorating, cooking without wasting food, and using low-waste options for wrapping gifts.
Recognizing Food Insecurity
Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Del Monte Foods have partnered to create a course for Identifying Food Insecurity in Students, Families, and Caregivers. The course aims to teach school staff how to identify the signs and symptoms of food insecurity. This will ensure that all students and their families can access the food resources they need.
Share Safe Firearm Storage Information Prior to the Holiday Break
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) advises school districts to share with parents information about safe firearm storage before the holiday break. Districts can use this template to introduce the resources and share information about section 46.13 of the Penal Code. The Texas Department of Public Safety has an educator toolkit and social media graphics available for schools to download.
“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis
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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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