SUHSD PE and Health Newsletter

During this month of Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for the opportunity to support you as the new SUHSD TOSA for Physical Education & Health. We have benefited from the outstanding knowledge and leadership that Leo Hsu (and Kim Butler before him) brought to our subjects. I hope to carry that work forward, follow their example, and continue to elevate Physical Education and Health in our district. Thanks to each of you for your dedication to our shared work!

Everything we do is for the benefit of the students that we teach, and my overarching purpose is to offer you the support you need to connect with and inspire your students, to keep them engaged and excited to learn. I plan to visit every school site, meet those of you that I don't know yet, and start building relationships so that we can collaborate with intention.

Don't hesitate to reach out and say hi, ask a question, or share an idea.

Have a great November!

Dan

Kindness is free! Consider honoring a student (or two!) who makes kindness a priority in your class with a Kindness Award Certificate.

Click the certificate image to download a printable version ------->

Looking for more? Please click on the links for ideas on how to teach kindness through physical education.

Kindness Activities

Grades 6-8 World Kindness Day Lesson Plan

Grades 9-12 World Kindness Day Lesson Plan

Need a rainy day PE lesson? Or an easy way to highlight the connection between physical activity and chronic disease (Health Standard 1.15N)?

Heart rate is a vital sign that anyone can measure, and it provides powerful data that can be leveraged to improve physical and mental health outcomes. Heart rate indicates effort during physical activity and can be used to inform intelligent cardiorespiratory training. Heart rate elevates as a reaction to stressors, but can be controlled by meditation or breathing exercises when we are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Check out the attached slide deck for an introduction to heart rate, directions for how students can monitor their heart rate, and information about heart rate zones and their efficacy in training.

Did you know that the popular guided meditation app, Headspace, offers free accounts to educators?

Headspace provides mindfulness tools for everyday life, including meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement and focus exercises. that have helped millions of people around the world be healthier and more productive. Get your FREE account below.

Headspace for Educators

Research indicates that Structured Student Interactions (SSI) and Structured English Immersion (SEI) significantly benefit language learners by creating a supportive environment for practicing conversational skills, negotiating meaning and receiving valuable feedback.

SSI:

Use this Dyad Share Template to create opportunities for Structured Student Interactions in order to engage and support language learners and help them interact effectively with content:

Health: Use the template to introduce a new topic or review content already covered in your class.

Physical Education: Adapt the template and utilize it verbally, offering sentence structures and targeted questions related to content being taught or reviewed.

SEI:

If you're looking for specific Structured English Immersion strategies by categorical application, this resource is for you.

November is Native American Heritage Month! This is an opportunity to honor Native American culture and their ongoing contributions to our society. Consider including some resources celebrating the indigenous peoples of America into your lessons this month. The Friday following Thanksgiving is officially recognized as Native American Heritage Day, a day to celebrate and honor Native contributions.

From the American Cancer Society:

Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on the third Thursday in November be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk. Plus, the American Cancer Society can help you access the resources and support you need to quit.

CLICK HERE FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT TOOLKIT

✅11/11/25: Veteran's Day Holiday (No School)

✅11/13/25: World Kindness Day

✅11/20/25: The Great American Smokeout

✅11/24/25-11/28/25: Thanksgiving Break (No School) 🦃

Here are some ways I can offer support:

• One-on-one/PLC/Department visits to discuss your experiences and needs

• Curriculum support and where to find resources

• Strategies, tools and ideas to increase student engagement

• PD for your site and department goals

Email: daniel.schroeder@sweetwaterschools.org

Location: 1130 Fifth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911