Page 62 - EdViewptsSpring2020

The health.moves.minds® Program:

Transforming School Culture Through

SEL in Health and Physical Education

By Judy LoBianco, Retired Supervisor of Health, Physical Education, and
Nursing Services in the South Orange-Maplewood Schools

Research has informed us “special” or a “related art”, we are now for students. They must be first
that schools that embrace taking our seat at the table as genuine and foremost, fully present in the
contributors to our most critical
classroom.
the whole child establish educational questions. As we struggle with conversations
a foundation for academic One such question is: “How do we as around later start times for high
success, improved school educational leaders embrace the whole school, less or no homework,
responsive classrooms, restorative
child while maintaining academic rigor
attendance and a decline and results?” There are times when practices, additional counselors
in disruptive behaviors many believe we have to sacrifice one and other academic supports, it is
for the other, and that is simply untrue.
imperative that we remain loyal to
A commitment to social-emotional what is happening on the inside of
among students. These gains learning comes with the understanding each child. Their mental and physical
are made possible with a specific that we teach children before content health is as critical to their academic
focus on the unique role that quality in all grade levels at all times. There is success as any other instructional
skill-based health and physical no substitute for a caring, loving and activity happening in our schools.
education plays in a school setting. committed adult in every classroom.
It is a very exciting time in health and Without that foundational and non- After a 27-year career as a teacher,
supervisor and leader in the field, I
physical education. After decades negotiable aspect of teaching and am excited to bring us at least part
of trying to find our place in the learning, no interventions, programs, of the answer to our question. It is
educational landscape as a subject curricula or professional development a service-learning program called
area that has been marginalized as a will move the needle on our goals

Educational Viewpoints -60- Spring 2020