Author Archives: Nirja Shah

April 29, 2026

NHL Partnership Launches Free PE Curriculum

Educators can now access a no-cost, standards-aligned street hockey curriculum developed by SHAPE America with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association. The curriculum — which is organized by grade bands (PreK-2, 3-5, and 6-8) — offers ready-to-use lessons that promote teamwork, movement, and physical…

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April 29, 2026

Supporting Students with T1D: Care, Confidence, and Camp

According to NASN, school nurses provide leadership in supporting diabetes resilience and student self-management in the school setting. NASN’s Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Students with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) offer school nurses practice recommendations and resources to support safe, standardized care and inform school…

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April 29, 2026

Single School Mental Health Checks May Miss Students in Need

According to MedicalExpress, schools that adopt mental health support programs—such as counseling, screenings, and classroom-based interventions—report improvements in student well-being, including reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. Researchers also note gaps in access, with some students still missing timely or adequate support despite growing school-based mental health efforts. Read more…

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April 29, 2026

Do Screens, Scheduled Activities Crowd Out Imaginative Play?

According to K-12 Dive, researchers and educators say screen-heavy schedules and structured activities can displace imaginative, open-ended play. The concern is that increased device use and organized routines reduce time for creativity, peer interaction, and unstructured exploration, raising questions about how modern childhood experiences may be shaped by technology…

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April 24, 2026

Brain study reveals hidden link between autism and ADHD

According to ScienceDaily, a study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that autism and ADHD may be connected at a biological level in ways that go beyond traditional diagnostic labels. While it is well known that the two conditions often occur together, the underlying mechanisms they may share have remained…

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April 24, 2026

Supporting students facing instability or trauma

According to Edutopia, traditional school systems are not always designed for the realities faced by students experiencing academic disengagement, family instability, or trauma. Educators who work with these students understand this. Read more here!

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April 23, 2026

Strengthening Student Mental and Behavioral Health

Chronic or mental health conditions impact more than 40% of school-aged children. School nurses play a critical role in early identification and support, working with school-based behavioral healthcare teams and community providers to promote student well-being, improve attendance, and reduce health disparities. Explore NASN’s Mental…

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April 23, 2026

School Nurse Day Toolkit Is Here

Celebrate School Nurse Day, May 6, 2026, with ease. NASN’s official toolkit includes ready-to-use posters, social graphics and frames, a national proclamation, and messaging to help you recognize the impact of school nurses and engage your entire school community. Whether you’re a school nurse, administrator,…

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April 20, 2026

New Workshops: Health-Related Fitness in PE and Goal-Setting in PE

These all-new interactive Physical Best workshops equip teachers with practical strategies to enhance health-related fitness instruction and assessment in ways that are effective and relevant for today’s students. Workshops are available as half-day sessions or can be combined into a full-day Physical Best training for K-12 teams and districts.

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We’ve seen rapid expansion of our after-school activities, [and an] increased [number of] students meeting their healthy fitness zones.
Amy Ruzicka Bayless Schools Superintendent Discusses Bayless Schools 5-year journey leading to growth in school and staff wellness initiatives, incorporating the WSCC model, and expansion in after-school activities.