School Health

15th Annual March Forward
March 1 - March 12, 2027

#MarchForwardRC

Join the Physical Activity Movement that starts in the classroom! 

This is the time to put your classroom in motion! As a teacher, you already inspire learning in many awesome ways. During #MarchForwardRC, Monday, March 1 - Friday, March 12, 2027, you can highlight how you keep students energized and focused with physical activity by sharing with other educators!

How to Participate

• Use your district's social media protocols for posting videos and photos of physical activity in your classroom.
• When engaging students in physical activity, keep the movements appropriate for the space and students' ages and abilities. Physical activity should be fun and rewarding and never used as a negative consequence.

March Forward Message for Students and Teachers

• Physical Activity helps to relieve stress.
• Physical activity helps us do better in school.
• Physical activity helps us feel our best.
• Being physically active is a great way to make friends.
• Be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day.

Professional Learning about Physical Activity in the Classroom

 Check back in September 2026 for current listings.

Classroom Physical Activity Videos

• Elementary School: Go Noodle
• Middle School: Jammin Minute
• High School (and Middle School): Pro Athlete Classroom Breaks
• More Ideas: Go to Alliance for a Healthier Generation and search for "physical activity breaks" (free login needed).

Additional Resources

• Virtual Classroom 
• Inclusive Physical Activity  
• Fitness Bingo PDF 
• Get Movin’ Activity Break Guide PDF 
• Nutrition Physical activity games 
• Indoor recess/physical activity resources 
• 64 Educational Brain Breaks
• Active Schools
• Destress Monday
• Equity Considerations for Physical Activity in the In-Person or Virtual Classroom
• In-School Activity Breaks by Fuel Up to Play 60
• Physical Activity Cards for All Ages
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition
• Spark - The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by John J. Ratey, MD and Eric Hagerman
• The Kinesthetic Classroom Teaching and Learning Through Movement, by Traci Lengel and Mike Kuczala
• Teaching Through Movement Setting Up Your Kinesthetic Classroom, by Stacey Shoecraft

The School Coalition was established in 2008 as a collaborative group of Rockland schools, organizations, and businesses with a mission to educate and facilitate collaboration between schools, local agencies, and businesses to support, optimize, and sustain the health and productivity of our students, school staff, and community. 

A steering committee of community organizations, schools and local colleges meets regularly under the leadership of the Rockland County Department of Health and the Rockland Teachers’ Center to raise awareness among educators of best practices and available resources to support school health. The Steering Committee is comprised of several organizations. 

Activities and Resources

• Technical assistance in updating and implementing wellness policies and practices.
• Ongoing free professional development programming.
• Creation of March Forward, Rockland’s promotion of physical activity in the classroom. Scroll up to see details.
• Free Health Fair Planning Guide containing step-by-step instructions on planning a successful school health fair.

To receive announcements, sign up here. 

For more information, contact messingl@co.rockland.ny.us or call 845-364-2500