e-Newsletter

February 2025

“I will use the CATCH motto as a framework for my leadership. Creating changes in the environment will change behaviors. I will use modeling and consistent language to create positive change.”

- Educator & CATCH Professional Development Participant of Campus Coordination / PSE (WSCC) training

Building Stronger Schools & Communities Together

So far this school year, our expert team has proudly delivered over 240 professional development sessions nationwide - and, we are excited to keep the momentum going along with expanding our international reach! We honor each participant who champions both their personal and professional growth, strengthening their ability to foster a culture of health and wellness in their school, organization, and community.

Through our seven specialized tracks - Physical Education & Physical Activity, Out-of-School Time, Health & Nutrition, Campus Coordination / PSE (WSCC), Youth Vaping Prevention / Substance Misuse, Mental Well-Being & SEL, and Early Childhood - we are dedicated to providing tailored support across diverse educational settings. Such settings include large public school districts, private and charter schools, state/local public health departments, YMCA’s, Boys & Girls Clubs, and others.

To explore how we can partner with your school or organization, please complete our brief form. A member of our Educational Partnerships team will then be in touch with you soon.

Form Inquiry →

Get a jump-start on registering for one of our virtual, public youth vaping prevention trainings as part of our CATCH My Breath program!

CATCH Healthy Smiles

New features, same great resources, still no cost!

Ease of instruction and curriculum implementation are cornerstones in the development and maintenance of our evidence-based and evidence-informed programs available to educators, public health professionals, community organizations, and others. We have recently redesigned the layout for CATCH Healthy Smiles, our oral health program for Pre-K through 2nd grade, on our CATCH.org platform. The modern layout now includes curated content for each lesson per grade band with a uniformed template, embedded resources, and consolidated Extension Activities, Audio & Video Library, and more within their own designated sections.

Explore →

CATCH Healthy Smiles is supported by the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation and accessible for free through their generous funding. We also offer a free, asynchronous professional development training for the program. Learn more by selecting “Health & Nutrition” in your submission form.

Growing List of States that Approve CATCH Programs

Utah State Board of Education recommends CATCH PE Journeys

Meeting national and state education standards and supporting requirements of recently passed legislation is an important focus of ours. We are proud to announce that the Utah State Board of Education recommends CATCH PE Journeys, our physical education curriculum for grades K-8, to districts and schools statewide.

Navigating curriculum requirements and legislation can be complex, which is why we make documentation available of our programs so you can focus more of your time on having fun teaching and engaging with your students. CATCH programs are now recommended and/or approved by state curriculum review entities in Texas, Massachusetts, Idaho, and now Utah.

Learn More →

Meet Michelle Rawcliffe, CATCH Curriculum & Content Manager

Accomplished health educator at the school, district, and state levels, Michelle Rawcliffe, MPH, understands that health education is a rapidly evolving field and values continuous professional development.

SHAPE America has made significant updates to their National Health Education Standards, incorporating the latest research to make them more comprehensive and relevant to today’s educational landscape. Long inspired by SHAPE America’s advocacy efforts and national conferences, Michelle recently took the initiative to become a National SHAPE America Trainer.

We are proud of Michelle’s commitment as we recognize that high-quality, engaging, and relevant professional development is essential for empowering educators and driving meaningful impact in student health and well-being. As CATCH’s Curriculum & Content Manager, Michelle is applying her expertise to ensure our curriculum aligns with SHAPE America’s updated standards.

Thank You Corner

Our important efforts to bring whole child wellness programs to schools and community organizations across the globe would not be possible without partners in our corner!

CATCH Webinar Panelists

Thank you to our panelist, Dr. Michael Mrazek, Associate Professor at UTHealth Houston and director of the Youth Mental Health Lab, who shared his insightful expertise for our Classroom Practices to Support Student Mental Health webinar alongside Joey Walker, CATCH Vice President of Training & Implementation. If you missed this thought-provoking conversation, we encourage you to visit our webinar archive.

IAHPERD Conference

We are happy to have supported the IAHPERD conference for five continous years. Thank you for presenting us with an award and your partnership.

Students Public Service Announcement (PSA) Winners

Eight students from New York City have been selected as winners in the first round of our CATCH My Breath New York City Schools PSA Contest where they created powerful posters advocating for a vape-free life. We are proud of all middle and high school youth who submitted entries expressing their creativity and commitment. Learn more about the second round of our PSA contest that is currently underway!

Secretaría de Educación de Bogotá

Our CATCH Latin America team was honored to have attended La Gala de los Mejores, hosted by Secretaría de Educación de Bogotá, that celebrates those who have made significant contributions to the quality of education in Bogotá, Colombia.