Employee Wellness Newsletter for May 2019

SLUSD's Monthly Employee Wellness Newsletter

Brought to you by the Employee Wellness Committee

Employee Wellness Newsletter

May 2019

Appreciating Each Other

May is the month with institutionalized moments to recognize each other's hard work and commitment to our challenging careers. From school nurses, to school lunch heroes, to classified, certificated, and management employees, we hope everyone in SLUSD is feeling appreciated as we close out the 2018-19 school year.

Your Wellness Warriors would like to offer an open opportunity to celebrate your peers through our first annual, end of the year Peer Props Program. Submit this form to recommend one of your colleagues for commendation from the best district in the bay. They will receive a special thanks for their work, along with the emotional and physical benefits that come from feeling appreciated.

Wilson Elementary teachers bask in their VIP status.

Garfield Elementary staff enjoys a delicious buffet and regenerative time together as a community.

Dr. Mike visits the 2019-20 Classified Employee of the Year Robert Musgrave at Monroe Elementary.

2019-20 Teacher of the Year Kathy Maier is personally thanked by Dr. Mike and her district.

Does Jefferson Elementary have the best staff in the world? The PTA sure thinks so!

Lincoln educators get into the spirit at the teacher induction ceremony.

Food and Nutrition school lunch heroes are recognized districtwide by Chef Clell, Rachel Carey and team.

Amy Taxdahl, Kristin Jagoda, and Jacinda Chen celebrate School Nurse Appreciation Week.

Financial Wellness:

Spring Clean Your Finances

Provided by AIG

Think spring cleaning is confined to dusting the windowsills, clearing out the cabinets, and rearranging closets? Think again! This season of renewal can—and should—extend to freshening up your personal finances and de-cluttering your money strategies so you can ensure that those short- and long-term financial objectives are on track.

Click here to see six simple, attainable goals that can help you kick off spring with a host of healthy new money habits.

Need Some Quick Ways to Relax Throughout the Day?

Provided by Kaiser Permanente

Feel calm and centered with these mini relaxation techniques. Read more

Take 5 Safety Reminder

Provider by Keenan and Associates

With the end of the school year quickly approaching, preparing for summer cleaning will begin. Please take a moment to click on the following links for some reminders to prepare safely for summer cleaning.

Teacher Safety Reminder for End of School Year

Teamster/Trades Safety Reminder for End of School Year

Staff End of Year Safety Tips

It only takes a minute to make a safe choice. It takes a lot longer to recover from an unsafe one.

What is Orangetheory?

According to the folks over there, they offer a workout that is more than sweating away extra pounds. The program offers coaching and technology support, and most importantly to us, the opportunity for a discount!

Interested in learning more, check out Orangetheory in San Leandro and bring your district ID. SLUSD employees will receive their first workout free as well as a staff discount on membership rates.

Really, Really Short Workouts?

Too busy to exercise? Science Says Maybe Not!

Courtesy of the New York Times

High intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has been making the news recently as a viable physical activity option for those of us strapped for time. Read more about the scientific evidence behind the "Seven Minute Workout" here .

Exploring the Bay Area

So many amazing things to see in the Bay Area, why not take some time to explore the great museums that the Bay Area offers and learn a few new things or see some interesting art. Click here to see what days you can visit Bay Area museums for free in 2019.

Join East Bay Regional Parks in celebrating their 85th Anniversary with Free Park Fridays ! Every Friday until the end of the year the East Bay Regional Park District is offering Free Park Fridays to mark its 85th Anniversary.

For more information click EBRPD 85th

Connect More

Use these tips to build stronger connections with the people in your life.

Provided by Kaiser Permanente

1. Be Interested

Sometimes we think we know someone so well that it stops us from actually seeing the person. Instead, we just see our “idea” of them. Try being open, curious, and interested in the people close to you as if you’re just getting to know them for the first time. You might be surprised what you find!

2. Be Kind

People like to be around others who are kind because they feel cared about and safe with them. When you’re kind, not only do other people feel good around you, you feel better too.

3. “THINK” Before You Speak

We’ve all said something that we later regretted. It happens. The THINK rule can help put a pause between the impulse to speak and saying something you’ll later wish you hadn’t. Over the next week, before you speak, ask yourself: Is it True, is it Helpful, am I the best one to say it, is it Necessary, is it Kind?

4. Be Happy for Others

Sometimes feeling happy for someone else is natural, like with your children or your spouse. Other times we need to help it along. Be on the lookout for moments when you notice positive things happening for others — someone taking good care of themselves, for example, or experiencing success. Practice saying, “Good job” or “I’m so happy for you” and notice how it feels. Being happy for others not only strengthens those relationships, it just feels good.