San Leandro Unified

Employee Wellness

Newsletter

Welcome to Self Care September!

Let's find ways to be part of something bigger.

Click here to download and print the calendar.

Why Do People Succeed or Fail in Life? Your Answer Matters

Are people in control, or do external forces shape our lives? Our "attributions" affect how compassionate we are to ourselves and others.

Live 24 Years Longer

It’s never too late to become healthier. But new research suggests that the earlier you start, the more you can extend your life.

New research suggests that you can add more than two decades to your life if you adopt eight habits in your 40s.

Scientists studied more than 700,000 people who were age 40 and older. The goal was to identify behaviors associated with better health and lifespan. Three behaviors — a lack of physical activity, opioid use, and smoking — were associated with up to a 45 percent increase in death during the nine years the study took place.

While those behaviors might seem obvious, what stood out was how much creating healthy habits made a big difference. The eight habits include:

Being physically active
Being free from opioids
Not smoking
Managing stress
Eating a healthy diet
Having good sleep hygiene
Not regularly binge drinking
Having positive social relationships

When men adopted all eight habits in their 40s, they lived up to 24 years longer, while women lived an additional 21 years compared to people who adopted none of the habits.

Even if you can’t build all eight habits, improving one at a time can still significantly impact you. According to the researchers, stress, binge drinking, poor diet, and poor sleep hygiene were each associated with around a 20 percent increase in the risk of death.

East Bay Parks Activity Guide for September-October

Our East Bay parks provide a place for people to connect with nature away from the stresses of daily life, which is vital to maintaining physical and mental health. For many, our parks are essential to their quality of life and general well-being. See the guide and get outside here!

Four Types of Work Friendship (And Which One Is Best for You)

Should you be friends with your coworkers? Here's how to navigate the benefits and pitfalls of friendship in the workplace. Read more here.

Flu Vaccines: Should I Get a Flu Vaccine?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand your choices so you can talk to your doctor about them. See more here.

Financial Planning Support

Are you prepared?

Planning for retirement or the unexpected is never too early or late. We have a list of authorized providers to assist you with your financial needs and benefits. We have professionals with expertise ranging from pre-taxing your medical, helping you enroll in life insurance, disability insurance, and cancer/accident plan, to helping you decide on which retirement plan is best for you, a 403 (b), 457(b), or Roth 403 (b).

Our district has long relationships with two representatives from financial firms that work with SLUSD staff members. While we do not promote or endorse any representative or company, these two contacts are frequently present at our new employee orientations. Their contact information is below:

Jim Adgar, PlanMember Services

jadgar@planmembersec.com

Financial Planning

Allen Perry, American Fidelity

Allen.Perry@americanfidelity.com

American Fidelity Flex with Combo Benefits Overview

Section 125 Benefits

You can also choose from the list of authorized investment providers here: SLUSD List of Authorized Investment Providers

Questions? Contact Veronica Ochoa, SLUSD Employee Benefits Specialist at

510-667-0537 or at vochoa@slusd.us

5 simple stretches for a better night’s rest

A good night’s sleep is essential to good health — but many people struggle to snooze through the night. Not getting enough shuteye is linked to chronic conditions, including heart disease, obesity, and depression. One way to improve your rest and relaxation is by adding stretching to your evening routine. Read more here.

SLUSD Pet of the Month: Cinco Sloane

Bancroft Middle School has a new principal and a new boxer to add to the Bronco mix!

As we welcome Jeff Sloane, the new principal at Bancroft Middle School, to the SLUSD family, we also need to give Cinco a "good boy" shoutout! This sweet face belongs to a 6 year old boxer, but Principal Sloane is pretty sure the San Francisco SPCA might have snuck him a pitbull!

We want to see your pets, babies, beautiful gardens, or any other photos that give you joy! Send photos to communications@slusd.us and share the love!

Horchata

While it tastes like dessert, horchata is healthier than you think! September 24 is National Horchata Day, but we think it's an all year round celebration!

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup uncooked white rice
1/4 cup raw cashews
3 cups water
1+ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 medjool dates (and/or other sweetener)

INSTRUCTIONS

Soak the cashews and rice (any white rice will work here) in several inches of water for 2-6 hours. This will allow both ingredients to soften and become easier to blend. The easier they blend, the more flavor they will impart.

Once the rice & and cashews are softened, drain the soaking water and combine them in a blender with all the other ingredients – water, vanilla, cinnamon, and dates (pitted!). With dates alone, this drink won’t be too sweet. If you’d like more sweetness, add a little natural sugar. More “natural” sweeteners like maple syrup add a rustic taste that works extremely well with the spices. With all the ingredients in the blender, blend on high for 2 minutes to fully puree all the solid ingredients.

Strain. No matter how good your blender is, there will still be grainy particles (mostly rice) in the liquid. Strain this off using a cheesecloth, nut milk bag, or even a paint filter bag that can be found for $2 at a hardware store.

The beverage is finished at this point but is best served chilled. To do that, pour the strained liquid into a mason jar, seal it, and refrigerate for several hours before serving.

(Credit: One ingredient chef)

Best Broccoli Salad

This broccoli salad recipe is the perfect easy cookout side dish and was featured at our Welcome Back BBQ!

Ingredients

1 pound broccoli crowns
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons mayo or vegan mayo
1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
⅓ cup diced red onions
⅓ cup dried cranberries
Smoky tamari almonds
½ cup almonds
½ cup pepitas
1 tablespoon tamari
½ teaspoon maple syrup
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, more to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Chop the broccoli florets into ½-inch pieces and any remaining stems into ¼-inch dice. Peel any woody parts from the stem first.
Whisk together the olive oil, mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, and salt in the bottom of a large bowl. Add the broccoli, onions, and cranberries and toss to coat.
Place the almonds and pepitas on the baking sheet, toss with the tamari, maple syrup, and smoked paprika, and spread into a thin layer. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes (they’ll get crispier as they sit).
Toss the almonds and pepitas into the salad, reserving a few to sprinkle. Season to taste and serve.

(Credit: Love & Lemons)

San Leandro Unified School District | communications@slusd.us | www.slusd.us