Wellness Program Listening Sessions--Happening Now!
The Wellness Coordinator is hosting Listening Sessions now until Jan. 25th. We want to know what type of wellness initiatives you are interested in! Would you rather go to events in the morning, during work, or later evening? What wellness needs do you have that the ESD can help support?
Please attend a listening session to share your input, hear from others, or simply have some fun with a few of your colleagues.
Every Attendee will be entered to win one of twenty Wellness gift baskets valued at $50!
We hope to see you at one of the following times! :)
The Wellness Coordinator is hosting Listening Sessions now until Jan. 25th. We want to know what type of wellness initiatives you are interested in! Would you rather go to events in the morning, during work, or later evening? What wellness needs do you have that the ESD can help support?
Please attend a listening session to share your input, hear from others, or simply have some fun with a few of your colleagues.
Every Attendee will be entered to win one of twenty Wellness gift baskets valued at $50!
We hope to see you at one of the following times! :)
Click the links below to register!
***Each meeting has a 25 participant capacity, so be sure you receive a confirmation email after registering (you should receive it within roughly 48 hours). If you are not admitted to your first choice, we hope you will choose to register for a different meeting time.
***Each meeting has a 25 participant capacity, so be sure you receive a confirmation email after registering (you should receive it within roughly 48 hours). If you are not admitted to your first choice, we hope you will choose to register for a different meeting time.
Wellness support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Fear and anxiety are normal reactions to a very abnormal situation. We are all better at managing stress when we stay connected with our friends and people we love. Stay connected on the phone or internet. Take care of your health by eating well, exercising and doing activities that you take pleasure in. Stay informed, but take breaks from reading or watching coverage about the virus.
While we all need to stay informed, it can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Balance information
with activities you enjoy. Additional resources include:
While we all need to stay informed, it can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Balance information
with activities you enjoy. Additional resources include:
- The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free and confidential counseling and referral services to all benefits eligible NWRESD employees and their dependents.
- See our the wellness resources in our Remote Work Handbook for working during the pandemic.
- 211info connects people with health and social service organizations, including child care and other services that might be helpful during this stressful event. They are also available to answer questions about your COVID-19 concerns (e.g. What do I do if I think I was exposed to COVID-19? I’m sick. Should I be tested?, etc.)
- The CDC also has advice to help you manage your stress.
- See these tips for maintaining your mental health while working remotely (from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation's Center for Workplace Mental Health)
Monthly Challenge
Thank you to everyone who participated in the December Wellness Challenge. Congratulations to our Amazon gift card winners: Misty Burris, Jacob Doxtator and Pam Hofer.
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Please take part in our January Monthly Challenge: NWRESD Goals! Visit our Community Jamboard and add your goals for 2021, see and "star" others' goals, and stay motivated to achieve your goals this year!
*You must use your nwresd email to access and edit the jamboard. |
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Interested in joining Weight Watchers for free?
OEBB members join at NO COST - if you have insurance through OEBB, membership is absolutely FREE!! In the Staff Resources Shared G Drive, you will find flyers with all the details on the free Unstoppable Kit available to new members that sign up between 1/1/2021 and 2/28/2021, and a copy of the January Weight Watchers Newsletter.
If you feel motivated, or simply curious, go to OEBB.WW.com to join, all you need is your insurance information.
*Due to the shutdown, WSC has been unable to offer in-person WW At Work meetings, but has continued to offer the program virtually, including virtual weekly meetings and WW Online for current and future members. WW has been a vital component of wellness for both NWRESD and HSD staff with OEBB benefits, and is still offering the same NO COST benefit to any OEBB member.
OEBB members join at NO COST - if you have insurance through OEBB, membership is absolutely FREE!! In the Staff Resources Shared G Drive, you will find flyers with all the details on the free Unstoppable Kit available to new members that sign up between 1/1/2021 and 2/28/2021, and a copy of the January Weight Watchers Newsletter.
If you feel motivated, or simply curious, go to OEBB.WW.com to join, all you need is your insurance information.
*Due to the shutdown, WSC has been unable to offer in-person WW At Work meetings, but has continued to offer the program virtually, including virtual weekly meetings and WW Online for current and future members. WW has been a vital component of wellness for both NWRESD and HSD staff with OEBB benefits, and is still offering the same NO COST benefit to any OEBB member.
Meet Our Wellness Coordinator
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Our Wellness Council received a five-year, $100,000 grant from OEA Choice Trust to launch an equity-driven staff wellness program.
Our new, part-time wellness coordinator is Bailey Kose. Bailey will help advance this work in coordination with our Wellness Council, organizational leadership, union leadership and equity team. Contact Information: bkose@nwresd.k12.or.us 503-935-9615 |
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We recently did a short Q&A with Bailey so you can get to know her.
Q: What are you most excited about in this new role?
A: Wellness is something I'm passionate about and have learned quite a bit about on my personal journey over the past few years, so I'm really excited to get to share that with my colleagues and the community at large. I'm also excited to learn more about equity-centered wellness and bring that lens into this work.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge you will need to tackle?
A: I think the biggest challenge will be bringing meaningful wellness to folks while we're apart. Social interaction can be a large part of living well, and quarantine has made that a bigger hurdle.
Q: What do you do to prioritize your own wellness?
A: My favorite ways to practice wellness include giving myself permission and space to stumble as I learn, getting creative (drawing, painting, cross-stitching, journaling), and going for walks! :)
Q: When you are not serving as the NWRESD wellness coordinator, what else do you do at NWRESD?
A: I serve as a Site Supervisor for the Northwest Outdoor Science School program. I started with Outdoor School at the age of 15 when I was a volunteer high school student leader. After I graduated from Portland State University, I found my way back to the program and have been teaching and learning at Camp Magruder since 2017.
Q: What are you most excited about in this new role?
A: Wellness is something I'm passionate about and have learned quite a bit about on my personal journey over the past few years, so I'm really excited to get to share that with my colleagues and the community at large. I'm also excited to learn more about equity-centered wellness and bring that lens into this work.
Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge you will need to tackle?
A: I think the biggest challenge will be bringing meaningful wellness to folks while we're apart. Social interaction can be a large part of living well, and quarantine has made that a bigger hurdle.
Q: What do you do to prioritize your own wellness?
A: My favorite ways to practice wellness include giving myself permission and space to stumble as I learn, getting creative (drawing, painting, cross-stitching, journaling), and going for walks! :)
Q: When you are not serving as the NWRESD wellness coordinator, what else do you do at NWRESD?
A: I serve as a Site Supervisor for the Northwest Outdoor Science School program. I started with Outdoor School at the age of 15 when I was a volunteer high school student leader. After I graduated from Portland State University, I found my way back to the program and have been teaching and learning at Camp Magruder since 2017.
Wellness Council members for the 2020-21 school year are:
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Margaret Brown (Facilitator, Washington)
Amie Brown (Tillamook) Melissa Buchanan (Washington) Katie Cope (Washington) Jillynn Garcia (Washington) Angie Harrington (Clatsop) Remy Icenogle (Columbia) Cathy Jensen (Washington) Bailey Kose (Wellness Coordinator for all counties) Kim Lyon (Tillamook) Megan Snow (Washington) Tera Van Dyke (Washington) |
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Need equipment for your staff wellness activity? Apply for a grant.
The Wellness Council offers staff wellness grants of up to $250 for any staff member or group of staff members who have a staff wellness-related project. Examples of past projects include yoga equipment, distance markers and quiet zone and mediation area supplies. Please note, because of ethical considerations, memberships or subscriptions might not be approved.
The 2020-21 school year grant submission dates will be posted at the end of January.
The 2020-21 school year grant submission dates will be posted at the end of January.
All counties
Healthy commuting encouraged
Staff are encouraged to bike, walk, run, take the bus (see the entry below about pretax TriMet passes), etc. to work when possible. Bike racks are available at most NWRESD sites. All sites have bike racks except Columbia, Cascade and Pacific Academies, Levi Anderson and Clatsop and Columbia service centers. Please speak with your supervisor if you work at one of these locations and want to bike to work. It's possible you will be able to find an inside location to store it.
For staff who are looking for ways to stay safe while driving, please see the healthy commuting resource list >>
Financial wellness
Financial wellness is an important part of overall wellness. We want all staff to feel supported as they save for the future, including retirement. We offer financial wellness workshops throughout the year at sites around the region. Check the county listings above for current opportunities. There are also several online resources. The Oregon Growth Savings Plan offers a variety of resources to meet your needs. See Oregon Growth Savings Plan offerings >>
Pretax TriMet passes available to all NWRESD staff members
All NWRESD staff members are eligible to purchase pretax TriMet passes to commute to work. TriMet includes MAX light rail trains, WES commuter rail trains, Portland streetcars and C-TRAN services, including C-TRAN Express. Please email Payroll Manager Pam Voss for more information. Learn more about this benefit >>
School Employee Wellness Conference
The Oregon Education Association Choice Trust sponsors a School Employee Wellness Conference in March during Spring Break. The conference is free, and staff are eligible to use conference funds to cover mileage, meals and lodging. Please talk with your supervisor if you are interested. Learn more about the conference >>
Sit to Stand Desks
The Wellness Council is not currently taking requests for sit to stand desks as we have exhausted our funding for the year. Please complete the sit to stand desk form>>> to be added to the waitlist. We will contact you if additional funding becomes available.
Walking meetings encouraged
All staff are encouraged to hold walking meetings when possible.
Wellness programs through insurance
Moda Health and Kaiser Permanente offer several programs for issues such as chronic diseases management, depression and stress, diabetes prevention and management, diet and exercise, health assessments, sleep management, tobacco cessation and weight management. Learn more about these programs >>
Want a free WW membership? ("Wellness that works," previously called Weight Watchers)
Anyone enrolled in an OEBB medical plan can enroll at NO COST (age restrictions might apply to children). If you feel motivated, or simply curious, go to OEBB.WW.com to join, all you need is your insurance information. Weight Watchers is based on the philosophy that successful weight loss is achieved through the attainment of a series of realistic goals. The program incorporates healthy eating, physical activity, behavior modification, and for those who attend meetings, a supportive atmosphere.
Due to the shutdown, WSC has been unable to offer in-person WW At Work meetings, but has continued to offer the program virtually, including virtual weekly meetings and WW Online for current and future members. WW has been a vital component of wellness for both NWRESD and HSD staff with OEBB benefits, and is still offering the same NO COST benefit to any OEBB member.
Healthy commuting encouraged
Staff are encouraged to bike, walk, run, take the bus (see the entry below about pretax TriMet passes), etc. to work when possible. Bike racks are available at most NWRESD sites. All sites have bike racks except Columbia, Cascade and Pacific Academies, Levi Anderson and Clatsop and Columbia service centers. Please speak with your supervisor if you work at one of these locations and want to bike to work. It's possible you will be able to find an inside location to store it.
For staff who are looking for ways to stay safe while driving, please see the healthy commuting resource list >>
Financial wellness
Financial wellness is an important part of overall wellness. We want all staff to feel supported as they save for the future, including retirement. We offer financial wellness workshops throughout the year at sites around the region. Check the county listings above for current opportunities. There are also several online resources. The Oregon Growth Savings Plan offers a variety of resources to meet your needs. See Oregon Growth Savings Plan offerings >>
Pretax TriMet passes available to all NWRESD staff members
All NWRESD staff members are eligible to purchase pretax TriMet passes to commute to work. TriMet includes MAX light rail trains, WES commuter rail trains, Portland streetcars and C-TRAN services, including C-TRAN Express. Please email Payroll Manager Pam Voss for more information. Learn more about this benefit >>
School Employee Wellness Conference
The Oregon Education Association Choice Trust sponsors a School Employee Wellness Conference in March during Spring Break. The conference is free, and staff are eligible to use conference funds to cover mileage, meals and lodging. Please talk with your supervisor if you are interested. Learn more about the conference >>
Sit to Stand Desks
The Wellness Council is not currently taking requests for sit to stand desks as we have exhausted our funding for the year. Please complete the sit to stand desk form>>> to be added to the waitlist. We will contact you if additional funding becomes available.
Walking meetings encouraged
All staff are encouraged to hold walking meetings when possible.
Wellness programs through insurance
Moda Health and Kaiser Permanente offer several programs for issues such as chronic diseases management, depression and stress, diabetes prevention and management, diet and exercise, health assessments, sleep management, tobacco cessation and weight management. Learn more about these programs >>
Want a free WW membership? ("Wellness that works," previously called Weight Watchers)
Anyone enrolled in an OEBB medical plan can enroll at NO COST (age restrictions might apply to children). If you feel motivated, or simply curious, go to OEBB.WW.com to join, all you need is your insurance information. Weight Watchers is based on the philosophy that successful weight loss is achieved through the attainment of a series of realistic goals. The program incorporates healthy eating, physical activity, behavior modification, and for those who attend meetings, a supportive atmosphere.
Due to the shutdown, WSC has been unable to offer in-person WW At Work meetings, but has continued to offer the program virtually, including virtual weekly meetings and WW Online for current and future members. WW has been a vital component of wellness for both NWRESD and HSD staff with OEBB benefits, and is still offering the same NO COST benefit to any OEBB member.
