Wellness: Work Well and Thrive
Wellness Council members for the 2019-20 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) Cindy Jaeger (Columbia) Cathy Jensen (Washington) Kim Lyon (Tillamook) Janine Mobley (Washington) 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.
Grants are now being accepted until Feb. 28. The final cycle of the year will be April 1-May 15.
Grants are now being accepted until Feb. 28. The final cycle of the year will be April 1-May 15.
Wellness Challenges
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The Wellness Council is bringing you monthly wellness challenges this school year. Our March challenge begins Monday, March 2.
March Wellness Challenge: Look Up! The Wellness Council invites you to Join in this month’s Wellness Challenge. Balance your screen time, create a tech-free zone and set aside time to unplug. Remember to look up! Mark your participation in the Wellness Challenge spreadsheet (Each site has its own tab. Itinerant staff should use their homebase). Go to the spreadsheet >> Participants will be randomly selected to win a dinner for two at the Oregon Culinary Institute. Thank you to Darla Garcia, Program Director at the Oregon Culinary Institute and wife of Mental Health Specialist Jillynn Garcia, for making this donation. February's winner is Remy Icenogle, Administrative Assistant at the Columbia Service Center. |
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Wellness activities available to staff
Clatsop County
Bowling
Healthy Eating
Running and biking group
Walking groups
Bowling
- Once a month at Gearhart Bowl or Lower Columbia Bowl (Contact: Sandi Luth)
Healthy Eating
- Meatless Mondays, Water Challenge Wednesdays and Fruit Bowl Fridays at the Clatsop Service Center
- Staff order healthy options (gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian) for meetings when possible.
- Staff are encouraged to bring healthier snacks to share (no pastries, etc.).
- Staff are encouraged to drink water throughout the day.
Running and biking group
- Thursdays at 4 p.m. on the Astoria Riverwalk (Contact: Otis Heavenrich)
Walking groups
- Mornings at 7 a.m. on the Astoria Riverwalk (Contact: Cindy Barlow)
- Daily at noon on the Astoria Riverwalk (Contact: Angie Harrington)
Columbia County
Healthy Eating
Mindfulness
Painting meet-up
Walking groups
Healthy Eating
- Quarterly potlucks with healthy foods at the Columbia Service Center (Contact: Cindy Jaeger)
- Healthy recipes, motivating activities and other Blue Zones-related topics are regularly posted in the Columbia Service Center staff room.
- Staff discuss having chocolate as a special treat and not a regular indulgence.
Mindfulness
- Every meeting begins with mindfulness activities such as deep breathing and thoughts of gratitude.
- One staff member leads belly dancing steps as an invigorating movement activity.
Painting meet-up
- All Columbia County staff are invited to attend a painting meet-up (Contact: Cindy Jaeger)
Walking groups
- Ad-hoc walks in nearby parks or around the Columbia Service Center building
Tillamook County
Social Hour
Yoga/Strength Training
Social Hour
- Friday afternoons after work (Contact: Amie Brown)
- Staff hold walking meetings weather permitting
Yoga/Strength Training
- Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:15 a.m. at the Tillamook Service Center (Contact: Kim Lyon)
Washington County
Barre Yoga
Massage chair
Weight Watchers (WW)
Wellness workgroup
Anyone enrolled in a Kaiser Permanente or Moda health plan has access to a discounted gym membership for $25 a month. Learn about the Moda Active & Fit program and the Kaiser Active&Fit Direct.
Barre Yoga
- Mondays from 4:15 - 5 p.m. at the Beaverton Early Childhood Center (Contact: Erica Sanchez)
- Wednesdays from 4:15 - 5 p.m. at the Beaverton Early Childhood Center (Contact: Erica Sanchez)
Massage chair
- Ongoing at the Washington Service Center (Contact: Tera Van Dyke)
Weight Watchers (WW)
- Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. at the Washington Service Center. (Contact: Sharon Meeuwsen)
Wellness workgroup
- Monthly training for Columbia, Cascade and Pacific Academy staff on trauma-informed care followed by a variety of wellness breakout sessions designed to mediate compassion fatigue (Contact: Jillynn Garcia)
Anyone enrolled in a Kaiser Permanente or Moda health plan has access to a discounted gym membership for $25 a month. Learn about the Moda Active & Fit program and the Kaiser Active&Fit Direct.
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 >>
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 >>
Weight Watchers (now called WW "Wellness that works") available through insurance
Anyone enrolled in an OEBB medical plan can enroll in a 13-week session at NO COST (age restrictions might apply to children), either with AtWork Meetings, Community Meetings or OnlinePlus. Those who maintain participation requirements could qualify for up to four 13- week sessions per plan year.
(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.)
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 >>
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 >>
Weight Watchers (now called WW "Wellness that works") available through insurance
Anyone enrolled in an OEBB medical plan can enroll in a 13-week session at NO COST (age restrictions might apply to children), either with AtWork Meetings, Community Meetings or OnlinePlus. Those who maintain participation requirements could qualify for up to four 13- week sessions per plan year.
(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.)
