2017.12.15
@BeWellNCPS
“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
The kickoff of the NCPS Employee Wellness program is exciting and has the potential to offer a great service to all employees in the district.
What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
Being part of team that is going to offer exciting opportunities to all employees in the NCPS.
Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
“It's never too early or too late to work towards being the healthiest you.”
“Caring for the whole employee, while educating the whole child.”
The recently announced district-wide employee wellness program is exciting news for everyone (not just employees). Why, you ask? People who feel better, perform better. Since we are in the “kid business” the direct beneficiaries are our students. The mission of our committee states the following:
The Wellness Committee strives to educate, promote, and support the wellbeing of all NCPS employees by fostering and inspiring healthy lifestyles.
The fact that our superintendent, Dr. Luizzi, is leading the charge speaks volumes about the potentially positive return on investment across the district. There have been a few meetings to brainstorm and propose ways to roll this initiative out to everyone. It has been a terrific collaboration between professionals from central office, teachers, nurses, administrators, and our insurance representative.
Part of the rollout has been to come up with a brand that will help people recognize positive and/or wellness related messages. We are proud to have developed the below logo and banner that will be part of our ongoing communications. It was a nice team effort between committee members, NCHS art teachers, and district technology personnel. We have also reached out and collaborated with professionals from other districts/states to find out what has been successful for them. Feel free to check out progress, see messages, collaborate, and follow along on our journey at: @BeWellNCPS.
While the details on all facets of the program are still being ironed out, it is exciting to hear about the potential of joining forces across the district and offering activities and services that may currently be confined to one location. Some of the offerings that already exist include walking programs, fitbit challenges, a.m. basketball, Zumba, yoga, fitness center, amongst others. In addition, we will consider screenings and programs that will help provide information to guide health-based decisions and hopefully foster community with, and amongst, colleagues.
We owe it to ourselves to be wellness-minded, but that is often easier said than done. Over time, the results of not feeling well can compound resulting in you not operating at, or anywhere near, 100%. Remember, being well does not have to consist of long, arduous workouts or extended periods of cardiovascular training. It could be as simple as getting extra steps or doing short sets of exercises (even without equipment) throughout the day. The key is being consistent. Again, the end result will be great not only for individuals, but for the community and students that we serve.
Thanks to our tremendous NCPS Nursing Supervisor, Janet Reed, we have a few tips to help us “Be Well”:
From the Nurses - TEN TIPS TO STAY WELL:
1. Exercise!
2. Eat a healthy diet to boost your immune system.
3. Wash your hands frequently
4. Keep your hands away from your face since germs enter through your mouth, nose and eyes.
5. Drink plenty of water. Hydrated cells are better able to repel viruses and bacteria.
6. Get enough sleep. 7-8 hours for adults. 10 for children and teens. People who sleep less than 7 hours are 3 times more likely to catch a cold.
1. Exercise!
2. Eat a healthy diet to boost your immune system.
3. Wash your hands frequently
4. Keep your hands away from your face since germs enter through your mouth, nose and eyes.
5. Drink plenty of water. Hydrated cells are better able to repel viruses and bacteria.
6. Get enough sleep. 7-8 hours for adults. 10 for children and teens. People who sleep less than 7 hours are 3 times more likely to catch a cold.
7. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow rather than your hands, which can spread the germs.
8. Stay home when you have a fever or a cough that can’t be quieted.
9. Have a positive attitude. A negative outlook can be harmful to your physical and mental health.
10. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and mindfulness. Studies show these strategies boost your immune system and activate the calming parasympathetic nervous system.
With that being said, “Be Well” New Canaan!
Tags: @BeWellNCPS, @NCHS_CT, @NCPShealthPE, #wellness
Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org
Here a few pictures from this past week:
The logo consists of colors representing each school in the district. The Orange represents the Positivity Training the we participated in (The Happiness Advantage, The Orange Frog).
The banner has the district “crest” and elements that are important from each domain (cognitive, affective, psychomotor, and social). The puzzle pieces represent each piece being important to benefit the whole.
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