Yoga classes in Jan-Feb

Yoga with Steph is moving to MONDAYS for January and February.

Add your name to the sign up sheet if you are interested in the 6-week vinyasa yoga session on MONDAYS this Winter.

Vinyasa Yoga w/ Stephanie Steeves

Mondays

3:20pm - 4:20pm in the iLab

Jan. 7, 14 & 28; Feb. 4, 11 & 18. (SIX weeks)

($50 for the 6-wk session to be paid on first day of session. $10 drop in fee)

Sign up here

Colchester Jazzercise offers for 2018-19

Colchester Jazzercise

Located at 69 Creek Farm Road Suite 2, Colchester, VT 05446

(802)951-1133

FREE CLASSES TO EVERYONE THE REST OF 2018 
Here is the schedule link
Includes 16-21 year olds FREE through 1/15/19 ( must be in high school/college)

Jazzercise also has an ongoing offer for School personnel

$44 per month unlimited classes

CURRENT SPECIAL THRU 12/31/18 $229 for 6 months.

Purchase by 12/31/18 and starts 1/1/19.

SoulShine Yoga Discount

Here is a discount from SoulShine Power Yoga.
Be sure to bring your ID with you to receive discount.

SoulShine Yoga Website

The Edge Membership Deals for School Employees

Winooski School District Employee Discounts Available! 

SAVE  20% off The Edge Monthly Rates -OR- SAVE 35% off The Edge 12 Months Prepaid! 

 - Children 18 & under included for FREE with year prepaid
 - Children 13 & under included for FREE with monthly rate

Pricing varies on membership type and level (click on details picture below). 

Contact Mike Markee, Membership Director, for details.

The Edge in Essex

(802)879-7734 ext 1135

michaelm@edgevt.com 

Invest EAP

INVEST EAP provides in-person, confidential, short-term counseling, legal and financial advice, assessments, and resource and referral information about a broad range of life and workplace related issues.  This benefit is available to all employees and their household members.

 Visit the Invest EAP website  or call:  1-800-287-2173

Use the word "vsbit" as the organization password, when creating an account.

VEHI members may earn 50 PATHpoints for a qualifying use of their EAP benefit.  A qualifying use typically means meeting in person with an EAP counselor for approximately five sessions to work on a goal or map out a problem. 

Once you have made use of your EAP benefit you can request a voucher by email.  Send your request to:  

EAPPATHPOINTS@investeap.org

Upon receipt of a voucher number log into your PATH account and redeem it for points.

PATH Adventure is OPEN!

PATH Adventure registration is Open!

One of the programs (you can earn up to 50 points) is the 10-week PATH Adventure. This year's adventure theme is "Get a Clue." To register, sign in (or sign up!) to PATH Programs here https://tomypath.com/ Register by December 7th.
The Adventure begins January 28, 2019.

Awareness with John Grimm

John Grimm from Centerpoint spoke to the Middle School teachers during preservice about how we can stay present, effective and healthy in the work we do. He calls this "Awareness," or, where we pay attention to how we experience the work. The Awareness presentation is available here.

During a follow up session, it was suggested that if teachers can't take a lot of time to formally discuss or check in on their Awareness, that it might be easier--and just as beneficial--to take moments in meetings to do an awareness check. Especially in meetings where you may feel emotionally charged or drained.

John wrote:
For the potential prompts, I think one basic approach can be something along the lines of making a statement “Let’s do an awareness check.”  Followed up with a question like:

“What has been our internal experience (thoughts, feelings, etc) within our relationship with this particular student (or group of students)?  

How does this inform our understanding of their needs and abilities?  

How does it inform us/ me about my understanding of our/ my needs and abilities right now?  

How does it inform our understanding of the effectiveness of our/ my current plan/ intention?”
In doing these kind of awareness checks, I have found that often when folks are experiencing strong emotions/ thoughts and are not clear how it informs understanding or plan,  it may be a sign of a loss of perspective which is indicative of a need for more clarity within the Awareness realm before being able to effectively move forward with effective interventions. 

Other Resources around the concepts of self-care and awareness:

• Essay: Heart of a Teacher--Identity and Integrity in Teaching
• Audio: "The Rest Step" from NPR's I Believe segment
• Article: Getting Unhooked--Connecting with Traumatized Kids Who Push Your Buttons
• Article: The Five Myths of Self-Compassion

Yoga Classes Oct-Dec 2018

TUESDAYS
Vinyasa Yoga with Stephanie Steeves

This 8-week series starts October 23. 

Dates: Oct. 23 & 30, Nov. 6, 13 & 27, Dec. 4, 11 & 18
Tuesdays from 3:20pm-4:20pm

Location: iLab
Cost: $65 for the 8 week series, to be paid at first class.
Drop in: if you can't commit to the series, you may drop in on a class for $10 each.
Add your name to the Tuesday Vinyasa Yoga sign up CLICK HERE.

Vinyasa means “connection breath and movement.” This style of yoga will have you moving and flowing between poses with special attention to breathing. This class will be mixed levels, with options to make your yoga practice as challenging or relaxing as you'd like. 

Wear loos clothing, bring your own yoga mat, and props (blocks, bolster) if desired.

Women's Wellness Retreat

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-wellness-retreat-tickets-50282361898

2018 Clothing Drive

This year, WSD is partnering with the Winooski Memorial Library and the Winooski Family Center for the 3rd Annual Clothing Drive and Giveaway Event.

Starting today, October 1, through Monday, November 5, the partners will begin accepting clean, gently used clothing to be given away to Winooski children and families later in November.

Donations should be dropped off at the Winooski Memorial Library (32 Malletts Bay Ave.), during Library hours.

Tues.-Fri. 10am-6:30pm

Sat. 10am-2pm

Sun. & Mon. Closed

Specifically, we are looking for school-appropriate clothing and winter gear for ages infant to 18 years old--including winter boots, jackets, hats, mittens and snowpants. Please do not donate accessories, evening wear, lingerie or costumes. We also are NOT accepting toys, books or household items. We will accept undergarments and socks if they are new and still in original packaging.

For Winooski Staff Only: If a staff member has a few items that they would like to donate I am happy to help get donations to the Library. Limit your donations to me to one (1) small bag. If you have more than one bag, please drive to the Library after school and during Library hours to drop off your donations.

Please advise families or non-school individuals who would like to donate to bring donations to the Winooski Library. If you know an organization that would like to donate clothing, funds or volunteers towards the effort, you may give them my contact information (see footer). Please do NOT advise people to bring their donations to the school--we are directing everyone to the Library this year.

More information about the Clothing Giveaway Event, distribution of winter outerwear, and other student-specific needs will come out shortly. If you have any questions or comments to assist in this effort please email or call me.

Thank you for your continued support!

Plan your Wellness and earn a $100 LL Bean gift card

A new school year is an opportunity to start a new commitment to taking care of yourself. VEHI PATH has many programs to help you begin or maintain a wellness plan. And you can earn points toward a $100 LL Bean card!
Here is a list of programs available to you.

If you have questions, contact your building wellness leader:

Angela Moulton (CO)
Nan Johnson (JFK)
Andi Thibodeau (WMS)
Becky Savage (WHS)

BONUS! If you DID earn a LL Bean card last year, you can get an additional 10% off of your order by clicking here.

UVM Pottery Summer Classes

Invest EAP Spring 2018

Attached is the latest quarterly newsletter from INVEST EAP, your employee assistance program.  This quarter, it focuses on counseling and how counseling can help you through even the normal, everyday stress that you can feel.

INVEST EAP offers comprehensive, customized employee assistance services that promote the health and well-being of employees and the organization they serve. It provides confidential personalized counseling, organizational and management consultation, training and resource information in a prompt and professional manner.

To find out more about Invest EAP, visit their website: www.investeap.org (password: vsbit) or call their toll free number:  1-800-287-2173.

PATH participants who take advantage of EAP's services can earn 50 PATHpoints.  Be sure to ask INVEST for a voucher number once you have used their service.  Enter that voucher number in your PATH account, under "Redeem My PATHpoints Voucher" (yellow box on the right at the bottom of your PATH account dashboard).

Click here to access the InvestEAP Newsleter.

Tabata for Employees

After the fun they had on Wellness Day, Hilary's Tabata class participants are interested having a Tabata class onsite after school. And Hilary is offering to teach for free! 

Tabata is a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) activity that alternates eight, 20-second rounds of a strength exercise and a cardio. Participants should bring their own yoga mat and weights. If you do not have weights, there are a few limited available for you to use. You may borrow steps/risers from the MS classrooms, provided that you return the equipment after each class. 

Classes will be held in Room 101 on Fridays from 3:20pm - 4:20pm. First session dates are 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13. Note that 4/13 is Parent/Teacher Conferences and we may need to find another room. 

If you are interested in participating in Tabata with Hilary, write your name on the sign up sheet here. We need to know how many are interested to ensure there is enough space.

Sign up for Spring Yoga classes

We are AGAIN hosting two separate yoga classes this spring to meet employee requests. 

MONDAYS
Vinyasa Yoga with Stephanie Steeves

This 6-week series starts March 12. 

Dates: 3/12, 3/12, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 & 4/26
Mondays from 3:20pm-4:20pm

Location: HS room 214 (Vicki's classroom)
Cost: $60 for the 6 week series, to be paid at first class.

(If cost is an issue, Steph will work with you on a lower fee)
Add your name to the Monday Vinyasa Yoga sign up CLICK HERE.

THURSDAYS
Gentle Yoga with Cat Earisman
This 5-week series starts March 15. 

Dates: 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, & 4/19 - No class April 12

Thursdays from 3:20pm-4:20pm
Location: iLab
Cost: $50 for the 5 week series, to be paid at first class.
Add your name to the Thursday Gentle Yoga sign up CLICK HERE.

Vinyasa means “connection breath and movement.” This style of yoga will have you moving and flowing between poses with special attention to breathing. This class will be mixed levels, with options to make your yoga practice as challenging or relaxing as you'd like. 

Gentle yoga will be a slow style of yoga, with more time spent in poses.

For both classes, you should bring your own yoga mat and props (blocks, bolster) if desired.

SIGN UP FOR 2018 Wellness Day Activities

Click on the SignUpGenius link below to sign up for the activities or workshops you want to do on Wellness Day, March 6, 2018.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084fa5aa23a7fd0-2018

• You may sign up for one activity in each time slot. 

• Some activities have a limited number of participants so reservations are first come, first reserved.

• Double check what TIME you are choosing an activity. I will delete duplicates so others have a chance to sign up for activities.

• Click here for workshop/activity descriptions (Google spreadsheet).

Please make sure that you click on the black button: "Submit and Sign Up" at the bottom of the survey to capture your responses and reserve your slot. 

You should receive an email shortly after. If you do not receive a confirmation, you should check this sign up form to ensure your choices were captured.

Please sign up by February 23rd so I may post up-to-date lists on Wellness Day.

Wellness Day: Schedule of Activities

Below is the link to the schedule of activities and workshops that have been planned for Wellness Day, March 6.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1apjcFQwLcArbiEJjxzni9AezAuLc8F0GqNAFWixDoAI/edit?usp=sharing
This schedule is for your planning purposes only. A SignUp Genius link will be sent out at 2:30pm on Thursday afternoon (Feb 15) for you to start signing up. 
​If you are new to Wellness Day, please be prepared to choose an activity at each of the four time slots (9am, 10an, 11am and 1:10pm). We have done our best to offer a wide variety of wellness activities so there is something for everyone. Popular activities do fill up fast and several have a participant limit due to materials. 
As always, I am grateful to the teachers and staff who have volunteered to lead an activity (or two!). ​

2018 WSD FitBit/Step Wellness Leaders Challenge

Would you like to earn 10 PATH Points while increasing your daily movement? 

Would you like to earn a chance to a Fitbit Flex 2 wrist activity tracker? 

Then sign up for the Winooski Fitbit/Step Challenge by 12:30pm on March 6th! 

The Winooski school district wellness leaders challenge you to move more and track your steps each day. From March 11-April 21, 2018, all Winooski School District Employees are invited to participate in a walking challenge. 

Note: You do not need to have a FitBit for this challenge. You can use any device that can track your steps such as a step tracker on your smart phone, a pedometer, or another wrist activity tracker such as Garmin.

Sign up for the Challenge by contacting your building wellness leader:

  WHS: Becky Savage    JFK: Nan Johnson 

  WMS: Andi Thidodeau   WSD/CO: Angela Moulton

…or sign up in the cafeteria by 12:30pm on Wellness Day! 

About the FitBit prize drawing on Wellness Day

• Drawing for the Fitbit Flex2 wrist trackers will happen during the closing activity on Wellness Day (March 6, 2018). 
• Five (5) FitBit Flex 2 will be drawn for WMHS employees that have signed up, and five (5) FitBit Flex 2 will be drawn for JFK/CO employees that have signed up.
• If you won a FitBit Flex2 at last year’s event, you will not be eligible this year. However, you should still sign up as you will be eligible to win the gift card drawing!
• You do not have to be present to win.

Gift Card Drawing

To keep you challenged, participants will be sent a short, motivational Google survey by their wellness leader to complete at the end of each week during the Challenge. 

Participants who complete the survey on time will be entered into a raffle to win a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods at the end of the Challenge.

You will be entered one time for each week you complete a survey; up to six possible chances!

PATHpoints

To receive 10 PATHpoints, participants must have an active PATH account, AND complete at least three (3) of the weekly Google surveys.

Synergy Fitness Vermont Teacher discount available

Synergy Fitness is a fitness studio located off of Industrial Avenue in Williston. As an employee of a Vermont school, Winooski School District teachers and staff are eligible for a 10% discount on the membership rates, and Synergy Fitness will waive the joining fee.

Below is a snapshot of the brochure which includes facility amenities and membership and personal training rates. You can also download the PDF version (click here).
The February 2018 class schedule is also included at the bottom, but please check the Synergy Fitness website for the most updated information.

Know Your Numbers or Show Your Smile: Earn 25 PATHpoints

VEHI PATH program offers two ways to easily earn 25 points (each) toward the LL Bean gift card in June. Both ways also give you important information about your medical and dental health.

Know Your Numbers is for PATH participants who work with their primary care provider to learn their health risks and what to do about them. That appointment can include having a regular blood screening such as cholesterol and blood sugar, a physical examination or other health risk screenings. 
To receive 25 points participants need to have an appointment with their primary care provider between July 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018, complete the Know Your Numbers form and have it signed by their primary care provider.  

Show Your Smile is for participants who visit their dental provider for a routine checkup.  That appointment can include a dental cleaning, an oral exam or completion of a clinical assessment.

To receive 25 points participants need to have an appointment with their dental provider between July 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018, complete the Show Your Smile form and have it signed by their dental provider.

To receive points for "Know Your Numbers" and/or "Show Your Smile" follow these steps:

1. Ask your VEHI Building Leader for a copy of the appropriate form(s).
2. Visit your primary care or dental provider between 7/1/17 and 6/1/18 for the reasons listed above.
3. Complete the form AND have it signed by your provider.
4. Return the completed/signed form to your VEHI Building Leader no later than June 1, 2018.  If you need an extension, please ask.
5. Your VEHI Building Leader will then award your points.

---

If you've already had an appointment that meets the criteria but didn't have the form, it's probably not too late!  You can drop off the form (or fax it) to your providers office and ask to have it signed.  Most providers won't have a problem with this if you completed the criteria on the form.

NOTES:

• The "Know Your Numbers" form does NOT ask for your the results of your blood work.  It's simply a list of common areas that blood work falls into (cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.).  Your primary care provider puts a check mark next to each area indicating that he/she has gone over those results with you.   Please DO NOT turn in your blood work results with the form. 
• Remember, the 25 PATHpoints you can earn for "Know Your Number" and "Show Your Smile" may be all you need to reach 200 and qualify for the $100 L.L.Bean gift card!

InvestEAP Newsletter: Mindfulness Tools

This winter's InvestEAP newsletter focuses on "Mindfulness Tools for Happiness and Wellbeing". Download it here.

INVEST offers comprehensive, customized employee assistance services that promote the health and well-being of employees and the organization they serve.  They provide confidential personalized counseling, organizational and management consultation, training and resource information in a prompt and professional manner.

To find out more about Invest EAP, visit their website:  www.investeap.org (password: vsbit) or call their toll free number:  1-800-287-2173.

PATH participants who take advantage of EAP's services can earn 50 PATHpoints.  Be sure to ask INVEST for a voucher number once you have used their service.  Enter that voucher number in your PATH account, under "Redeem My PATHpoints Voucher". Vouchers can be redeemed until June 21, 2018.   

Yoga Class Discount @ SoulShine Yoga

Any staff of the Winooski School District is welcome to this discount, but SoulShine asks that participating employees bring in their WSD school id so they can confirm your affiliation.

Winter Yoga Classes: Mondays and Thursdays

We are hosting two separate yoga classes this winter to meet employee requests. 

MONDAYS: Vinyasa Yoga with Stephanie Steeves

This 5-week series starts January 22. 

Dates: 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19.
Mondays from 3:20pm-4:20pm

Location: HS room 214 (Vicki's classroom)
Cost: $50 for the 5 week series, to be paid at first class.

(If cost is an issue, Steph will work with you on a lower fee)
Add your name to the Monday Vinyasa Yoga sign up CLICK HERE.

THURSDAYS: Gentle Yoga with Cat Earisman
This 5-week series starts January 25. 

Dates: 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22.

Thursdays from 3:20pm-4:20pm
Location: Room 53 (Lotus classroom)
Cost: $50 for the 5 week series, to be paid at first class.
Add your name to the Thursday Gentle Yoga sign up CLICK HERE.

Vinyasa means “connection breath and movement.” This style of yoga will have you moving and flowing between poses with special attention to breathing. This class will be mixed levels, with options to make your yoga practice as challenging or relaxing as you'd like. 

Gentle yoga will be a slow style of yoga, with more time spent in poses.

For both classes, you should bring your own yoga mat and props (blocks, bolster) if desired.

Local Yoga Class @ Women's Room

YOGA with lessons from Buddhism for Peaceful Living
taught by Beth Martell
A moderate flow-style practice set to music with a few minutes of Buddhist teaching before it begins.
Thursdays beginning January 5, 2018.
5:00-6:00 pm
Women’s Room Yoga Studio
1 Mill St. Suite 236
Burlington, VT
For more info go to: womensroomvt.com