• Willmar Public Schools Wellness Committee
    Please consider joining the Wellness Committee!  We have meetings the first or second Tuesday of each month after school.  They are located at the Willmar Middle School Multipurpose Room and begin at 3:30pm.  Please contact Alison Scheffler, Wellness Coordinator, with questions or suggestions for the committee.  She can be contacted via email at schefflera@willmar.k12.mn.us.

    2019-20 Wellness Incentive

    The incentive this year will be $500 in a staff member's VEBA/HSA account, for those in the SWWC health insurance pool, if the following two requirements are completed:

    1. Participate in TWO activities from the Wellness Committee this year.   

    2. Participate in Biometrics this year.  This will be the same process as previous years, where you can participate in our screening or get the information from your doctor and fill out a form we will provide.

    2019-20 Wellness Activities
    *Communication for Wellness related information will only come out through Cardinal Essentials (Newsletter, Activities information, etc.).  Make sure you check Cardinal Essentials each week for updates.
     
    Orange Frog: Dates - November 4-24
    Details - This is geared for staff whether they have participated in the Orange Frog trainings or not.  Pick ONE of the five tactics of the Happiness Advantage (Daily Gratitudes, Exercise, Conscious Acts of Kindness, Positive Journaling, or Meditating) to retrain your brain to operate on positive and gain the Happiness Advantage.  Use your tactic for 21 days straight, as research shows it takes 21 days to make something a habit.
    *Descriptions of the 5 tactics: Daily Gratitudes: Write 3 different things you are grateful for each day. Exercise: 15 minutes of exercise (minimum) everyday. Conscious Acts of Kindness: do something for someone else each day just because.  Positive Journaling: Write one positive experience everday and journal about it with specifics.  Meditation: 3-4 minutes of quiet time to reset your brain.
     
    Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Presentations: Date - November 12 7:15am OR 4:00pm
    Details - Come and learn about FSA's and how it works with your HSA/VEBA.  Open enrollment for FSA (Dependent Care and Health Care) is in November.  We will have a 7:15am and 4:00pm session on November 12th at WEAC in the Rehearsal Hall.  You only need to attend one of these meetings.  There will be a sign in at each meeting to earn credit for participating in this event toward the Wellness incentive.  
     
    Sleep Hours Challenge: Dates - December 2-20
    Details - The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults 18 years and older get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.  During this challenge document how many hours you sleep each night, either on your own or with a Fitbit that can track your sleep.
     
    Mental Health Presentation: Date - Tuesday, December 17 at 4:00pm
    Details - Come hear Claudette Larson, Licensed Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist, from Willow Creek Counseling speak on anxiety and depression.  She will present on factors that influence anxiety and depression as well as self-care, using the mind, body and environment.  This presentation will be held at Willmar Middle School in the Multipurpose Room.
     
    We Are Willmar STEP Challenge: Dates - January 6-31
    Details - This is a 4 week challenge.  We are changing things up a little this year and counting STEPS instead of minutes!  Document the number of STEPS you get in a day - the goal is 10,000 each day.  Bonus - you can use this with Sharecare, too.  
     
    Cooking Demonstration: Dates - Monday, January 20 and Monday, January 27
    Details - Chinese New Year starts on January 25, 2020 and runs for 15 days to celebrate the beginning of the traditional Chinese calendar.  In honor of this celebration, the Cooking Demonstration recipes will feature Hot and Sour Dumpling Soup and Teriyaki Ginger Sesame Chicken and Broccoli.  You will be shown how to reduce sodium and modify the recipes to make them healthier and more flavorful along with how to efficiently cut and roast vegetables for these ethnic dishes.  This class will be held at the High School in the home ec. room, room 206 from 3:45-5:00pm.
     
    At Home Menu Planning and Shopping List Creation: 101: Date - Thursday, January 16
    Details - In this session you will explore why menu planning is important, how it can help you eat healthier while saving money, share tips on ways to plan meals and shop more efficiently for your family plus will include an activity to try out the tools learned in this session.  This session will be held at the Middle School in the Multipurpose Room from 4:00-5:00pm.
     
    Eat Your Veggies and Fruit Challenge: Dates - February 3-28
    Details - Keep track of your vegetable intake each day.  The recommended amount is 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruit according to the food pyramid.  It is your goal to keep within this serving size each day throughout the challenge. 
     
    Water Challenge: Dates - March 2-20
    Details - The challenge is to place 5 rubberbands around a 20oz. water bottle daily and remove a rubberband each time you re-fill your bottle. Goal: 100oz. per day!  Drinking water helps maximize physical performance, has a major effect on energy levels and brain function, may help to prevent and treat headaches, can help with weight loss and so on.
     
    WCE Fitness Classes/REC Adult Sports League(s): Dates - November 1-March 20
    Details - If you sign up for and particpate in a fitness class offered through Willmar Community Education or Adult Sports League through City of Willmar Recreation during the above dates you can get credit toward the VEBA/HSA incentive by filling out the google form sent out weekly.  *Note: You must participate in at least two different challenges plus biometrics for the incentive.  **Two fitness classes/adult sports leagues will not count as two challenges. 
     
    Omada: Dates - November 1-March 20
    Details - Staff who meet the qualifications for Omada can use this as one of their 'challenges' toward the VEBA/HSA incentive.  *Staff who participate in Omada must also participate in one other 'challenge' plus biometrics to earn the incentive.