The Year Ahead
Welcome Back Everyone!
I hope you have enjoyed your favorite activities this summer and found time to relax. I am excited to share that our wellness program is continuing this year in its full capacity. We will continue the activities on the first Wednesday of each month, in addition to family-friendly events throughout the year, water at all locations, and wonderful food as well. I want to thank Jenn, Kathryn, Toni and the wellness team for all their creativity and hard work, and thank you to our building and department leaders for all your help supporting this amazing program.
I am so inspired by our Action To Happiness theme this year! I love the quote, Prioritising happiness and kindness influences how we approach everything.
See you soon!
Susan
Hi staff!
We are overjoyed and grateful that the school district has adopted our wellness program into its general budget, creating space and opportunity for staff to take necessary breaks, connect, and try new things. I takes patience, grit, resilence, and a loving heart to work in education. We want to acknowledge everyone's hard work with powering through challenging times and persevering through the many obstacles that we face. We are committed to continue listening to your feedback to guide us in this program that is intended to support your wellbeing in meaningful ways. This year we are rotating through your favorite wellness activities, as well as introducing cool new community partnerships for you to enjoy. In an effort to bond our district, connection opportunities will continue to be provided and there are upcoming bonfires being planned so be on the look out for these announcements that may be only three days notice as it depends on the weather.
September Wellness Wednesday is a "Build Your Own Trail Mix Bar" at the beautiful new SHS track followed by wellness on your own which could be a walk in nature on the Ridgeline trail, Pacific Ridge trail, the beach, your neighborhood, or even back to your classroom to catch your breath, honoring that the first day of school looks different for everyone.
Your Wellness Team
"Wherever you are, be there totally."- Eckhart Tolle
10 Keys to Happier Living
Everyone's path to happiness is different. Based on the latest research, Action for Happiness has identified 10 Keys to Happier Living that consistently tend to make life happier and more fulfilling for people.
1. Giving- Do kind things for others.
2. Relating- Connect with people.
3. Exercising- Take care of your body.
4. Awareness- Live Life Mindfully.
5. Trying Out- Keep learning new things.
6. Direction- Have goals to look forward to.
7. Resilience- Find ways to bounce back.
8. Emotions- Look for what's good.
9. Acceptance- Be comfortable with who you are.
10. Meaning- Be part of something bigger.
Together they spell GREAT DREAM.
Fascination Tournament!
How to Play the Game
Fascination at Funland Arcade on Broadway Street is set up like a parlor with about 40 long tables. You sit at one end of the table and roll a small ball toward a 5-by-5-holed matrix on the other end. When your ball falls into one of the holes, a light on the backboard indicates which one. The object of the game is to continue to roll your ball until you’ve gotten five holes in a row, similar to bingo. What makes this game more interactive than skee ball is that you’re playing against everyone in the room.
Finding Goals that are Good For Happiness
Setting and working towards our goals is how we can turn our dreams into reality. However, not all goals are equal in terms of their potential to contribute to our happiness. So what makes a goal good for happiness?
Try it: What is a goal you’d like to set for yourself reflecting on the bullets below?
To maximise the happiness and wellbeing benefits from our personal goals, studies suggest the following:
- Our personal goals are freely chosen by us rather than just being things we think we ‘should’ do or driven by an external reason (e.g. to look good or get rich).
- We express them as something we want to actively move towards rather than something we want to stop or avoid.
- They are personally meaningful for us and reflect our enduring interests and values.
- We have control to choose how we work towards them.
- We are able to feel effective in making progress towards our goals. (We can help ourselves do this by identifying small steps to take).
Why Seeking More Glimmers Is A Recipe For A Happier, Calmer, More Connected Life
We spend so much time analyzing and obsessing over the bad stuff in our lives and our pasts, which can lead our brains to notice too much negativity. Or, of course, for our nervous systems to continuously be re-triggered. So it makes absolute sense to use our mental energy to, instead, look for the good stuff that nourishes and heals us—and that's what glimmers are all about.
The term "glimmer" was first introduced by social worker Deb Dana in her book, The Polyvagal Theory In Therapy: Engaging The Rhythm Of Regulation. They're micro-moments that make us feel happier, hopeful, safe, and connected. And the best thing is, we can easily access them by looking for them.
Why should you find glimmers?
Put simply, glimmers are great for your mental health. On a bad day or when you're moving through a more difficult chapter, glimmers can offer a reset button. And from there, a healthier headspace gives you more energy and inspiration to do the things that might otherwise feel hard.
6 Journaling Benefits and How to Start Right Now
1. Journaling helps to reduce stress
2. Journaling may boost health and well-being
3. Journaling encourages space from negative thoughts
4. Journaling provides a way to process emotions
5. Journaling can help you figure out your next step
6. Journaling deepens self-discovery
Easy Slow Cooker or Instapot Recipe!
This easy Slow Cooker Paleo Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili recipe is perfect for Fall, football games, and chili season!
Yield: 8 Servings
Serving Size: 1 generous cup, 1 oz avocado
Ingredients
- ▢1 medium white onion, diced
- ▢3 cloves minced garlic
- ▢1 red bell pepper, diced
- ▢2 jalapeños, seeds removed
- ▢1 large sweet potato, 14 oz
- ▢1 lb 93% lean ground chicken
- ▢1 lb 95% lean ground beef
- ▢2 tsp smoked paprika
- ▢2 tsp chili powder
- ▢2 tsp dried oregano
- ▢2 tsp kosher salt
- ▢1 tsp ground cumin
- ▢1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- ▢1 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- ▢1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
- ▢chopped scallions, for garnish
- ▢8 oz diced avocado, from 2 small haas
- ▢4 oz goat cheese, optional leave out for whole30
AD
Instructions
Slow Cooker:
Place all the ingredients except the scallion, avocado and goat cheese in the slow cooker and cook on low 8 hours. When done, break up the ground meat with a wooden spoon and add half of the goat cheese if using.
Serve garnished with scallions and avocado on top.
AD
Instant Pot:
Place all the ingredients except the scallion, avocado and goat cheese in the pressure cooker and cook high pressure 25 minutes. When done, break up the ground meat with a wooden spoon and add half of the goat cheese if using.
Serve garnished with scallions and avocado on top.
Benefits of Healthy Lunches
These Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas for Work are perfect for busy weeks! These make-ahead meal prep recipes are delicious and easy.
There are so many amazing benefits to packing a healthy lunch! Here are 6 reasons why you should try meal prepping healthy lunches:
- They save time
- They save money so you're not buying lunch out
- You're more organized
- You're less stressed in the morning – no wondering what to eat and when
- You're eating healthy, unprocessed food on a consistent basis
- You'll have more energy because you're eating better
Your Wellness Team!
Wellness Coordinators
Kathryn Zacher (Pacific Ridge)
Jenn Gooch (SMS)
Toni Vandershule (District Office)
District Office
Sarah Spalding
Pacific Ridge Elementary School Building Leaders
Chuck Albright
Debbie Hillman
Seaside Middle School Building Leaders
Natalie Dyroff, Wendy Crozier, Karma Herd, Shelby Gagnon
Seaside High School Building Leaders
Julie Greene, Vihn Pham
Bus Barn Building Leader
Tonya Wilson
Contact us at wellness@seasidek12.org
Follow us on Instagram @ssdeverydaywellness
Join us on our SSD Facebook group