Employee Wellness Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Newsletter Trivia Challenge — we loved seeing your answers and excitement!

🎉 A huge congratulations to our 5 lucky winners who will be receiving a Secret Gift as a token of appreciation for playing along and staying engaged with wellness news across Irving ISD!

👏 Congratulations to:

• Christopher Boynick – Student Reassignment Center

• Esmeralda Garcia – Brandenburg Elementary School

• Amy Quillen – Brandenburg Elementary School

• Ashley Triay – Singley Academy

• Rita Tambunga – Singley Academy

🎁 Keep an eye out… your surprise is on the way!

Stay tuned for more fun challenges in future newsletters — you never know when the next prize opportunity will pop up!
#IrvingISDWellness #MAHIWellness #TriviaTime

Join us for our Social Hour at MAHI coming up in May! Check out the attached flyer for all the dates and times. Register Here! We hope to see you there!

By Jose Villasenor, Employee Wellness Strategist

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s a timely reminder to check in with ourselves and prioritize our well-being. Our Employee Wellness and Support Program is making mental health and well-being more accessible.

Through our Employee Wellness Support (EWS) webpage, staff can now tap into resources like no-cost virtual counseling with MDLive, free financial and legal guidance through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and our new partnership with Unity Behavioral Health, offering low- to no-cost counseling services.

Our MAHI Social Hours have brought employees together in fun and meaningful ways to support our well-being. We launched new fitness and mindfulness opportunities with our amazing Well-Being and Fitness Coordinators, Sara Saubert and Uliser Salmeron, helping more employees than ever engage in self-care through exercise and nutrition.

It’s a powerful reminder that, “Wellness is for all shapes, all sizes, all the time.”

Even with all we’ve achieved, we know the end of the school year can feel overwhelming. The good news? Just 10–15 minutes of walking a day can be a simple but powerful way to reduce stress, lift your mood, and re-energize as we head into summer.

Take each step with focus:

• Reflect on what you’re proud of—personally and professionally
• Think about how you want to feel going into the summer
• Focus on gratitude, your goals, and how far you’ve come

Whether it’s a lap around the building or a peaceful walk after work, every step supports your mental and physical well-being. Add a favorite playlist, tune into a podcast, or grab a coworker for a walking break, it all adds up.

Use May as a reminder that “Self-Care Is Not Selfish.” Let’s wrap up the school year with intention and keep the spirit of wellness moving forward. You’ve shown up all year, now let’s walk it out and welcome summer with purpose and continue to “Support the Spread of Wellness.”

Yes, it’s true that 7 to 9 hours of sleep is the recommended amount for adults, and we definitely encourage aiming for that! But we get it, sleep isn’t always easy. Click on the title below and watch this video for 6 practical tips you can control to help you sleep better tonight.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups oats

½ cup vanilla or unflavored protein powder

1 tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

¼ cup honey

½ cup creamy peanut butter

2 tbsp oat milk

⅓ cup (or to taste) of chocolate chips or other flavor of choice (ie yogurt, peanut butter chips)

Directions:

Mix all wet ingredients and dry ingredients in two separate bowls. Add the dry to the wet and mix until thoroughly combined. Form into 1 tbsp balls using a spoon or small ice cream scoop (I find that squishing the dough together tightly first before forming into balls helps it stick). Chill at least one hour or until firm. Enjoy!

Fuel Your Day with Flavor!
Check out our favorite go-to recipes of the season—Sara Saubert's is up top and Uliser Salmeron's is just below. These dishes help power us through the day while keeping things healthy and delicious. Give them a try and let us know what you think! Snap a photo of your creation and share it on X—we’d love to give you a shoutout!

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond meal*

• 1½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp fine sea salt

• ½ cup walnuts, raisins or chocolate chips (optional)

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup grated Granny Smith apple (about 1 apple)

• 1 cup grated carrots (about 2 carrots), peeled

• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

• ½ cup honey

Directions:

Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper muffin cups. In a large bowl, combine the almond meal, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and walnuts, raisins or chocolate chips (if using). In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, apple, carrot, melted butter and honey. Add to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each to the brim. Bake until the muffins are nicely browned on top and a knife inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Allow muffins to cool completely before storing.

Store leftover muffins in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. If you like them warm, reheat on low power in the microwave.

This practical, proven portion size calendar uses your hand as a simple guide to help you eat the right amount—whether you’re aiming to gain muscle, lose weight, or just eat healthier. Click here to read more!

Why wait until August to get moving? Let’s build healthy habits now!

We’re offering a full lineup of FREE fitness classes for all Irving ISD employees this June. From strength training to yoga to Pilates, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to boost energy, reduce stress, or simply stay active, we’ve got you covered.

🗓 Classes Offered Monday–Thursday

⏰ Morning & Evening Options Available

📍 Indoor & Outdoor Classes at The MAHI

🚫 Fridays = Recovery Time (No Classes)

Ready to plan your workouts and RSVP?

👉 Register through Mobile Minds

We’ve created a special 5-week Couch to 5K program just for you. Whether you’re brand new to running, getting back into it, or just want to move more, this calendar gives you simple, daily steps to build your endurance and confidence—one day at a time. By the end, you’ll be ready to cross that finish line feeling strong! Click the image below to save and print to keep track of your progress!

Join us in celebrating Adrian Brown, the winner of the Foundation 99 Wallet Challenge!

Adrian went the extra mile in prioritizing his financial wellness — and it paid off! He took the top spot in this district-wide challenge and was awarded a $100 gift card for his efforts. 💸👏

Thank you, Adrian, for setting the example and showing us all that small steps lead to big wins!

Check out our new EAP. The registration process will ask you for a Web ID. Please enter: NYLGBS.

You can also call 800-344-9752. When you call you will be speaking with a specialist who can help you find resources including counselors and therapists in your area, information on health care, child care, elder care, financial planning, legal advice, and other work/life services. The specialist will explain the details.

Our TeleHealth with Behavioral Health option is called MDLIVE. If you are enrolled for our insurance benefits, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, you have access to MDLive, which includes free virtual counseling. Click on the picture to get to the website. Then click on “ACTIVATE NOW” to register. You can also call the MDLIVE to register by phone or if you have any questions: (888) 365-1663. Our Benefits Department can also help with any questions you may have about the TeleHealth and MDLIVE free virtual counseling and how the benefits work: 972-600-5241.

Stay active with Irving ISD Employee Wellness! 💪 Check out the fitness schedule under Employee Wellness → Fitness Schedule to see what classes we’re offering. We update it every two weeks, and you’ll find a variety of sessions, including Strength & Conditioning, Strength Circuit, Pilates, Full Body Stretch, and Yoga Flow. Available after school Monday-Thursday and Friday mornings. Special classes and events will also be posted here, so be sure to check in regularly to stay updated!

Mobile Minds update: Download the mobile app for updated fitness schedules, special announcements, class RSVPs, and attendance tracking! The schedule updates every two weeks, so be sure to download the app and set your time zone to Central Time (⚙️ Three dots > My Profile > Edit Profile > Time Zone). This transition will help us stay connected and keep you updated on all things fitness—see you in class! --> https://learn.mobilemind.io/

Click Here to view the schedule and join us!

We’re excited to partner with Active & Fit Direct to bring you even more wellness resources! By simply registering for free with your work email, you’ll get access to 12,000+ fitness videos to work out anytime, anywhere. For a monthly fee, you can also choose from 13,000+ participating gyms and studios and even get 1:1 health coaching from nationally board-certified coaches to help you stay accountable and on track with your goals.

Click here ➡ https://www.activeandfitdirect.com/

The Irving ISD Employee Wellness department is excited to introduce a new district-wide Lunch & Learn initiative. Led by our Well-Being & Fitness Coordinators, these 15-minute sessions will help staff recharge and find balance during the workday. Sessions are available virtually and free of charge to all Irving ISD employees. Topics include guided meditation, journaling and light movement.

🗓️ Upcoming Live Dates: 5/9, 5/23, 6/13, 6/27

⏰ Times: 10:45-11:00 AM | 11:45 AM-12:00 PM | 12:45-1:00 PM

📍 Where: Zoom (No RSVPs Required!)

Click here ➡ https://irvingisd-net.zoom.us/my/lunchandlearnisd

Ready to hit the pavement? Irving ISD employees can enjoy a $7 discount on any race registration with the Irving Marathon Series! Use code IISD7OFF at checkout and save on your next race.

🎟 Register now: https://www.irvingmarathon.com/
📅 Don’t wait—lace up and take advantage of this exclusive offer!

3-2-1 Newsletter by James Clear

Unlock weekly wisdom from James Clear—get powerful ideas, timeless insights, and inspiration straight to your inbox every Thursday! https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1