Everyday Wellness

• March 6th Opportunities- Sign Up Here
• Spring Token Scavenger Hunt- March 17th
• Insurance Benefit Program
• Disney Trivia Night- March 11th
• Reflections
• Run on The River Opportunity May 11th
• 10 Best Brain Games and 58 Brain Teasers
• Guided Morning Meditation
• OEBB Wellness Webinars
• Delicious Recipes
• March Wellness Calendar

Dear SSD Staff,

As spring unfolds its beauty around us, we want to express our deep gratitude for your dedication to our students and community. Your passion and tireless efforts are the foundation of our school's spirit.

Amidst your busy schedules, we encourage you to prioritize your well-being. To support this, we're offering various wellness activities tailored to ignite your sense of adventure and connection.

We invite you to explore these opportunities, whether it's a tranquil beach walk, volunteering for your community, or learning a new skill. Embracing these experiences not only nurtures you but also inspires others.

Thank you for all you do. Let's welcome this season of growth and renewal together.

With gratitude,

Your Wellness Committee

"Wherever you are, be there totally."- Eckhart Tolle

Reminder: Wellness food in the staff lounge during lunch this Wednesday!

SIGN UP HERE

Volunteerism at Ridgeline Trail with John (20)

Connect with your purpose and nature with an afternoon working on the trails we know and love.

Hiking with Jane (10)

Meet at the track and take a hike along the Ridgeline Trail. See the progress that John and volunteers have made to create a beautiful space for the community to enjoy.

Seaside Aquarium Tour (10)

Take a tour of Seaside Aquarium and feed the seals. This activity includes an optional opportunity to walk the beach and clean up plastic.

A Group Beach Clean Up Walk (20)

In partnership with Seaside Brewery and Seaside Aquarium, stop by the aquarium to grab a bag and some gloves, then enjoy a relaxing walk, experiencing the joyful feeling of giving back to the planet by cleaning up the beach.

Play Games with Kriste (12)

Join Kriste York in her classroom with a beautiful ocean view to play a variety of games, connect, and have fun!

Hammer and Stain (20)

Choose a craft with our new friends at Hammer and Stain. 1775 S Roosevelt Dr Suite c, Seaside, OR 97138

Seaside Museum (10)

Take a tour of our museum to check out all of the fresh new dioramas and exhibits!

Candy Workshop with Brian Taylor (16)

Come enjoy a sweet candy making experience at Bruce's Candy Kitchen.

Laser Tag at Seaside Carousel (20)

Have fun chasing down your colleagues at Laser Tag!

Mindfulness Time (30)

Listen to your favorite podcast, do a meditation, read a novel, visit a neighborhood park, or take a walk on your own.

Ink Alcohol Painting with Julie (12)

Come learn Alcohol Ink Art, a fluid art technique that uses alcohol ink by dropping paint directly onto special paper. Then dropping isopropyl alcohol on the ink and directing it's spread. It is a fun way to paint and create art with no prior experience required.

OEBB Wellness Webinars (20)

Get inspiration for your journey to better health. Check out these educational wellness webinars and workshops!

Join a health club for just $28 a month! As a Moda Health or Delta Dental member, you have access to the Active&Fit DirectTM program. For just $28 a month, you can choose from over 9,000 participating health clubs and YMCAs nationwide. We have attached the pdf informational page from Moda and this link to the Active & Fit Direct program to sign up.

RSVP and order your food HERE

Come join us for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition Monday, March 11th at the Times Theatre in Seaside! We are thrilled to offer a family friendly Disney Trivia night complete with food, craft activities for kids and a friendly children's costume party! Adults, feel free to dress up as your favorite Disney character too!

Don't miss this chance to strengthen bonds with your colleagues outside of the school setting. We guarantee an evening full of camaraderie, excitement, and a few surprises along the way!

Do you have a favorite, comical, inspirational, and/or empowering poem and would like to share it with others so that we all benefit?

If so, we would love you to complete this quick form.

Soundbath at Living Fit Yoga

"Absolutely loved it and will do it again!"- Debe' Malone

"Yes! I went to the sound bath and it was so relaxing! I would do it again."- Brenna Asami Howel

Strength Training with James

"Loved It!! I attended the circuit training with James at SEPRD. He is always informative and I appreciate how he spends the extra time working on technique. His classes are a steal for only paying $30/month through Active & Fit. When I was attending Green Strength I paid quite a bit more for his expertise."- Natalie Dyroff

Lego Sunflowers with Becky

"Building LEGO is one of my family’s favorite things to do so having this as a Wellness Wednesday choice was awesome! The sunflowers turned out so pretty and fit in nicely with all my other LEGO flowers I have on my desk. I hope we can do that again this year!"- Becky Seybold

"It was fun AND supportive. I enjoyed it greatly! Yes, I would choose it again. My kids were so excited to see what I had done - what a great way to share."- Kelli Brenden

Cooking with Chelsea

"Learning how to make pasta with Chelsea was quick and easy, and something that I'd always thought would be so difficult to do. Now I'd feel more confident attempting to make it myself at home. PLUS, it was delicious!"- Sarah Collins

Cricut at PRE

"I helped to lead a training and it was fun to do something different!"- Christina Young

Walk on Your Own

"Worked in my yard. It was gorgeous."- Rachel Whisler

"Walked to Short Sands beach with a another teacher. yes!"- Ethan Guzman

"I walked the trail for the first time and LOVED it! There are so many parts of it you feel so immersed in the woods and forget you're on campus. It was a perfect sunny day to enjoy it and I was almost lapped by a student running it a couple times-that also made my day seeing them utilizing it!"- Hailee Wawro

We feel close to others when we feel understood, valid and cared for. This helps us feel seen and accepted for who we are – our strengths and weaknesses, hopes, fears and needs, and that our views are listened to, even if they aren’t agreed with. Feeling cared for means we feel warmth or affection from others and that our wellbeing is cared about. Others feel close to us when we do the same for them!

A great place to start is simply giving the other person our full attention and really listening. Focusing on them and what they are communicating, rather than having half an eye on our devices or thinking about what we think and want to say. When you’ve listened, perhaps even ask a few curious questions to show you are interested and to help you understand more about what’s going on for them.

How can you remind yourself to really listen to others?

"I am so thankful for my district office colleagues. Everyday we laugh together and support each other throughout our work day. I could not do my job without them".- Susan Penrod

"I set my alarm just so I can remember the weekly Friday lunchtime visit with Baby June. Thank you Jane Forman for sharing her adorable baby with us for quick little baby loves!"- Jenn Gooch

"On Valentine’s Day, our middle school Builder’s Club brought the office staff a hot chocolate and candy. It was super heart warming and at the perfect time for a pick me up!"- Karolina Gage

"Everyday is a glimmer that I get to work with such amazing educators. Each one has their own unique way about them that brightens my day through smiles, shares, connections, collaboration, and/or laughter. Even when the days get stressful and the workload is heavy, I see their light, their dedication, intelligence, and perseverence in them all and they inspire me."- Jenn Gooch

Big Shout out to Suzy for sharing with us an opportunity to participate in the Run On the River event! If people use code SUZY they can save 10% off Run on the River registrations!

"It's one of our favorite runs! Collin, James, and I have all run the 5k a few times and Collin and I are doing the 10k this year! It's a great one to run or walk! The views are beautiful, the course is flat, and there is Buoy Beer after! It would be fun to have other district folks join!" - Suzy Wintjen

The flyer is attached and here is a link to the registration page:

https://raceroster.com/events/2024/80988/astorias-run-on-the-river-half-marathon-10k-and-5k

Playing Mind Games is a no-brainer

"The brain is just like a muscle - it thrives on exercise! As a neurologist, I'm thrilled by the incredible potential of brain games to help people flex their mental muscles, activating underused brain circuits to sharpen cognition and skills like focus, speed, and memory."— SHAHEEN LAKHAN, MD, PHD, FAAN

People of all ages use brain-training games to improve mental functioning and prevent brain aging. Backing them up is research showing that brain-training games may help improve attention levels, memory,1 response time, logic skills, and other measures of cognitive function if played over a long timespan.

Solving brain teasers boosts brain power, keeps your memory strong, and entertains everyone to no end. See how many of these tricky puzzles for adults and teens you can figure out—without cheating!

The benefits of starting your day with meditation—plus how to start.

Wake up early, meditate, conquer your day! It sounds like something out of a "rise-and-grind" playbook, we know. If you’ve never meditated before, it can have a sort of “woowoo” connotation with it. Sit still and try to do your best to think about nothing at all? What’s that supposed to do? Here’s the thing about meditation, though: It’s incredibly powerful, and there’s a deep history regarding the practice (and plenty of science!) to back up its benefits.

“Meditation, which has been practiced for thousands of years, is the act of focusing one's mind to attain mental clarity, relaxation, and heightened awareness,” explains registered psychotherapist Colleen Blake-Miller. “It typically involves dedicated time and effort to cultivate a state of mental calm, mindfulness, or concentration.”

Benefits of Morning Meditation

• In the mornings your mind is often clearer and your body is more relaxed, so you may find it’s easier to meditate.
• This daily habit prioritizes a moment of self-care.
• It allows you to start your day with intention.
• This practice sets a good tone for the day.
• Morning meditations may help you feel less stressed throughout the day.
• You may also find that your focus and mental clarity is better during the day.
• Consistent meditation can foster memory and help regulate emotions.
• These sessions may provide more clarity for how you want to move through the day.

Get inspiration for your journey to better health. Check out these educational wellness webinars and workshops!

• 2024 Be well webinar calendar

Recorded webinars

• Home Burnout
• A deeper dive into Moda's wellness programs and resources for OEBB members
• Work Burnout
• Social Burnout
• Work Burnout
• Inflammation 101 Webinar
• Building a Better Immune System for Lifelong Health
• Heart Health: Supporting Your Cardiovascular System
• Real Food on a Real Budget: How to Save Money by Eating Healthy
• Tools for Managing Stress & Creating a Healthier Mindset

Broccoli sprouts are an incredibly healthy food that you can grow at home right on your kitchen countertop. But, how are you supposed to eat broccoli sprouts? This article includes over 10 delicious ways to enjoy broccoli sprouts.

Growing broccoli sprouts is one of the easiest and most affordable kitchen projects you can do. I’m no gardener, but I’ve mastered the method.

I created a step-by-step guide to growing broccoli sprouts on your kitchen counter with no dirt.

Next, now that you know how easy it is to sprout your own broccoli seeds, you might be wondering what to do with the sprouts? Sure, you could just shove a spoonful in your mouth every day, but I’ve come up with six delicious and natural ways to eat broccoli sprouts.

Karma Herd, our amazing 8th grade Math teacher, highly recommends this lovely spring recipe saying, "This recipe has become a family favorite!"

This dish is spicy harissa-slathered chickeed with lemony leeks, crispy potatoes, and a salty, garlicky yogurt topping. Here, roasted cauliflower stands in for the poultry, and almonds are tossed in for crunch. Added bonus: without the chicken, this lively, highly festive meal comes together in a flash.

SERVES 2 OR 3

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons harissa paste or sauce

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed

• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

• 5½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more as needed

• 1 large head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds), trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces

• 1¼ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks

• 2 leeks, white and light green parts, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced into half moons

• ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from ½ lemon)

• 1 cup plain yogurt (if using Greek yogurt, thin it down with a little milk until pourable)

• 1 fat garlic clove

• 1 cup mixed soft fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, mint, or cilantro, torn

• ½ cup coarsely chopped toasted, salted almonds

• Lemon wedges, as needed

• DIRECTIONS

• 1. Heat the oven to 450ºF.

  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the harissa, 1¼ teaspoons of the salt, pepper, cumin, and 4 tablespoons of the oil. Add the cauliflower and potatoes and toss to combine. 3. In a medium bowl, mix together the leeks, lemon zest, the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and the remaining 1½ tablespoons oil.

  4. On a large rimmed sheet pan, arrange the cauliflower and potatoes in a single layer. Roast for 20 minutes. Stir the vegetables and scatter the leeks over them.

  5. Reduce the oven temperature to 425ºF. Continue to roast until the potatoes are cooked through and everything is golden and slightly crisped, 15 to 20 minutes longer.

  6. While the veggies cook, place the yogurt in a small bowl. Grate or use a press to press the garlic into the yogurt and season with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Stir well.

  7. Spoon the yogurt sauce over the vegetables on the sheet pan. Then scatter the herbs and almonds over everything. Drizzle with oil and a few squeezes from a lemon wedge or two and serve at once, with remaining lemon wedges on the side.

  VEGAN UPGRADE

  Use a nondairy yogurt instead of the regular yogurt. Nutbased varieties (cashew or almond) go nicely with the flavors here, but any kind you have is totally fine.

  
  

Wellness Coordinators

Jenn Gooch (SMS)

Kathryn Zacher (PRE)

Business Manager

Toni Vandershule

Pacific Ridge Elementary School Building Leader

Chuck Albright, Debbie Hillman

Seaside Middle School Building Leaders

Natalie Dyroff, Wendy Crozier, Shelby Gagnon, Karma Herd

Seaside High School Building Leaders

Julie Greene, Vinh Pham, Katharine Parker, Chelsea Archibald

District Office

Amy Santilli

Bus Barn Building Leader

Tonya Wilson

Contact us at wellness@seasidek12.org

Follow us on Instagram @ssdeverydaywellness

Join us on our SSD Facebook group