A wellness champion is a staff member with a commitment and passion to health. They are influential volunteers who play an important role as ambassadors for the Employee Wellness Program. They are messengers and motivators who work to create a healthier school environment to assist in the implementation and coordination of wellness initiatives. They share information, engage friends to participate in wellness programs, and create excitement around leading a healthy lifestyle. They deserve the full credit for the cultural shift toward health, well-being, and self-accountability. Their promotion of the District competitions for healthy eating, physical activity, and weight management reflect exactly what Employee Wellness is about, and provides a fun way to manage health and pursue healthy lifestyles.
- default_titleChoose Healthy Lifestyle Programs to Fit your Location Needs and Interests
- default_titleHelp Others to Understand Employee Wellness Programs and Benefits Available
- default_titleAssist Others through Leadership, Enthusiasm and Guidance to Get Started on Wellness Habits
- default_titleMonitor and Chart Progress on Wellness Activities to Measure Success
- default_titlePraise and Reward Program Success
- default_titleInnovate Creative Programs on Various Health Topics
- default_titleOrganize Fun Health Events and Promote Monthly Health Topics
- default_titleNominate More Wellness Champions and Establish Coordinated School Health Teams
- default_titleSolicit Feedback on the Wellness Program to Evaluate and Support Employee Wellness
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Wellness Champions are integral to the success of Employee Wellness. They communicate wellness information, connect employees with wellness resources and help create a healthy culture. The goal is to have a representative at every school or department.
Wellness Champions encouraged healthy eating by providing resources for education and planned fun activities such as nutrition challenges. Apple a Day was the most popular District-wide program supporting healthy eating. Other programs tasked with healthy eating included:
- default_titleHealthy recipe cookbook challenges
- default_titleReplacement of healthy snack choices at Staff/Faculty meetings and events
- default_titleHealthy food celebrations for students
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Wellness Champions promoted and supported healthy weight management through classes and activities such as weight loss challenges and the most popular District-wide program, Hold it for the Holidays. Other weight management activities included:
- default_titleWeight Watchers
- default_titleBiggest Loser competitions
- default_titleDiet and exercise tracking
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Wellness Champions stressed the importance of regular physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle through the District-wide program, WonderFit, as well as many other programs, such as:
- default_titleField Day
- default_titleFit Clubs and Walking/Running Clubs
- default_titleFitness classes such as book camp, yoga, weight lifting, and Zumba
- default_titleFundraiser walks and activities: Race for the Cure, Relay for Life, March of Dimes Walk, Jump Rope for Heart, etc.
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Wellness Champions offered support and resources for coping with stress such as relaxation fairs, wellness seminars, tip sheets and more. Some of the most popular stress management programs included:
- default_titleStress Less Day
- default_titleRelax and Rejuvenate: An event for staff to relax, have a healthy snack, and get a massage
- default_titleDesignated Exercise/Meditation Rooms equipped with staff's personal meditation cd's, exercise videos, workout mats, and exercise weights
- default_titleBlood pressure checks
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Wellness Champions communicated through various means of communication, such as emails, flyers, bulletin boards, and announcements. The goal was to promote monthly health topics and encourage participation in District sponsored wellness programs. Top wellness communication programs included:
- default_titleWellness Rewards
- default_titleWellness Wednesdays
- default_titleLunch & Learns
- default_titleCreating a spot on the agenda for faculty meetings for Wellness Champions to speak
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Wellness Champions integrated employee wellness programs with student wellness programs such as Wellness Fairs, Health Education, Health Screenings, Classroom Challenges, Healthy School Programs and more. The goal was to promote coordinated school health wellness initiatives.
- default_titleHealth Fairs
- default_titleGoal setting programs
- default_titleFlu shot clinics
- default_titleCommunity wellness events
- default_titleBlood mobiles
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“I enjoy the opportunity to promote wellness to my colleagues and the students. Through the varied program choices, as well as the flexibility to do others; I can help those at my school in their wellness efforts.”
“It is a pleasure to work with educators who share my passion and want to make a positive difference in the lives of others by promoting Health and Wellness!!!”
“You guys are the BEST! The teachers that participated were really happy they were involved in the program. They felt the achieved a well since of being and had a much healthier attitude.”
“I am continually amazed at the growth and dedication of this program and its coordinators. I can't remember seeing any other program expand and be so successful. Thanks for all you do!”
“Thank you for everything you do to support us. I love being a part of the districts wellness program!”
Healthy behaviors are easily influenced by other people around us. Thank you, Wellness Champions, for leading by example through your enthusiastic commitment to wellness. Our success could never be accomplished without your support, encouragement and dedication! THANK YOU!