Heather Xenakis, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at LRHSD, along with a committee of highly motivated staff members, organized the day for the staff and explained why a health and wellness day makes a difference.
– The Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) administration recently hosted a Health and Wellness Fair at Cherokee High School for the district’s employees. The inservice day had an itinerary that comprised workout classes, financial well-being workshops, guided meditation, a rock climbing class, and more. The focus of the 145 offered sessions was nutrition, mental health, professional services, leisure, and physical health.
Heather Xenakis, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at LRHSD, along with a committee of highly motivated staff members, organized the day for the staff and explained why a health and wellness day makes a difference. “Creating time for the staff to focus on their own well-being is crucial for energizing and reaffirming the amazing staff members with whom we have the privilege to work alongside,” said Xenakis.
The day was organized into four sessions. Approximately 900 staff members participated in workshops during three out of the four sessions and used their remaining session to visit the many vendors and community business booths in the cafeteria. Each staff member selected workshops of particular personal interest from a menu of 75 different workshop options. These options spanned a range of valuable topics related to health and wellness, including mindfulness, preventive and rehabilitative health strategies, healthy cooking/nutrition, fitness, and caring for aging family members.
Chris Easlick, a Family and Consumer Science Department Teacher at Lenape, hosted a Healthy Meals workshop where staff members were able to make and eat two nutritious and easy meals. Easlick taught staff members how to make roasted salmon with roasted vegetables and how to use leftover grilled chicken to make a quinoa salad.
“I want to show each class that you can actually make healthy meals during the week, that it doesn’t take as much time as you’d think. There are shortcuts and different ways that you can save time, but not have to compromise eating healthy,” said Easlick.
Staff members interested in exploring their more adventurous side had the opportunity to take advantage of Cherokee’s rock climbing wall. Activities in the rock climbing wall gymnasium, typically used by Cherokee sophomores in Physical Education classes, were offered to staff members who wanted to exercise their physical strength and their trust in their co-workers. The rock climbing wall and an activity called the “Flying Squirrel” put staff members to the test. The “Flying Squirrel” required staff members to work together to control a rope latched to the ceiling, to which a colleague was harnessed. Through this collaborative exercise, co-workers not only had fun but also strengthened their bond of trust.
Judy Buciorelli, a Special Education Teacher at Lenape High School, put her fears aside and signed up for the thrilling activities. “It’s harder than I thought. You really have to use your entire body. But it’s really fun to accomplish something that you thought maybe you couldn’t do. It’s nice accomplishing things like this alongside my colleagues and a group of people cheering me on,” said Buciorelli.
For those interested in a calming workshop, students from the Rizzieri Aveda School for Beauty and Wellness gave staff members a chance to relax and decompress with the help of different beauty and wellness routines and services.
“We offered experiences that customers would typically get if they came into our student clinic, like hand and arm massages, mini-facial cleanses, and make-up touch-ups. We sent staff members through the different stations so they got a sense for what they can expect when they receive these services in the salon,” said Terri Campagna, the Regional Outreach and Admissions Specialist at the Rizzieri Aveda School for Beauty and Wellness.
The LRHSD administration believes that staff members who take better care of their health and wellness are more effective in all of their roles, including in ways that benefit students. The Board of Education thanks the teachers and community businesses involved for their time and participation.
