(submitted photo/Northwest School Division #203)

By Nicole Reis

Teachers Living Well

NWSD Challenged to Live Well

Dec 3, 2019 | 12:24 PM

Northwest School Division (NWSD) #203 is challenging staff to live healthier.

Kaitlin Harman, communications officer with Northwest School Board, said the Live Well campaign unites all staff across school division.

“Education can be really challenging for staff members. It’s really demanding and there’s a lots of emotional, physical and mental [energy] they put into their jobs and we want to encourage our staff to take the time for themselves to be well. We know if our staff are well, then they’re going to do their best for our students and provide the best educational opportunities. We want to support them in taking care of themselves,” she said.

The year-long program is coming to a close and teachers have been taking part in activities that range from documenting daily water intake, exercise monitoring and contributing to a healthy recipe book made for teachers. Each month, the program includes a health theme with challenges and prizes.

Gwen Osborne is a Grade 5 teacher at Jonas Samson Middle School and was declared the winner for the school board’s November nutrition challenge. Staff submitted recipes that will be published to a cookbook intended to support staff with healthy meal ideas.

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Osborne won first place with her recipe of zucchini noodle pasta with tomato basil cream sauce.

“It’s nice to see the school division trying to recognize that teachers and staff members work hard and it’s important to take care of ourselves so that we can put more into our jobs for the good of the students,” Osborne said.

“It’s something fun and in a goal setting sense. It’s helpful to write down the things you would like to accomplish and once you write them down it does help to keep them in the back of your mind when you are trying to make some healthier decisions in your life,” she said.

December’s theme of managing stress entails a wellness fair with massages, reiki sessions, yoga, meditation and smoothie bars free to staff.

Meadow Lake District school staff can learn about ways to manage stress at the wellness fair on Dec. 7 at Wholelife Wellness at 101 Second Street West.