DCSD Staff Wellness September 2026

One of the many benefits of being a DCSD employee is access to our Staff Wellness Program. We believe that when you invest in your own well-being, you are better equipped to thrive—not only at work, but in every aspect of your life. Your health and wellness matter, and we're committed to providing resources, opportunities, and support to help you feel your best all year long.

🏫 Site-Based Wellness Champion
Every school and department has a Wellness Champion who helps bring wellness to your workplace by organizing challenges throughout the year, coordinating on-site fitness classes, sharing resources, and creating opportunities to connect with colleagues. You can look up who your wellness champ is here.

📰 Monthly Wellness Newsletter
Your Wellness Champion will forward our monthly wellness newsletter at the beginning of each month. It's the best way to stay informed about upcoming wellness challenges, events, classes, and resources available to DCSD employees. If you can't find it in your e-mail, all previous newsletters are posted here.

💻 Staff Wellness Website
Visit our Staff Wellness website for wellness resources, program information, event calendars, and more.

An online staff community where you can connect with coworkers, track activity, set wellness goals, and participate in friendly challenges.

Here's to a healthy, happy, and successful school year—we're excited to support your wellness journey!

We’re excited to launch the Wellness Club Rewards Program, a fun new way to stay active, set personal goals, participate in wellness challenges, and earn for your efforts!

The program begins September 1, 2026 and ends April 30, 2027,

🥉 Bronze — $20 Gift Card

Complete all three requirements:

• Log 64 activities (about 2 per week)
• Set and complete 1 goal
• Participate in 1 Wellness Club Challenge

🥈 Silver — $30 Gift Card

Complete all three requirements:

• Log 96 activities (about 3 per week)
• Set and complete 2 goals
• Participate in 2 Wellness Club Challenges

🥇 Gold — $50 Gift Card

Complete all three requirements:

• Log 160 activities (about 5 per week)
• Set and complete 3 goals
• Participate in 3 Wellness Club Challenges

There’s even more motivation to get moving: 100 eligible participants at each reward level will be selected to receive the corresponding gift card. The key is simply to stay active and stay engaged. Track your progress anytime through the Wellness Club app or website, and make movement part of your routine in a way that works for you.

Ready to get moving? Set a goal, log your first activity, join a Wellness Club Challenge, and start working toward your reward at:

Part 1: Build Your Budget Blueprint

📅 When: Thursday September 24
🕟 Time: 5:00–6:30 PM

📍In-Person @ Legacy Campus

Learn the fundamentals of creating a realistic budget that aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

• Create a personalized spending plan

• Learn how to balance needs, wants, and debt obligations

• Receive a budgeting spreadsheet template

• Set meaningful financial goals

• Optional one-on-one consultation with financial expert Valerie Bevans

• * All attendees will receive a personal budget planning notebook for attending

👉 Sign Up Here!

Part 2: Conquer Your Debt

💻 Virtual Webinar

📅 When: Wednesday, October 14
🕟 Time: 5:30–6:30 PM

Build a debt repayment strategy that supports both your current needs and future goals.

• Develop a personalized debt management plan

• Learn effective repayment strategies

• Explore Dave Ramsey's Snowball Method

• Understand how debt fits into your broader financial picture

Sign Up Coming Soon!

Our DCSD On-Site Flu Vaccination Clinics begin this month! Getting your annual flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself, your family, and our school community during cold and flu season.

Flu vaccinations are covered for United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente members, and sign up appointment time slots are now open! Please be sure to bring an insurance card to your appointment.

Click Here to view upcoming clinic dates and reserve your spot!

Learn what causes osteoporosis and discover simple ways to support strong bones and reduce your risk. This webinar will explore the important role of calcium and weight-bearing activities in maintaining bone health.

📅 Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET
💻 Format: Virtual Webinar

🔗 Watch the Webinar

Get ready to welcome fall with a cozy and creative afternoon at our first Art & Wellness class of the year!

Join us as our wonderful instructor, Stephanie Stoner, teaches us how to crochet adorable pumpkins—perfect for adding a little handmade fall charm to your home. No prior crochet experience is needed, and all supplies will be provided courtesy of Staff Wellness!

📅 When: Tuesday, September 22
🕟 Time: 4:30–6:30 PM
📍 Where: Castle View High School

Space is limited to the first 30 participants, entering this form does not guarantee you will be entered into the class. Accepted attendees will be notified prior to class date and sent a calendar invite with additional information.

👉 Sign up here!

Congratulations the schools recognized as 2026 America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation! This annual award recognizes schools implementing best practices to support the health and well-being of students, staff, and families. Thank you to these schools for their commitment to creating healthier learning environments.

• Larkspur Elementary
• Cloverleaf Enrichment School
• Prairie Crossing Elementary School
• ThunderRidge High School
• Trailblazer Elementary School

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our summer hikes! We had so much fun exploring, getting active, and enjoying the great outdoors together. 🥾🌲

And the adventure doesn’t stop here! 🍂

We’ll be hosting fall hikes and walks in coordination with Walktober. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and details!

Thank you for making this summer one to remember! 💚

Caramelized ground beef and steamed rice with a spicy peanut and coconut broth.

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 490 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Ground Beef 96/4
• ¼ cup (72g) Hoisin Sauce
• ¼ cup (60g) Rice Vinegar
• ¼ cup (60g) Coconut Aminos or low sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons Chinese Five Spice
• 8 Frozen Crushed Garlic Cubes or 8 cloves garlic, crushed
• 4 Frozen Crushed Ginger Cubes or 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, crushed
• ½ cup Water

For the Broth

• 3 cups Trader Joe's Miso Ginger Broth or any broth
• 1 can (15 oz) Reduced Fat Coconut Milk
• 2 Tablespoons (32g) Peanut Butter
• ¼ cup (60g) Sriracha reduce to 1-2 tablespoons for spice sensitive

For Serving

• 2 bags (10 oz each) Frozen Steamed Jasmine Rice or 4 cups steamed rice
• Cucumber, Chives or Scallions, Toasted Sesame Seeds, and Limes

Instructions

• Make the broth. Add the broth, coconut milk, peanut butter, and sriracha to a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk everything together and heat until the broth begins to bubble before reducing the heat to low. Simmer until ready to serve. Salt to taste before serving.

• Make the crispy beef. Brown the ground beef for 2-3 minutes per side in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. You want lots of crispy bits on both sides before breaking the beef apart with a spatula and fully cooking. Mix the remaining beef ingredients together before adding to the fully cooked beef. Stir everything together and cook for another 4-5 minutes without stirring until the liquid fully reduces and begins to caramelize on the bottom.

• Serve. Microwave the bags of frozen rice or prepare your choice of steamed rice. To make 6 servings, add ⅔ cup of steamed rice (⅓ a bag of frozen steamed rice), 4 oz (112g) of the crispy beef, and about ¾ cup (180g) of the broth to each bowl.

• Garnish with diced seedless cucumber, fresh herbs, toasted sesame seeds, and a squeeze of lime juice, if desired.

Nutrition/Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 490kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 15g | Fiber: 2g

We understand the convenience and value of having access to do-it-yourself tools—especially when it comes to important legal matters. That’s why the self-help library offered through Standard Legal provides an easy way to access some of the most commonly used legal documents, helping you address everyday legal needs quickly and confidently.

Even better—this resource is available to all DCSD employees, whether or not you are enrolled in the MetLife Legal Plan.

Within the library, you’ll find more than 1,700 documents, including:

• Living wills
• Powers of attorney
• Deeds and promissory notes
• Premarital agreements
• And much more

The self-help document library is available at members.legalplans.com. To get started, simply create an account on the website. Once logged in, click on the menu under your name in the upper-right corner and select “Self-help documents.”

While these tools are designed for convenient, independent use, they are not a substitute for legal advice. If you are currently enrolled in the legal plan and would like assistance from an attorney, you can contact the Client Service Center at 800-821-6400 or visit the website to find an attorney near you.Take advantage of this valuable resource and have trusted legal documents right at your fingertips.

You made it to the end of the newsletter, time for the monthly giveaway! 🎉 This month, we’re giving away three Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones with 120H Playtime—perfect for keeping the vibes high while you're walking or working out.

Click here to enter the Ocotber Staff Wellness Giveaway Drawing!

And a big congratulations to last month's winners:

Good luck, and thanks for being part of our community!

Email: knemunaitis@dcsdk12.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/dcsd-staff-wellness/home
Location: 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO, USA