Wellness Wednesday

• Primarily affects men between 15 and 44 years of age
• Typical age of diagnosis is 33
• Cure rate is 95%, if caught early
• Early symptoms are usually painless
• Self-exams and early-detection are key

* information provided by Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation

• Testicular Cancer: Causes, Signs & Symptoms - hosted by Joey Vaccarella, RD, LD/N - begins April 16, 2026

• Clear Vision: Understanding Eye Health - hosted by Laura Harvey, RN, TTS - begins May 21, 2026

Register Here

This month our Wellness shout-out is courtesy of Daysi Aguasanta from Pine View Elementary. Congrats for getting yourself moving and thank you for the "just do it" motivation!

Walking... Talking... Wednesday

"Walking and talking have been two of my favorite verbs, I have loved walking since I was a little girl. Growing up in the Dominican Republic, I had to go to the corner store a lot during the day and I had to communicate my needs to the sales person exactly how it was explained to me, which at times it was very challenging because by the time I finally made it to the store (I had stopped to talk to everyone in my path!), I had forgotten the specifics.

My love for walking came in handy when I moved to New York and I had to walk 2.4 miles a day to and from school. My walking did not end there; I then had to go to the Bodega or Woolworths to run errands. Let's just say that people can tell I am not from Florida by the way I walk... I guess you can take the girl out of New York but not New York out of the girl!

I moved to Florida in November 2006, and I soon realized that Florida is not a walking-friendly state. Stores are not walking distance, and they made everything so convenient that one does not need to get out of the car to pick up medicine at the pharmacy, or get out of the car at the bank, very relaxed. How can a place with so much natural beauty not be walk-friendly?

I did not realize all the benefits that walking gave me until I stopped walking and drove everywhere, the only way to do it in Florida. Whenever I had the opportunity, I walked instead of driving, to pick up my kids from the bus stop or I parked far away from the store so I could walk. On June 2nd, 2024, I committed to my health and downloaded one of those apps that track your steps, and I started walking in the evenings. I did not have a desired number of steps; I just needed to form the habit of walking for my health this time. I then aimed for 6,000 steps, sometimes I accomplished it and sometimes I did not, but it was fine I was working towards consistency.

This school year, I was talking to one of my co-workers about health and wellness, and we agreed to meet up on Wednesday and walk; the rest is history! Not only did I find a walking buddy, but I found a Friend. Kelli and I walk and talk every Wednesday. Sometimes we must make modifications because of the weather or the time change or just life happening on Wednesday, but we have remained consistent and we made modifications to accomplish our goal. If on a particular Wednesday we are not available, we choose another day, if the weather is too cold, we get hot cocoa, and if it gets dark early, we walk around the recreation center. The point is to do it! Thank you, Kelli, for your company and for our many conversations, I look forward to Walking, Talking, Wednesdays with Kelli.

Disclaimer: Walk at your own risk if what you want is to lose weight, improve your sleep, and your mood. If you find your own Kelli, you will enjoy your walk even more!"

Author: Daysi Aguasanta (PVES) & Walking Buddy/Friend: Kelli E. (PVES)

Also from Daysi:

"While some people avoid going to the doctor or putting it off on their to-do list for varied reasons, I absolutely love going to my yearly checkup. And it is all thanks to Nicole Demas at My Health Onsite at the District Office. For the last five years I have had the privilege of having Nicole Demas as my one stop health care provider. Nicole is very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. I love how she takes her time explaining my tests results in a patient-friendly way and answering all my questions about my health, and I must thank her for encouraging me to go for my colonoscopy when I turned forty-five. I usually get my blood work and physical at the end of the year so I can start the new year on track, by then she had already received my mammogram results, and I get all my results at once, a great way to start the year. Thank you, Nicole, for providing excellent health care, and for making going to the doctor an enjoyable and very positive experience. After all, for me self-care starts with health care."

Thank you, Daysi, for the kind words and "brava!" for taking your health seriously and using the provided facilities!

* If you have a health/wellness story or testimony you would like to share, please reach out to Audra at abaird@myhealthonsite.com. *

Upcoming May blood drive dates:

Pasco Schools Maintenance Dept, 11835 Tree Breeze Dr, NPR

May 1 ~ 12:30 - 3:30

* No appointment necessary, but available below as a convenience

Call Center Phone # 727.353.3000

Hours of Operation:

The Call Center will be open to take appointments Monday–Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Face-to-Face, Televisit (via Video), and Telephonic (via Telephone) appointments are available.

If assistance is needed after hours, you will be re-routed to our 24-hour nurse line for ongoing patient services.

This month, Patty's Points highlights the many cost-saving healthcare Do's & Don'ts available to employees. If you have specific insurance (Florida Blue) questions or concerns, please reach out to Patty Nguyen at 813.794.2492 or Patricia.Nguyen@FloridaBlue.com

Neither Pasco Schools nor MHO recommends, endorses, warrants or guarantees any specific vendor, product or service available under or through the Blue365 Program or Site.

Must be a registered member of Florida Blue365

Lucet Employee Assistance Program

Lucet EAP offers confidential access to counseling, coaching, tools, resources and care to help you navigate life's changes. Topics include mental well-being, family & lifestyle, work & career, financial services, and legal services. Please take advantage of these free resources at your fingertips! Company code is Pasco

Click here to access Lucet

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a benefit program intended to ensure a healthy work environment for all staff. Through a partnership between Pasco County Schools and Lucet (our behavioral health care provider), our employees will have access to enhanced services. These services include counseling and referral for personal or work-related issues, health coaching, legal and financial consultation, and a wealth of online resources.

Click here for more information about EAP

Love languages are the ways people show and receive love/care. Understanding these 5 different love languages can help you become a better communicator and partner while also helping you learn more about yourself. To learn more, please click the button below.

You can now schedule counseling sessions directly through the Lucet EAP call center. The call center clinicians will personally assist in booking appointments for anxiety, ADHD, depression, grief, relationship/family issues, and work stress. These appointments can be booked in minutes, with most sessions available as soon as 24 hours later.

Wellness isn't limited to present physical health; planning for future retirement goals is just as important. Make sure you understand the retirement options available to you. Reach out to one of the District's Retirement Services Specialists to schedule an appointment (virtual or telephone) via the button below.

Pasco County Schools has partnered with CentsAbility Consulting Group to provide financial wellness resources and guidance, helping us plan for a more secure future. Please watch for upcoming events and workshops for FRS, DROP, Retirement Planning, Investing 101, Budgeting, and Social Security. Bookmark the Employee Benefits and Risk Management pages on the District website for future reference and announcements. For more information on checklist items you can look into right now courtesy of Chris Brown, President CentsAbililty Consulting Group, please click on the button below.

Privacy Notice

Email: wellness@pasco.k12.fl.us

Website: pascogohealthy.com
Location: 7227 Land O' Lakes Blvd, Land O' Lakes, FL 34638, USA
Phone: 813-794-2276