• Wellness Lab & Flu Shot Program Calendar

• September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

• Benefits Corner

• Employee Assistance Program

• Wellness Lab & Flu Shot Program

• Wellness Sessions for Time Equivalency

• Safety Tip!

• Fitness Center Discounts
  for MISD Staff

• Water Aerobics

Each new school year brings with it new goals. The MISD Board of Trustees has included increasing Wellness strategies and participation in their goals for 2005-06.

All staff are highly encouraged to join in the lab screenings which are designed to help employees monitor their physical well-being. If problems are detected early, the chance for successful treatment greatly increases.

Rio Grande Regional Laboratory will visit each campus this fall to draw blood samples and administer flu shots. All employees and their family members may participate. (There is a fee for family members.) See your school nurse to sign up for the wellness screening or to schedule a mammogram.  Check the schedule and see when the health care professionals will be at your work location.

WELLNESS SESSIONS FOR TIME EQUIVALENCY

Recalls and Product Safety News

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products. Log on to their website for information on over 4,000 product recalls and recall alerts.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel
/prerel.html

Water Aerobics

Wellness...a way of life!

Please note: Staff may attend any other campus/site screening.  Please schedule with designated campus in advance.

For Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition is promoting its educational message by encouraging women to “Think T.E.A.L. – Tell Everyone About Listening.” Throughout the country, teal ribbons will be displayed at stores, parks, office buildings, in neighborhoods and at special events hosted by local NOCC Divisions. Thousands of people will be wearing teal jelly bracelets that say “It whispers, so listen” to encourage women to listen to their bodies and know the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer so they can alert their doctors.

Julene Fabrizio, National President of NOCC and an ovarian cancer survivor, is available to talk about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and how to detect it early when it is most treatable. To schedule an interview, please call the number above.

NOCC also offers information on symptoms and treatment on its Web site at www.ovarian.org or through its press kit (available upon request).

For women age 35-74, ovarian cancer it is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. There is currently no consistently reliable screening test available (the Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer). Early detection is most likely when women are aware of the symptoms and report them to their doctor. If diagnosed and treated early while it is still confined to the ovaries, ovarian cancer has a five-year survival rate of about 93%. Unfortunately, due to the disease’s non-specific symptoms, only 24% of all cases are found at this early stage.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include: pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort; vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea, and indigestion; frequency and/or urgency of urination; unexplained changes in bowel habits; unexplained weight gain or weight loss; pelvic and/or abdominal swelling or bloating; pain during intercourse; and ongoing unusual fatigue.

For more information on ovarian cancer, go to www.ovarian.org or call 888-OVARIAN. The Web site also has a link to the local Divisions and provides additional information about upcoming events and activities in the area.

©2001 National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. All rights reserved.

http://www.ovarian.org/press.asp?releaseID=293

Annual Benefits Enrollment Period

The annual enrollment period for the District’s Health/Dental Plan and Voluntary Insurance Programs is fast approaching.  This will be your opportunity to increase or decrease benefits, add or drop dependents, enroll, change or cancel certain coverage(s), etc., subject to the applicable policy/plan guidelines.   

Voluntary Insurance Programs Include: Short Term Disability, Term Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Cancer/Specified Disease and Legal Insurance.

Also, for those not currently enrolled, this will also be your opportunity to enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts (Un-reimbursed Medical Spending or Dependent Care).  For additional information on these tax saving programs or other options available during the enrollment period, please contact the Employee Benefits Office.

The enrollment period is tentatively scheduled for the two week period beginning October 24, 2005 through November 4, 2005.  Additional details including the complete schedule will be provided to all staff as soon as it is finalized.  

Workers' Compensation Coverage

McAllen ISD has workers’ compensation coverage to protect you in the event of a work related injury or illness. 

If an employee suffers a compensable injury or illness, the district, through a self-funded program administered by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) will pay for the medical treatment if the injury occurred at work or the disease or illness is job-related.  It will also replace some of the worker’ lost wages if the injury or illness caused the worker to lose some or all income for more than seven days.  

Employee should notify the campus administrator/safety contact person or direct supervisor of the job related injury or illness within 24 hours to initiate the claims process. If employee does not report the injury or illness within 30 days of the date on which the injury occurs or the date the employee knew or should have known of an illness, the employee could lose their rights to benefits. 

Mr. Andres Silva is the Director of Employee Benefits/Risk Management

Statistics prove regular exercise can help reduce, stress, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also improve circulation, weight management, muscle tone, self - esteem, and osteoporosis, so what are we waiting for, lets get started.

There are two fitness centers that offer group discounts for MISD employees.

Have a great workout!