• Steps to a Healthier You

• “Watch Your Weight” Program

• Working on Wellness

• National Women’s Health Week

• Spotlight in Wellness

• Parents — The Best Protection

• Employee Assistance Program

• Water Aerobics

“Watch Your Weight” Program

Although there have been requests to implement a Weight Watchers program in the district, there are not enough people willing to enlist in the program.  A minimum of eighteen people are required by that agency before they will begin a new site. However, the district has begun a new “Watch Your Weight” program that will include concepts of wellness and nutrition.

Each Wednesday morning from 7:30 — 8:30 am, you are invited to the MISD Board Room to monitor your weight. On some weeks, the program will also monitor fat analysis, body mass, water content, and blood pressures. Health tips and recipes will be shared. Anyone in the district may participate. All personal information will be maintained in a confidential manner.

Come join us!

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services

National Women’s Health Week

This year marks the 7th Annual National Women’s Health Week, May 14 — 20, 2006, with National Women’s Checkup Day, May 15th. Three major categories emphasized are Health Screenings, Breast Cancer, and Heart Health.

Ladies, take time to schedule your annual blood screenings, bone density tests, pap tests and pelvic exams, physical exams, dental checkups, eye exams, colorectal exams, etc.  Gentlemen who care about ladies, remind your loved ones that regular exams and early detection are the best protection.

Water Aerobics

Wellness...a way of life!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled MyPyramid, a new symbol and interactive food guidance system. “Steps to a Healthier You,” MyPyramid’s central message, supports President Bush’s HealthierUS initiative which is designed to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. MyPyramid, which replaces the Food Guide Pyramid introduced in 1992, is part of an overall food guidance system that emphasizes the need for a more individualized approach to improving diet and lifestyle.

“MyPyramid is about the ability of Americans to personalize their approach when choosing a healthier lifestyle that balances nutrition and exercise,” said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. “Many Americans can dramatically improve their overall health by making modest improvements to their diets and by incorporating regular physical activity into their daily lives.”

MyPyramid incorporates recommendations from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide authoritative advice for people two years of age and older about how proper dietary habits can promote health and reduce the risk of major chronic diseases.  MyPyramid was developed to carry the messages of the dietary guidelines and to make Americans aware of the vital health benefits of simple and modest improvements in nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle behavior.

The MyPyramid symbol, which is deliberately simple, is meant to encourage consumers to make healthier food choices and to be active every day. Consumers can get more in-depth information from the new Web site, MyPyramid.gov, so that they can make these choices to fit their own needs.

For more information, visit http://www.mypyramid.gov .

Wellness on Wednesday Sessions, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.  All sessions held at MISD Staff Development Center, 1009 N. 10th Street.

Wellness on Wednesday Sessions, 12:00 Noon – 1:00 P.M.  All sessions held at MISD Board Room, 2000 N. 23rd Street.

Staff development sessions for time equivalency regarding Wellness topics are now posted on the ERO (Look under Wellness).

McAllen High School’s “biggest Loser” Contest takes center stage this month. School Nurses Barbara Flowers and Nicole Bazan began the project February 20^th at the request of staff members. Thirty two participants paid a $20 entry fee, weighed in and had their body fat analyzed.  Each Friday there was another weigh-in. Those who gained weight during the week had to pay $5.

All records were kept confidential by the nurses. The final weigh-in was April 13^th. Funds which had been accumulated were to be awarded to the BIGGEST LOSERS in two categories—total pounds lost and largest percentage of weight lost. Well, it turned out that the BIGGEST LOSER in both categories was the same person, Cesar Flores, who lost thirty nine pounds! And he won $755!!

The nurses report that this project was a lot of work, but they got to know many staff members they normally would not have known. It was a rewarding experience for all involved. A grand total of 267 pounds were lost!

Since the first contest was such a success, a new one has begun and will continue until the end of school. This time, there will be a penalty for losing more than five pounds per week as this type of loss is unhealthy and should not be rewarded.

Barbara, Nicole, and Cesar, you are IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Thanks for sharing your project, and keep up the good work of promoting Wellness.

If you have a project or story to share which promotes the concept of Wellness, please contact Sharon Wilkes, sharon.wilkes@mcallenisd.net.

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services

Parents — The Best Protection

With the coming season of proms and graduations comes the terrible threat that one of our children may make a poor decision and risk a life-threatening injury, or even death. Pressure for our teens to use alcohol and other drugs is around us every day, but more so during end-of-the-year celebrations. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die annually as a result of underage drinking. (This statistic does not include the number of other drug-related deaths.)

We in the Valley know only too well the heartbreak of these tragedies. From Spring Break until the end of school, I constantly fear receiving a message that one of our students has been involved in a tragic incident related to alcohol or other drug use.

Lately, we have seen on TV some public service announcements such as, “Parents: the Anti-drug”. Research tells us that youths are less likely to not use alcohol or other drugs if their parents simply ask them not to. Sadly, nearly one third of MISD students report that they do not know how their parents feel about young people using alcohol or other drugs. Yes, this statistic comes from the Texas A&M Youth Survey in which our 4^th through 12^th graders participate. We tell our children we do not want them to play with knives or fire. We teach them not to run into the street, but what do we teach them about drinking and drugging?

Let’s all join together this year to make the 2006 prom and graduation season the safest one yet. Parents, please tell your children that you expect them to NOT use alcohol and other drugs. If you do not tell them, how will they know??? If you do tell them, there is a good chance that that they won’t.

If you need more information about talking to your children, contact Sharon Wilkes, sharon.wilkes@mcallenisd.net or the MAST Program at your child’s school.

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services