• American Diabetes Month

• Benefits Corner

• The Great American Smokeout

• Flu Vaccine Shortage

• Bullying at School

• Fitness Center Discounts
  for MISD Staff

• Water Aerobics

• Mammogram Screenings

The American Cancer Society (ACS) holds the Great American Smokeout® each November to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever. This year's event will be held on November 18, 2004.

Since 1977, the Smokeout has challenged Americans to quit smoking and fueled a cultural revolution against tobacco. Today, lung cancer deaths are falling in states with strong tobacco control laws.

During the last 28 years, the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout has played an important role in raising the level of consciousness about tobacco use and its deadly consequences. Extraordinary progress has been made in the areas of research, policy, environmental and societal change regarding tobacco use.

Schools

Schools provide the best line of defense in helping young people to decide not to use tobacco products. The majority of smokers start before the age of 18. Help involve your school or classroom in Smokeout activities by incorporating anti-tobacco messages into your lesson plans. Here are some ideas: smoking experiments in Science; essays on smoking in English; smoking equations in Math; effects of smoking in Health; review of cigarette ads to determine who tobacco companies target with their ads in Social Studies.

Volunteer or find support for quitting smoking in your area. You may adopt a quitter, plan a health fair, or help ban smoking at public events.
 

American Cancer Society, Inc.
http://www.cancer.org

Copyright 2004 © American Cancer Society, Inc.

Mammogram Screenings scheduled for McAllen ISD employees.

September 26 through December 16, 2004

Location:
Rio Grande Imaging Center
101- B East Ridge Road
McAllen, TX 78501

Call Tonie for an appointment at 632-3275.

Wellness...a way of life!

Water Aerobics

Flu Vaccine Shortage

While flu shots are in short supply, you can get a nasal flu, called FluMist, ask your health care provider what he recommends.

Bullying at School

Bullying is a widespread problem in our schools and communities. The behavior encompasses physical aggression, threats, teasing, and harassment. Although it can lead to violence, bullying typically is not categorized with more serious forms of school violence involving weapons, vandalism, or physical harm.  It is, however, an unacceptable anti-social behavior that is learned through influences in the environment, e.g., home, school, peer groups, even the media.  As such, it also can be unlearned or, better yet, prevented.

A bully is someone who directs physical, verbal, or psychological aggression or harassment toward others, with the goal of gaining power over or dominating another individual.  Research indicates that bullying is more prevalent in boys than girls, though this difference decreases when considering indirect aggression (such as verbal threats).

A victim is someone who repeatedly is exposed to aggression from peers in the form of physical attacks, verbal assaults, or psychological abuse. Victims are more likely to be boys and to be physically weaker than peers. They generally do not have many, if any, good friends and may display poor social skills and academic difficulties in school.

Learn the effects of bullying and ways to prevent it by visiting the National Mental Health and Education Center.
 

National Association of School Psychologists
4340 East West Highway, Suite 402
Bethesda, MD 20814

Copyright © 2003 National Association of School Psychologists

The American Diabetes Association has designated November as American Diabetes Month.  The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

Could you have diabetes and not know it?

There are 18.2 million Americans with diabetes - and nearly one-third of them (or 5.2 million people) don't know it! Take this test to see if you are at risk for having diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. If you are a member of one of these ethnic groups, you need to pay special attention to this test.

Risk Test

To find out if you are at risk, write in the points next to each statement that is true for you. If a statement is not true, write a zero. Then add all the points to get your total score.

Scoring 3-9 points
You are probably at low risk for having diabetes now. But don't just forget about it -- especially if you are Hispanic/Latino, African American, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. You may be at higher risk in the future.

Scoring 10 or more points
You are at greater risk for having diabetes. Only your health care provider can determine if you have diabetes. At your next office visit, find out for sure.

American Diabetes Association
ATTN: National Call Center
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Copyright © 2004 American Diabetes Association ®

Benefits Enrollment Period Open (October 25 - November 5, 2004)

This is the annual opportunity to make changes to your benefit elections.  Benefit Presentations are being conducted at your campus/work location during this two-week enrollment period.  Please contact your campus administration or the Employee Benefits Office for the schedule. 

Representatives from Mutual of Omaha, Deer Oaks EAP, ARAG, and AHL-Allstate will be providing brief presentations on the benefits and any changes that were effective October 1, 2004.  Representatives will remain on site immediately after the presentation to assist staff with questions, enrollment or benefit changes. 

Representatives will also be available between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Staff Development Building-Friendship Room at Lamar Academy beginning on Wednesday, October 27^th - Friday, November 5^th.  Extended hours through 6:00 p.m. will also be available at this location on Thursday, October 28^th and Thursday, November 4th.

Benefit ID Cards / Benefit Books

By now members should have received a new benefit ID card.  ID cards were mailed to members’ home address.  Contact the Employee Benefits Office if you have not received the ID card or if there are any errors on the card. 

Benefit Books and a listing of preferred lab providers will be made available during the benefit presentations and at the central location noted above. 

Web Site

For the most up to date listing of network providers, you are encouraged to use Mutual of Omaha web site: www.mutualofomaha.com. 

Register at Customer Access to be able to order replacement ID cards, browse the schedule of benefits, check on the status of a claim, view EOB’s (Explanation of Benefits) and access other medical tools and resources.     

Additional information will be provided in the coming weeks including a schedule for on-site assistance from a Mutual of Omaha claims examiner to assist with any unpaid claims or claims questions.

Contact the Employee Benefits Office at 618-6007 for additional information.

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 give group discounts for MISD employees.

Have a great workout!