For many, the holiday season may look quite different this year. Whether it is a change in the number of guests, or maybe choosing not to travel, it is still incredibly important to stay connected to loved ones. Staying connected refers to the strong sense of belonging one feels when surrounded by close friends and family. How social relationships affect … Read More
Public Sector Employers Recognized for Employee Health!
CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing public sector employers for being named as honorees for the Healthiest Employers in Arizona! City of Peoria City of Surprise Glendale Elementary School District Town of Gilbert City of Scottsdale City of Tucson City of Phoenix Mesa Public Schools Three Valley Schools members will be honored, Dysart Unified School District, Glendale Elementary School District, and the City of … Read More
Procurement of Hearing Officers for Student Discipline Hearings
Procurement of Hearing Officers for Student Discipline Hearings By Bill Munch, CPPO, CPPB Hopefully, none of our students are currently facing discipline issues this early in the year, and since online learning is the way of the world right now. However, I received a question via one of the many listservs I belong to regarding whether or not student discipline … Read More
Valley Schools CSA Day – More Good Work
More good work that Valley Schools is doing! Through the partnership of Valley Schools and Local First Arizona, 120 schools and city staff throughout Maricopa County were able to get fresh local produce from Sun Produce Coop that sources from our farms right here in Arizona. As a part of the initiatives of the Valley Schools wellness program, WellStyles aims … Read More
PRACTICING MINDFULNESS FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH
The Importance of Mindfulness and your Health As you transition into your new working environments, you may notice that you are faced with feelings of uncertainty. This uncertainty can cause extra stress and worry, which can negatively impact your overall health. The good news is, by practicing mindfulness, you have the ability to calmly acknowledge things as they are. Training … Read More
DETOX: SUPPORT TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION
The Effects of Air Pollution on Our Bodies Research has shown that long-term exposure to air pollution increases all-cause mortality and aggravates many disease states, such as cardiovascular disease and lung conditions. Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants, and approximately 7 million deaths globally are … Read More
Member News – Doing Incredible Things
SHOUT OUT! – Incredible News Many of our schools and municipalities are doing incredible things for their employees and communities! We wanted to highlight a few of our members here and give them a huge round of applause for nimbly addressing the needs of their employees and families! Shout out to Glendale Union High School District hosting free COVID testing … Read More
COPING WITH 2020 – Member Assistance Services
Dealing With the Times 2020 has been a year of unprecedented trials and stressors that have left us all scrambling in our professional and personal lives to find compromises and solutions that address risks and concerns. It’s more important than ever to leverage tools and resources available (as an employee and employer) to assist us with the fallout of COVID … Read More
TRASH TALK: Healing Ourselves By Helping Our Planet
“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” -Ann Marie Bonneau COVID-19 Trash Effects on the Planet A few months into the COVID-19 outbreak, the media began sharing some inspiring stories of how much cleaner air was in some cities that hadn’t experienced these levels in decades. Pictures showed … Read More
Getting the Best Advice in Employee Benefits
Who We Are – Valley Schools Did you know that Valley Schools is one of Arizona’s largest employee benefits consulting organizations for schools? Serving over 35,000 employee and dependent lives for benefits consulting and plan administration, we have been leaders in the industry for innovative cost containment strategies, wellness, and more. We are incredibly excited to announce that we have … Read More