Wellness Q&A

The WESD Wellness Program is housed under the School Improvement Services Department.

The Wellness Program is funded through funds provided by Willamette ESD and, currently, through grant funds awarded by the Oregon Well-Being Trust.

The information we collect helps us plan in many ways. It helps demonstrate the importance of Wellness to WESD leadership, supports grant writing for future funding, allows us to identify participation trends, and helps guide the planning of future events and activities.

Reach out to wellness@wesd.org with your idea. We welcome staff suggestions and feedback.

Reach out to wellness@wesd.org to inquire. Generally, there is a least one representative for each department, depending on department size. All Wellness Squad members are volunteers and have supervisor approval to be part of the Wellness Program. 

Upcoming Wellness events and activities are shared through Wellness newsletters and posted on the Wellness webpage. 

You can receive reminders in several ways:

• Reading the monthly Wellness Newsletter
• Reading the weekly All Staff Newsletter
• Reviewing the monthly event flyers posted in common staff areas
• Receiving a calendar invite when registering for an event or activity

Wellness events are chosen based on general staff feedback gathered through surveys. Events are also dependent on available funding and participation levels.

Wellness events are scheduled based on agency calendars and with the help of department administrative staff. We do our best to avoid scheduling around breaks, conferences, trainings, and other major commitments.

Register using the event link provided with the activity. Links can be found in monthly newsletters or the Wellness event calendar. If you need assistance, please contact wellness@wesd.org.

If an event reaches capacity, we offer a waitlist when possible. We encourage staff to still register even if an event is full, as there is always a possibility that someone's plans change and space becomes available.

If your plans change, please cancel your registration as soon as possible. This will allow another staff member to participate if there is a waitlist. To cancel, contact wellness@wesd.org.

This depends on the activity. We offer a mix of in-person and hybrid events when possible. 

Yes! Staff are welcome to attend any Wellness event, even if it is not at their homebase. Please note that travel to attend a Wellness event is not reimbursable, and your 20 minutes of paid Wellness time may not be used for travel. If an event takes place during your scheduled work hours, or if attending would require travel during your workday, prior approval from your supervisor is required. 

Please refer to the 20 Minutes of Wellness section of the website.

All Wellness activities are free to WESD staff members unless otherwise stated. Any costs will be clearly communicated in advance. 

At this time, and in accordance with guidance from the Oregon Well-Being Trust, Wellness funds are intended to support WESD employees only and may not be used for family members, partners, children, or other guests. 

No. Travel to attend Wellness events is not reimbursable.

Some Wellness activites may include prizes or drawings. When offered, details will be shared with the activity information.

Some activities may include eligibility limits. Any restrictions will be clearly outlined in the challenge details. 

Benefits through the Wellness Program are currently:

• Free access to Down Dog
• Free access to Headspace
• Free access to Wellable
• 20-minutes of paid Wellness time
• Discounted gym membership (insurance benefit)

Browse the Wellness webpage more additional resources!

Yes. If you need an accommodation to participate, please contact wellness@wesd.org as early as possible.

Please reach out to wellness@wesd.org with any questions or concerns.