On January 6, Crete-Monee School District 201-U kicked off the new year by hosting its first-ever Staff Wellness Fair, an event dedicated to prioritizing employee well-being.
Organized by the Benefits and Wellness Team during Institute Day, the fair reflected goals outlined in the district’s new strategic plan to enhance staff well-being by promoting physical, mental, financial, and intellectual health.
“We’ve been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to host our first wellness fair,” said Dr. Kara Coglianese, Superintendent. “This event aligns with our strategic goal of engaging, empowering, and positively impacting both our students and staff.”
“This event was a fantastic way to energize our staff as they returned from Winter Break,” said Dr. Todd Hall, Vice President of the Board of Education. “When our staff is recharged, that energy carries over into their classrooms and positively impacts our students.”
Interactive Activities and Wellness Sessions
The fair featured a wide range of activities designed to recharge and connect staff, including interactive wellness sessions, a vendor walk, and food trucks for lunch. Participants could select three wellness sessions of their choice, with options including:
- Massage Chairs and Spine Evaluations: Posture and back screenings and relaxing
chair massages.
- Dance Party and Karaoke: Stress relief through singing and dancing.
- Candle Making: Crafting personalized candles with soothing scents.
- Cardio Dancing: A high-energy workout combining dance and cardio exercises.
- Cardio Drumming: A low-impact full-body workout while drumming to the beat of music.
- Yoga: Mind-body exercises focused on physical postures, breathing, and meditation.
- Paint Party: Fun and relaxing canvas painting requiring no artistic experience.
- Sound Bath: A meditative practice featuring sound waves from instruments like singing
bowls, gongs, and chimes.
- Healing Paws Program: Relaxing time with the district’s therapy dogs.
Staff also had the option to attend educational sessions on financial wellness, workplace health, and telemedicine services. Creative outlets such as painting and mobile escape room challenges encouraged team-building and stress relief.
A Comprehensive Approach to Wellness
Assistant Superintendent of Personnel & Culture Dr. Eric Melnyczenko emphasized the district’s comprehensive approach to wellness. “We are working to create a complete wellness package unlike any other offered at school districts. At Crete-Monee, we care about everyone from a holistic standpoint. It is not just about physical wellness; we want everyone to be mentally, financially, and intellectually healthy. These programs set us apart and reflect our commitment to supporting our team.”
“We hope this event fostered camaraderie among staff while encouraging healthy habits in a fun and engaging way,” said Dana Holman, Benefits & Wellness Coordinator.
Jessica Ellis, Administrative Support Benefits & Wellness Specialist, encouraged staff to utilize available resources: “I hope our staff becomes more vigilant about their health and seeks out opportunities and resources offered through the Benefits and Wellness Department.”
Vendor Walk and Community Support
The vendor walk provided access to resources from various providers, including insurance companies, health services, and natural wellness products. Participating vendors for the day included:
- Chiro One
- We’re Brothers Karaoke
- Candle Vault
- Armored Fitness
- The Mobile Escape Room Company
- Bottles & Bottega
- Mecca Elevated
- Perspectives/All One Health (EAP)
- Calm
- YourMoneyLine
- Teladoc
- Rellevate
- Aspire/National Life Group, Joseph Morguette
- Lincoln Investments, Margherita Johnson
- Masika Naturals
- Pure Honey
- Tritium Wellness
- BlueCross BlueShield
- Flexible Benefits
- Eyemed
- Reliance Life Insurance
- Delta Dental
- Educational Benefits Cooperative (EBC), Amna Siddiqui and Miriam Bates
- Uptown Eats
- Taqueria Jose Carnitas
- Sizzle Box
- It's My Party
- Burns Photography
- imaginat
Looking Ahead
Crete-Monee SD 201-U is excited about the success of its inaugural Staff Wellness Fair and looks forward to expanding wellness opportunities for staff in the future.
Special thanks to the Benefits and Wellness Team, event vendors, and all who contributed to making the event a success.