February 2022 | Vol. 48, Issue 7
An Orange County Public Schools Employee Publication
MAXEY ELEMENTARY:
ROOTED IN WINTER GARDEN'S BLACK HISTORY pg. 8 GREATER THAN THE
GRIDIRON
pg. 12
BENEFITS
BULLETIN
pg. 14
Feature
EDITORS Shayla Cannady Alayna G. Riggins
DESIGN & LAYOUT Eric Mateer
ADVERTISING Adrienne Noel
CONTRIBUTORS Sandra Carr Kimberly Eisenbise Beth Palmer To submit your story ideas, email orangepeal@ocps.net.
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Photo courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
SAVE THE DATE Feb. 21
Presidents Day Holiday Schools Closed / District Offices Open
Front and back cover artwork by Lisa Mikler. The Orange Peal is a districtwide publication for and about the employees of Orange County Public Schools. The School Board of Orange County, Fla., does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law. The following individuals at the Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, 445 W. Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida 32801, attend to compliance matters: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer & Title IX Coordinator: Keshara Cowans; ADA Coordinator: Jay Cardinali; Section 504 Coordinator: Tajuana Lee-Wenze. (407.317.3200) ©2022
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
A Funny Thing Happened
5
District Dispatches
6
Around OCPS
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Maxey Elementary: Rooted in Winter Garden's Black History
12
Greater Than the Gridiron
14
Benefits Bulletin
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In my Pre-K Varying Exceptionalities class, we have daily vocabulary practice during Circle Time. This week's focus letter was K and related vocabulary words that start with the letter K. On Mondays, I introduce the vocabulary cards to the students, asking if anyone recognizes the item in the picture. As I held up the card with the picture of ketchup on it, one observant 4-year-old scholar blurted out “It's potato sauce!” He has referred to it as potato sauce several times since then and it just brightens my afternoon! Rose Rodriguez PK Handicapped Aloma Elementary
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District Dispatches Remembering Bill Spoone Former OCPS educator and School Board Member William “Bill” C. Spoone died Jan. 2 at age 89. Originally from Tennessee, Spoone and his family came to Orlando in 1958 for him to coach football at Edgewater High. He also taught and coached at Evans High after stints at schools in Volusia and Seminole counties. After earning a master's degree in education in 1971 from Rollins College, Spoone became principal at Howard Junior High (1971-75), followed by more than a decade at Oak Ridge High (1975-86). He also was the first principal of Dr. Phillips High, where he led for six years (1986-1992). He then was elected to the Orange County School Board, where he served District 4 for eight years (1992-2000). Known for his “hip-hip-hooray” leadership style, Spoone was inducted into the Oak Ridge High School Sports Hall of Fame and the school's gymnasium is named after him. The Dr. Phillips High community also honored Spoone by naming its football stadium after him. “We were truly saddened to hear the news of Bill Spoone's death,” said Superintendent Barbara M. Jenkins. “Bill positively impacted the lives of thousands of students in OCPS as a teacher, coach, principal and board member over 40 years. His work in the classroom, on the football field and in the boardroom exemplifies a life devoted to leading students to success. He will be greatly missed.”
Learning Counsel Award OCPS was named an EduJedi District Innovator by The Learning Counsel at its annual national gathering in December 2021. The award recognized the district for providing more than 188,000 devices; addressing tech onboarding for families; having student and parent portals; and offering a breadth of digital curriculum resources and services.
Orange Technical College Update As part of its re-accreditation process with the Council on Occupational Education, Orange Technical College has adopted new geographic indicators as part of its evolution into one postsecondary institution. The school's downtown Orlando campus will be known as the main campus for Orange Technical College, and the following campus names will change: • • • •
Avalon is now the Avalon Campus. Mid Florida is now the South Campus. Westside is now the West Campus. Winter Park is now the East Campus.
Stay tuned for more updates as OTC continues to increase student access, interest and enrollment in vocational learning.
In case you missed it …. The 2020-21 graduation rates for the state, school districts and high schools were released by the Florida Department of Education in January. OCPS continues to increase the number of graduating seniors and outpace the state average.
2020-21 GRADUATION RATES
98.4% 90.4% 90.1%
TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS ALL SCHOOLS INCLUDING ALTERNTIVE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
STATE AVERAGE
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UND
AR
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The Orlando Technical College - South Campus staff works diligently to change the lives of its 4,500-plus students through education.
John Young Elementary staff and volunteers were excited to revive its Holiday Breakfast tradition with families before the winter break.
Union Park Middle staff enjoyed a night of fun at an Orlando Magic game.
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Staff at Silver Pines Academy K-12 Learning Center enjoyed a sweet holiday treat thanks to the local Sam's Club.
Bay Lake Elementary Counselor Carida De La Torre and her colleagues hosted Cookies with the Counselor for students and their families to learn about the importance of mindfulness.
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The Lakeville Elementary “staffulty” came back from the Winter Break ready to keep their Engineers on track in the new year.
Families of Mollie Ray Elementary enjoyed a generous Thanksgiving meal thanks to the kindness of partners from First Baptist of Orlando's First Academy.
The Minority Achievement Office, led by Minority Achievement Officer Jennifer Bellinger (center), will be going out to schools to read during Black History Month.
It was a sleigh-full of happiness for the Facilities Fiscal team during the winter holidays. Edgewater High faculty and staff were invited to wear their favorite ugly sweater and dress as their favorite holiday character prior to winter break.
Deputy Superintendent Maria Vazquez helped students load a few supplies at the Second Harvest Food Drive at Evans High in December.
Chief of Staff Bridget Williams (far right) attended the Orlando Magic game where Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (middle blue hat) recognized MLK Youth Humanitarian award winners who received scholarships to Tennessee State University.
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MAXEY ELEMENTARY:
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ROOTED IN WINTER GARDEN’S
Mural artwork by Lisa Mikler.
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BLACK HISTORY As Maxey Elementary students and staff walk down the main hall, a colorful wall features painted canvas panels depicting Winter Garden's past. The vibrant mural illustrates a time when education and other aspects of life were separated by the color of a person's skin. The artwork serves as a historic reminder that the school stems from the love of a committed couple, the Maxeys, who refused to let the children and their community languish in ignorance. During the Jim Crow era, many of Winter Garden's African American children worked in crop fields and did not attend school very often. That changed after college-educated William and Juanita Maxey relocated from Jacksonville to work at the Winter Garden School for the Colored and ensure education was valued in the community. As the principal, Mr. Maxey visited students who were absent and drove them to school if they were not sick. He wanted his students to achieve their dreams, attend college and obtain a teaching certificate if they decided to become an educator and return to teach in Winter Garden. He also personally moved an abandoned fruit stand with a mule and logs to the school grounds during the winter so his students could have a lunchroom in 1939.
Clockwise: William S. Maxey*, the Shiloh-Rosenwald School in Notasulga, Ala., and the Maxeys along with teachers at the former Winter Garden Junior High*. *Photo courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
Mrs. Maxey served as one of the teachers at the small, wooden schoolhouse, a Rosenwald School that was built to educate African Americans. “William Maxey and his wife, Juanita, were passionate about their community and educating Winter Garden residents,” said Carletta Davis-Wilson, principal of Maxey Elementary. “They both made invaluable contributions and created opportunities for students and families to access high-quality education within the east Winter Garden area during a time of disparity.”
Did You Know? Jewish philanthroper Julius Rosenwald (part owner and president of Sears, Roebuck and Co.), in conjunction with educator Booker T. Washington, financed and built more than 5,000 Rosenwald Schools across America’s segregated South in the early 20th century to educate African American children. Visit https://orangepeal.pub/Rosenwald to learn more.
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During Maxey’s principalship, the segregated school was renamed Winter Garden Junior High and moved to a larger area on Maple Street. In 1949, the district renamed the school after the African American surgeon and researcher Charles R. Drew. Over the next decade buildings were added, the campus grew to offer a curriculum for grades 1-12, the school attained accreditation and was renamed Charles R. Drew High. After Maxey retired in 1965, the School Board shortened the name to Drew High, only serving grades 10 through 12. The high school was closed in 1970 and the facility is now the home of Orange Technical College - West Campus.
In 2018, OCPS built a new elementary school on Story Road and shortened the name to Maxey Elementary. Today, the K-5 school, which serves nearly 400 students, includes a visualand performing-arts magnet that provides students with cross-curricular connections and exposes them to art, dance and music influenced by African culture. Part of this connection is the school's history wall titled “Keeping the Legacy Alive,” which features five framed photos of its namesake, the community center and previous school locations, and the mural with 11 acrylic paintings by artist Lisa Mikler. “The legend on the legacy-painting wall is used during mediacenter rotations and to teach parents and students about the Maxeys’ contributions to the school and community during tours,” said Christine Andujar, Maxey Elementary media clerk. “Teachers also can check out and use barcoded legends to teach their students about the Maxeys in their classrooms.”
Did You Know? Principal Maxey's retirement celebration. Courtesy of the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation.
Dr. Charles R. Drew developed methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion and organized the first large-scale blood bank in the United States, and led the blood plasma programs for the nation and Great Britain during World War II.
The district honored the dedicated principal by naming a new elementary school for Black students on Maple Street after him in 1966. William S. Maxey Elementary was integrated four years later and closed at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.
Maxey Elementary Black History Month Activities
• African-inspired dance and music performances • Art tribute with Superintendent Jenkins and other influential African Americans • Door decorations • Essay contest • Themed days
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Advance Your Education and Further Your Career As your local university development counselor, I’m here to help you learn more about Grand Canyon University and start your college journey! Why choose GCU? • • • •
More than 200 online academic programs Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs available 100% online* Cost-reduction options and scholarship opportunities Complimentary transfer credit evaluation and more For more information, contact me directly to discuss! Lauren Hazeltine | 602-247-3718 lauren.hazeltine@gcu.edu | gcu.edu/OCPS
*Excludes programs with residencies Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/academicpolicies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of APRIL 2021. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2021 Grand Canyon University 21COEE0243
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GREATER THAN THE
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As many football fans kick back Sunday, Feb. 13 with friends and family to watch the NFL’s Super Bowl LVI, one OCPS educator will know firsthand what it’s like to play at the highest level of the sport. Legacy Middle Principal Jason Jimenez played professional football for nine years – three years with the National Football League and six years for the Canadian Football League. His foray into the world of football and teaching truly is an OCPS full-circle story. Jimenez’s South American parents (father from Peru, mother from Colombia) moved the family from New York to “small town” Orlando in the 1980s. Jimenez attended Cypress Park Elementary (now Sally Ride Elementary), Walker Middle, Edgewater and Cypress Creek high schools. A player of multiple sports, it wasn’t until the end of his junior year at Cypress Creek that coaches approached the 6’7” student to consider playing football as a means to go to college. “My dad saw the value in it because they weren’t gonna be able to send me to college,” said the Class of 1998 graduate. “My mom had her reservations … when it comes to [mothers and] their boys playing football. … Sports really played a pivotal role for me because it gave me an outlet.”
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His work in the weight room and study of the sport garnered him a scholarship to play at Southern Mississippi University in Hattiesburg, Miss. (For football fans, Brett Favre also went here). There, he continued his strength conditioning and bulked up from 190 to 315 pounds at offensive tackle. “I worked out, I ate, … it was a regimented program,” he said. “You know, it was the same way that we look at student data here in OCPS. It was, ʻHere’s your data, here’s your next target. Here’s your next goal. Okay. This is what you do to get there.’” After five years at Southern Miss, the next goal Jimenez set his sights on was to play in the NFL. “I thought to myself, ʻThis is a young man’s sport. I won’t be able to do this in my 30s, 40s or 50s, or much later in life. It’s either now or never,’” he said. While not drafted, Jimenez was picked up by the Cleveland Browns. During minicamp, he was released by them and moved on to the Green Bay Packers, where he played on active reserve for 1.5 years. Next he went to the Oakland
Raiders, where he was activated on special teams. (In the 2004 and 2005 offseasons, he also played in Germany for the NFL Europe’s Frankfurt Galaxy and Cologne Centurions, respectively.) Interested in learning about our northern neighbors, Jimenez moved to the Canadian Football League for six seasons, where he played for teams on both coasts – the British Columbia Lions and Hamilton Tiger Cats. Schooling for his wife (also a Cypress Creek graduate) and the desire to be closer to relatives brought him and his family back to Orlando in 2012. His former football coach asked him if he would be interested in high school coaching, which set up Jimenez’s next play – studying for and passing the teaching exam. With a double major in political science and criminal justice, he landed a teaching position in June 2012 at Freedom High teaching U.S. History, while also coaching the football team’s defensive line. After two years of coaching, his focus for teaching became greater than the gridiron. “I love the sport. I would like to always be connected to football somehow, some way,” said Jimenez, who is also
treasurer and helps award college scholarships through the Orlando Former Players Chapter of the National Football League Players Association. “But coaching is a small part of the larger whole of teaching. … In order for me to become a better teacher, I need[ed] to give up football.” Fully focused on education, Jimenez welcomed input to improve his students and himself – with successful outcomes. In his 10-year career with OCPS, he has gone from being a social studies teacher to a dean at Freedom to assistant principal at Colonial High, assistant principal of instruction at Carver Middle to now principal at Legacy Middle. “A lot of what I learned from the sport aspect of football is easily translatable into my role now as a principal,” said Jimenez, who is in his first year. “It set that foundation for giving me a sense of, ʻHey, here’s the current landscape, here’s our next goal, how do we meet that goal?’” “So the same way with working with a group of teachers, students and parents – we’re a collective team. The same way that I had a team in high school and college and pro, we’re all we all have. We all have reason and purpose to do what we’re doing.”
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Love Yourself: Get Heart Healthy Information provided by the American Heart Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention About half of all Americans (47%) have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps, especially during American Heart Month, to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.
Common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease: • High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is often called a “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to measure your blood pressure. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/ bloodpressure/measure.htm. You can lower your blood pressure with lifestyle changes or medicine to reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attack. When left untreated, the damage that high blood pressure does to your circulatory system is a significant contributing factor to heart attack, stroke and other health threats. Visit https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics for more information. • Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made by the liver or found in certain foods. Your liver makes enough for your body's needs, but we often get more cholesterol from the foods we eat.
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There are two main types of blood cholesterol: LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which is considered to be “bad” cholesterol because it can cause plaque buildup in your arteries, and HDL (highdensity lipoprotein) cholesterol, which is considered to be “good” cholesterol because higher levels provide some protection against heart disease. High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know whether you have high cholesterol is to check your cholesterol. Your primary care physician can do a simple blood test, called a “lipid profile,” to measure your cholesterol levels. Visit https://my.cigna.com to find a provider in your area. • Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2 Diabetes). Diabetes causes sugar to build up in the blood. The risk of death from heart disease for adults with diabetes is higher than for adults who do not have diabetes. Talk with your doctor about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors. • Obesity. Obesity is excess body fat. Obesity is linked to higher “bad” cholesterol, triglyceride levels and lower “good” cholesterol levels. Obesity can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Talk with your health care team about a plan to reduce your weight to a healthy level.
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Know the Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Heart Attack Symptoms • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. • Discomfort in other areas of the upper extremity. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. • Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Stroke Symptoms Spot a stroke F.A.S.T. • Face drooping. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. • Arm weakness. Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? • Speech difficulty. Is one's speech slurred, unable to speak, or is s/he hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? • TIME TO CALL 911. If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get s/he to the hospital immediately.
Cardiac Arrest Symptoms • Sudden loss of responsiveness. No response to tapping on shoulders. • No normal breathing. The person does not take a normal breath when you tilt his/her head up and check for at least five seconds.
*Content is meant for informational purposes only. Concerns related to your health should be discussed with a medical provider. In case of emergencies, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
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Find Help for Chronic Conditions Even when you are doing well on your own, there are times when you may need extra help with a chronic condition. OCPS Cigna plan members have access to support from health advocates provided through Cigna. Your health advocate can assist you with: Good sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. The OCPS Employee Wellness Program and Cigna are excited to present a FREE, virtual course provided by AdventHealth - The Rest of Your Life. You will learn about the latest in sleep science and behavioral change techniques. This program offers practical, evidence-based solutions to the pressing problem of sleep deprivation and teaches participants how to end exhaustion, enhance energy and sleep smarter. You will be provided with dozens of strategies to combat common sleep thieves and help you create a personal action plan to take control of your rest. Employees who register for The Rest of Your Life will have the option to participate in the live class or watch the on-demand replay. The live course will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 15 and will run through March 10. Each course will last approximately 30 minutes. By participating, you will be able to engage in lesson activities and conversations. The on-demand replay will be available within 48 hours of the scheduled class, and a web link will be emailed to those who are registered. Registered OCPS employees will be automatically entered into The Rest of Your Life – Employee Wellness Program drawing with prizes awarded at the end of the program. To register, go to https://orangepeal.pub/RestofLifeForm. For questions, email wellness@ocps.net.
• Managing your chronic condition. • Making educated decisions about your health and treatment options. • Saving money on medically related expenses. • Understanding medication and doctor's orders. • Identifying triggers that affect your condition. • And more. To have a confidential, one-on-one conversation, call 855.246.1873. Or, visit https://my.cigna.com for information and self-help resources.
Opt-in to access IRS Form 1095-C OCPS provides health care coverage to all benefited employees who meet the IRS definition of minimum essential coverage. As required by the IRS, OCPS provides Form 1095-C to all employees enrolled in the medical plan. Employees may use the information on Form 1095-C to help complete 2021 tax returns regarding health care coverage. However, employees do not need the form to complete their 2021 tax returns. For more information, please visit the IRS's ACA website at https://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/ Individuals-and-Families.
Why choose an online form? 9 Earlier access. You'll be able to view and print your
form as soon as it's processed electronically. No waiting for envelope stuffing or mailing.
9 Access when and where you need it. Visit the myOCPS portal when you're ready.
9 It's more secure. Online delivery eliminates the chance that your Form 1095-C will get lost, misdirected or delayed during delivery.
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How do I elect to receive my form online? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Login to myOCPS at https://sapportal.ocps.net/. Select the Employee Self-Service tab. Select Benefits. Select 1095 Consent for Electronic Delivery. Click GRANT CONSENT.
All employees will receive notification when the online Form 1095-C has been processed and is ready to view online. If you do not elect to receive your form online, a paper form will be printed and mailed to the address on file by March 2. If you need to update your address, please visit the myOCPS portal at https://sapportal. ocps.net/.
Benefit Advocate Center is Here for You!
February Healthy Heroes “Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.” – Thomas Jefferson This is what Avalon Elementary's dynamic walking duo did in 2021. Patrick Hernan, first grade teacher, and Cathy Stallings, media specialist, walked an impressive 4,502 combined miles last year. You may ask yourself, how did they accomplish such an amazing feat? Hernan and Stallings have a history of motivating each other by participating in various 5k races. In 2021 they decided to expand on their fitness endeavors with the challenge of walking a combined 2,021 miles over the year.
OCPS and Gallagher Benefit Services are pleased to introduce the Benefit Advocate Center, available to assist employees and family members covered by one of the OCPS medical plans with pharmacy questions. Maximize your pharmacy benefit with a team of licensed health care advocates available Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Benefit advocates can help you: • • •
Find a covered medication and the cost. Find an in-network pharmacy. Explain coverage information.
Covered OCPS members can call 833.416.5130 or email bac.ocps@ajg.com for assistance. Emails are sent to a secure database, and replies are encrypted.
It's Time to Get Active! In March, The OCPS Employee Wellness Program sponsors its annual Get Active event. The purpose of Get Active is to encourage everyone – employees and students – to do some form of physical activity for at least 15 minutes. Work locations in the district join in this lighthearted competition to see who has the greatest participation and most innovating event. Contact your worksite wellness representative to find out if your school or location is participating.
When asked what they had discovered by completing their challenge, Hernan said, “that you can achieve a goal as long as you set your mind to it. 2,021 miles seems like a long distance, but by walking each day, you gain that confidence that it can be reached!” Stallings learned that she “had to make a commitment to walk. Some days were harder than others, but having someone to motivate me kept me going.” With 2022 just beginning, the walking duo has set its sights on walking – you guessed it: 2,022 miles. If you would like to nominate a co-worker as a Healthy Hero, please email wellness@ocps.net with the candidate’s name, location and why they deserve the title.
Benefits Bulletin is designed to keep OCPS employees and their families informed about available benefit programs. This information is not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history.
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Upcoming Virtual Workshops via WebEx: Feb. 9, 5-6:30 p.m. Social Security Planning https://orangepeal.pub/FebSocialSecurity Feb. 16, 5-6:30 p.m. Estate Planning for Busy People! https://orangepeal.pub/FebEstatePlanning Feb. 23, 5-6:30 p.m. Medicare Planning - Choose Wisely! https://orangepeal.pub/FebMedicarePlan
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