VCS Employee Wellness

05/01/2026

💙🍎 Happy Principal Appreciation Day! 🍎💙

Today, VCS Employee Wellness celebrates our incredible principals who lead with dedication, heart, and an unwavering commitment to students and staff. Thank you for all you do to support your schools, your teams, and our VCS community—today and every day!

04/29/2026

🌟 Wellness Wednesday – World Wish Day 🌟

Today we celebrate World Wish Day, the founding anniversary of the Make‑A‑Wish Foundation.

This day reminds us that hope, kindness, and compassion are powerful wellness tools—not just for the children and families they serve, but for all of us.

Take a moment today to reflect on a wish you have for yourself or someone else, and consider how one small act of kindness can make a big difference. 💙✨

04/22/2026

🌿✨ Wellness Wednesday meets Earth Day ✨🌿

Today is the perfect reminder that caring for ourselves and caring for our planet go hand in hand. Take a moment to step outside, breathe in some fresh air, soak up the sunshine, and appreciate the beauty around you. 🌎💚

Whether it’s a quick walk, planting something new, staying hydrated, or simply unplugging for a bit—small actions make a big impact on your wellness and our Earth.

🌱 Move your body
🌱 Nourish your mind
🌱 Protect our planet

How are you celebrating Wellness Wednesday and Earth Day today? 🌼

04/16/2026

04/15/2026

💚 Wellness Wednesday | Tax Day 💚
Today can bring added stress with deadlines and financial questions—but you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Remember that Volusia County Schools offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that can help with financial questions, budgeting support, and other life concerns. It’s a free and confidential resource available to you and your household.
Along with checking off those to‑dos today, take a moment to care for your well‑being:
✅ Pause and breathe
✅ Take a short walk
✅ Hydrate
✅ Reach out for support when needed
Your wellness matters—especially on busy days like today. 💚

04/10/2026

🎉 That’s a wrap on the Spring VCS Step‑Up Challenge! 🎉
From March 11 – April 8, 65 participants stepped up, stayed motivated, and made movement a priority. What an incredible display of commitment across our VCS community—let’s celebrate our winners! 👏

🏆 Top 3 Overall Finishers — Total Steps
Distance Powerhouses! 💪
These participants logged the highest cumulative step totals across the entire challenge:
🥇 Jackie Wellmaker — 860,772 steps
🥈 Daryl Rohr — 717,915 steps
🥉 Denise Claiborne — 648,514 steps
✅ True endurance champions with consistent, high daily movement from start to finish!

📈 Top 3 Most Improved — Percentage Increase
Growth really does matter! 🌱
These steppers showed the greatest improvement from start to finish:
🥇 Amy Scott — +177%
🥈 Melissa Brown — +90%
🥉 Pam Stein — +70%
✅ This category celebrates effort, habit change, and momentum—huge wins at any starting point!

🧘‍♀️ Consistency Champion 🧘‍♀️
✨ Dixie Larsen ✨
• Average daily steps: 2,624
• Lowest day‑to‑day variance of all participants
Proof that consistency—not extremes—builds long‑term wellness success. Quietly steady and incredibly committed! 🌟

👏 Thank you to all 65 participants who made this challenge such a success—every step counted! Be on the lookout for the next Step Challenge! 📬🏅💙🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

Send a message to learn more

04/08/2026

🌧️ Wellness Wednesday 🌧️
Rainy days are nature’s reminder to slow down.
Sip something warm ☕ • Take a deep breath 🌿 • Give yourself grace 💙
A little calm goes a long way today.

04/03/2026

🎨 Artful Relaxation After School 🎨
River Springs Middle School staff enjoyed a guided painting event after school—taking time to unwind, create, and relax through art. 💙
This wellness activity was all about slowing down, expressing creativity, and practicing mindful self care after a busy school day.
A perfect reminder that wellness can be colorful, calming, and fun!

Jamie M. Haynes, School Board Member District 1, Volusia County Schools
Volusia County Schools
VCS River Springs Middle School

04/01/2026

🃏 Wellness Wednesday… or is it?! 🃏

April Fools’ Day reminds us that laughter is GREAT for your wellness—boosts your mood, lowers stress, and makes the day more fun!

So today’s wellness tip is simple:
✅ Laugh a little louder
✅ Smile a little bigger
✅ Don’t believe everything you read today 😉

Happy Wellness Wednesday & April Fools’ Day from VCS Employee Wellness!

Volusia County Schools

03/25/2026

✨ Wellness Wednesday Reminder ✨
You don’t have to do everything today.
Just do one thing that helps you feel a little better than yesterday. 💛

03/23/2026

🌸 Welcome back from Spring Break, VCS! 🌸

While many of us were soaking up some well‑deserved rest, 62 incredible staff members in the Spring Step Up Challenge stayed on the move — and the results are amazing! 💪✨

Together, they logged a whopping 3,270,438 steps — that’s approximately 1,635 miles! 🤯👏

That’s enough steps to walk from DeLand, Florida all the way to…
📍 Santa Fe, New Mexico
➡️ ~1,505 miles | ~3,010,000 steps
📍 Denver, Colorado
➡️ ~1,533 miles | ~3,066,000 steps
📍 Albuquerque, New Mexico
➡️ ~1,537 miles | ~3,074,000 steps
📍 Rapid City, South Dakota (Mount Rushmore!)
➡️ ~1,592 miles | ~3,184,000 steps
📍 Almost to Winnipeg, Canada 🇨🇦
➡️ ~1,663 miles | ~3,326,000 steps

🙌 Way to step up, team! Let’s keep the momentum going and finish the challenge strong!
🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

Send a message to learn more

03/13/2026

🎨✨Did you know your VCS Wellness Specialist can bring creative wellness activities right to your site?

This morning, the team at Southwestern Middle School took a moment to relax, reset, and get creative with Neurographic Art. It's a simple, mindful art technique that helps reduce stress, clear the mind, and spark a little creativity.

A little art + a little mindfulness = a great way to start Spring Break!

Interested in bringing a wellness activity like this to your school or department? Let Melissa Stilwell in wellness know - I'd love to visit!! 🎨✨