Namaste everyone. My name is Priya Venugopal. I am the Elementary Technology Integrator. I'm excited and thrilled to be the Wellness Coordinator. As we are all aware this year has been like no other year ever before. The rapid transition to an online teaching environment has impacted teachers’ physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. I want you all to know that I acknowledge the complexity and uncertainty of the current situation and understand that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious, fearful, or stressed as we transition to new ways of teaching and leading. As your wellbeing coordinator, it is my aim to create a culture that embraces wellness initiatives and activities. Along with the Wellness Committee, and the WNT (Wellbeing Network Team) I would like to establish a workplace that encourages and supports a healthy lifestyle by integrating health promotion activities and resources that will enhance individual health and well-being.
I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the fact that teachers are social beings and enjoy the connection gained from face-to-face interactions. However, given the fact that we are restricted from interacting face to face due to COVID-19, it’s important to find practical ways to stay connected to colleagues and students in an online world. One of my goals is to bring the AISC community together and make connections with the larger Chennai community and that can only be achieved if I have your love and support. Please feel free to mail me your ideas at vpriya@aischennai.org. I would love to collaborate with you all and make our community a happy place to work in.
Inspirational Article \ Video Of The Week
This space will be used to share videos or articles that we all come across that inspire and motivates us to become a better version of ourselves. Please mail me articles or videos that you come across that you would like me to share with the larger community. These videos could be from any genre. It could be dance, music, sports, education, etc the list is endless. Here is this week's Video.
Here is this week's article:
Highlights From WNT ( Wellbeing Network Team)
We at the WNT (Wellbeing Network Team) have been working hard and are trying to come up with events and activities that you can all participate in. We are being mindful of your time and the different time zones we are spread out at.Fun Fitness
Interested in getting some fun physical activity? Here is your opportunity to take part in a music and game-based fitness class with Jack on Saturday, July 25th at 9:00 a.m. We will send out a ZOOM link on a calendar invite.This fitness activity will be light and welcoming for all. We will be listening to different songs that indirectly tell us different exercises to do! No equipment is needed, but a smile is encouraged!
Jack Bissonnette is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92048958654?pwd=ZzlVaGtpeGNXbzVYc0s0bm5uL2dtUT09
Meeting ID: 920 4895 8654
Passcode: FunFitness
Welcome to AISC - Introduce Yourself
We at WNT came up with a new initiative to introduces ourselves to the New Faculty Class of the AISC community (Faculty and Staff). Please open this link and add a short introduction about yourself. It could be a fun fact about yourself that no one knows, a talent you have, etc. Looking forward to seeing you all there. It won't take long. Please do participate.
Websites/ Centers for Online Counseling
These are difficult times and we need to take care of ourselves. Recently we received notification from Sudha in the business office that counseling services are covered in our health insurance. Here are some places for online counseling and support as well as mindfulness/meditation contacts. We will continue to update the document as we become aware of more resources. Click here.
Wellness Academy
We are fully aware that social connections and virtual community activities are needed to support our wellbeing in this time of uncertainty. If you are interested in supporting us in this fill out this Google Form to apply to lead a course within the Wellness Academy for the Fall and/or Spring semester- (stipend included).
*If you have any questions about these processes, you can email me at vpriya@aischennai.org
We hope to hear from you and would love any support you can provide as we strive to support our staff and faculty wellbeing in these times of uncertainty. Please email me if you are interested in joining the Faculty Wellness Committee (led by Priya).
Reminders & Upcoming Event Suggestions
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Links to online shopping
This is a guide to online shopping sites in India. It will keep getting updated as and when someone recommends a site where they bought something. Click here
Local Businesses, Restaurants and Take Away
I would like this space to be a platform where we can support local businesses. I am looking for any home chefs, bakers, Salad makers, etc you may know who is catering within the city. If you are wondering why I'm doing this? The number one perk to consider, for obvious reasons, is that supporting local means that we care about the community that we live in. You’ll be able to put money back into your community and the other people who call it home, too. It’ll give your local economy a chance to thrive, too. Local business owners don’t have the funds to go big or go home, so when you buy local you are going to be respecting that they are getting out there every day and trying their best to make an honest living even against all of the competition out there. There is a lot to be said for that. Shopping with a local business — regular shopping, that is — shows them the respect that you have for them and their attempts at doing things the right way. Please feel free to send me contact details of people you may know who may benefit from this platform. You may email me at vpriya@aischennai.org
Here are my suggestions for local businesses you may want to explore and give a chance to invest in. These suggestions are to kickstart this initiative.
TGIHomemade
Healthy and Clean Eating is not a trend but going back to basics for best health.
We understand the modern lifestyle makes it hard and we choose between guilting or dieting but the best option is to EAT Healthy so you guilt LESSER.
Choose TGIHOMEMADE to satiate your cravings for healthy and cheat food. We assure Zing in various ways everything we make from signature recipes to hidden nutrients best for boosting immunity and keeping you fit and fabulous.
Check us out on Facebook @TGIHomemade or Instagram @thankgoditishomemade
Call Barkha- 99404 73768 for a custom menu.
Sinful Temptations
Cardy's Catering
For Pet Lovers
Movies/Shows to Watch
Everyone is home binge-watching movies and shows during this period. Here is a form for you to fill and give us your suggestions. I will highlight one of these every week. This week's recommendation is Street Food.
Street Food is an American documentary that premiered on Netflix on April 26, 2019, created by David Gelb, exploring some of the best street food in the world over nine episodes. Archival footage is combined with face to face interviews and follows street food chefs and their history, which is intertwined with the big picture of how influential street food is on their native country
Street Food is an American documentary that premiered on Netflix on April 26, 2019, created by David Gelb, exploring some of the best street food in the world over nine episodes. Archival footage is combined with face to face interviews and follows street food chefs and their history, which is intertwined with the big picture of how influential street food is on their native country
Birthdays and Celebrations
"We have to be able to grow up. Our wrinkles are our medals of the passage of life. They are what we have been through and who we want to be." by Lauren Hutton
Please feel free on sending me suggestions and ideas on what else you would like to see on the blog. I am here to make them happen for you.
warmly
Priya Venugopal
