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Mondays With Maria - How to keep one of your New Year resolutions
Posted on 02/03/2025
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Announcer: Welcome to Mondays with Maria, presented by ADDITION Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS, superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez.

Maria Vazquez: Hi everyone. It's hard to believe that we are already one month into the new year, 2025. Nancy Alvarez is back with me. It's so good to have you back with us.

Nancy Alvarez: Thank you.

Maria Vazquez: I have a question. Do you make New Year's Resolutions?

Nancy Alvarez: I do. Doesn't mean I keep them <laugh>, but I do make them. I try.

Maria Vazquez: Well, you know, probably all of us at some point have made New Year's resolutions and a very popular one has to do with better health. Whether it's you're going to exercise more or you're going to eat healthier. And that leads me to the topic of our Mondays with Maria today, which has to do with health screenings. Mm-Hmm <affirmative>. And how important they are.

Nancy Alvarez: It is so easy to forget when life gets so busy, especially at this time of the year. And especially, I think particularly for women. We're so worried about everybody else and getting the kids in order and our husbands and our parents, and that we put ourselves last. It happens all the time.

Maria Vazquez: And mm-hmm <affirmative>. For you, that's a very personal, you have a very personal story.

Nancy Alvarez: I do. Yeah. I think I, it's hard to believe. I just, this morning we were talking, and I, and it dawned on me, it's been four years. Wow. Four years that I'm cancer-free. Right.

Maria Vazquez: Yay! That's amazing.

Nancy Alvarez: But I discovered that I had breast cancer because of a routine mammogram, you know, no symptoms, no family history, just a text reminder, Hey, you're due. I was in a Target parking lot, the random thing. And I remember I was busy and I had things scheduled with my kids and, and as I mentioned things scheduled with my parents, but something just made me pause and go, oh, okay. I guess, you know, I'll make this appointment. I'll, I'll just do it real quick. And I did. And I have been told many, many times that decision saved my life because I caught it so early. And, and that's the message. I mean, that's the reminder. I'm here, I'm living proof that these screenings are so important.

Maria Vazquez: And I want all of our families and our employees to really take advantage of health screenings. And Orange County Public Schools offers health screenings to our employees. Many of them are offered at their work locations or someplace that is close by. All of our schools have a health wellness representative mm-hmm <affirmative>. That's there to really keep employees informed about all of the opportunities available, as well as health tips so that we are as healthy as we can be. And the preventative screenings mm-hmm <affirmative>. Are part of that.

Nancy Alvarez: They're, they're absolutely lifesaving.

Maria Vazquez: Our screenings include breast cancer. Mm-Hmm <affirmative>. Colon cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer. And we live in Florida. So we can't forget screenings for skin cancer.

Nancy Alvarez: January was actually cervical Cancer Awareness month and next month March is colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. And we're seeing a huge rise in cases, particularly among young people Yes. When it comes to colorectal cancer. So that's so important. And I recall you mentioning that the district offers an incentive for employees who actually get the screenings.

Maria Vazquez: Yeah. And, you know, a few years ago I wasn't even aware of that health benefit. But yes, you can earn some extra cash for participating in some of the health screenings and including your physical mm-hmm <affirmative>. And for any employee that's interested, that's part of our health plan. And so you can go onto our website and look at which of the screenings you can earn some extra spending cash if you take advantage of them. So you are being healthy, taking care of yourself, and getting a little extra spending cash. We also offer something new this year with People One Health. This is something that OCPS started having conversations several years ago. In fact, I think I was deputy superintendent at the time with Harris Rosen, who has this model with his employees. And it's an opportunity for employees to receive healthcare medication blood work, and radiology services, all for free. And that includes these health screenings. So we have, I believe, three that are open, currently open. Mm. There's a fourth one that's going to open as well. So whether you're going to your personal doctor or you take advantage of people One Health, we want you to get those health screenings done.

Nancy Alvarez: It's really invaluable.

Maria Vazquez: It really is.

Nancy Alvarez: How about this for a side incentive though? I really want to mention this. Okay. Our kids are watching, right? Yes. Our kids are watching. And if we take part in these programs, we, we do these, these checks. We are proactive about our health. We're teaching them to do the same. Right? Yes. And I think that's so important. I mean, I talk to my daughter about mammograms now all the time. I didn't think that was ever going to be part of my life, but it is. And I think she's going to be healthier and, and more responsible about her health because of what happened to me. And that's so important. And speaking of the kids let's talk about the students and the in, in-school health screenings as well for them. Yes.

Maria Vazquez: We also offer health screening for our students. They include vision, hearing growth and development, and even scoliosis. However, parents must give permission. And that's something that is new as of last year. Some families may not be aware of that. They might think, oh, no, if they're having the health screenings, my child will participate. We need for you to give consent. It's very easy. Go into Skyward, look at the consent form. It's literally checking a box. And for any families that are having difficulties accessing Skyward, you can just reach out to your school and there'll be somebody that can walk you through the easy steps of how to access Skyward.

Nancy Alvarez: Yeah. And as you're talking, I'm imagining that box, and I don't think I have checked it. So, I'm going to go to Skyward and make sure I do that.

Maria Vazquez: So. Yes. Yes. and so thank you so much for being with us on such an important topic. We want everyone to be healthy, especially in 2025. Thank you so much for watching. We will have more of our conversation on our podcast. Just go to wherever you get your podcast and search for Mondays with Maria. Have a great day. I will see you next week.

Nancy Alvarez: We'll see you.

Announcer: See you for an extended conversation on today's topic. Listen to the Mondays with Maria podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. Mondays with Maria's presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at Additionfi.com. For more OCPS news and information, visit TheSlice.ocps.net. I'm your announcer. Kaleb Priester, a senior at Jones High School. Thanks for watching and have a great week.