San Leandro Unified
Employee Wellness
Newsletter
Welcome to Meaningful May!
Let's find ways to be part of something bigger this month.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
This year’s MHA theme for Mental Health Awareness Month is “Back to Basics.” To help spread awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month, we are sharing valuable information and resources related to mental health and mental illness. You can access a wealth of resources and interesting reads here, including the 10 tools to stay positive!
Feel Better About Asking For Help
Does asking for help make you uncomfortable? Odds are, it'll go better than you think.
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Each May the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition encourages Americans to #MoveinMay in celebration of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month. Let's get moving YOUR way in May!
Sonal's Summer Reading

As we get prepped for a summer of blissful beach reading, we asked our favorite Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Sonal Patel what she had on deck to dive into! Here's what she said:

"Here is what’s on my nightstand. Some are purchases from 2020 and 2021 that I haven’t gotten to yet.  
Zadie Smith (Grand Union Station), Claudia Rankine (Just Us), and Lauren Groff (Florida) are writers I love so I am looking forward to checking out these books by them that are in a short stories/series format. While I love novels, short stories make it okay to dive in and stop for a bit- so I think that will be good for me this summer.  
Rankine’s title, Just Us, comes from Richard Pryor’s quote about the courthouse “You go down there looking for justice, that’s what you find, just us.” I am hoping my son Kiran, a high school senior interested in law and politics, will read this one with me so we can unpack it together. I love reading with my kids and what my kids are reading and my sophomore, Priya is obsessed with the Heartstopper graphic novels so they are on the list too!  
I am also reading Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle because, well…uh… 2020, 2021- need I say more?"

If you have fun summer reads on YOUR nightstand, send them over to communications@slusd.us for inspiration!
FREE Financial Consultations with your Claremont EAP
Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers telephonic consultation on a variety of important financial issues including:

  • Budgeting
  • Debt Management
  • Financial Planning
  • First Time Home Buying
  • Tax Questions
  • Identity Fraud
  • Retirement
  • Free Credit Report Review

Claremont provides objective financial advice. Their financial consultants are not selling any financial products; their only incentive is to help you.

You and your eligible family members can also receive confidential, mental health support at no cost. Claremont also provides access to a range of digital and in-person resources to help you address virtually any personal concern or question, for FREE as a SLUSD staff member. Call 800-834-3773 or learn more here!
Origami is Good for your Health

If you are looking for an easy, fun way to increase mindfulness in your day while creating something beautiful and unique, try origami! Read more about the benefits of this ancient Japanese art form here and grab any piece of paper to get started!
Prepping for Pride Month!
June is a big month in SLUSD, and to get ready, we are offering a rare opportunity to sign up for a SLUSD Pride T-shirt! We will be missing the SF Pride Parade this year since it happens after school is out, but where better to show your PRIDE than right here in our schools! Sign up before this Friday, May 6 and show your PRIDE in June!
Sympathetic Joy Quiz

Do you notice the joy in others and share in their happiness?
5 foods and supplements for stress reduction
No matter what stage of life you’re in, you may feel more stressed now than you did a few years ago. Over time, those everyday pressures can lead to depression, anger, and physical symptoms like an upset stomach.

There’s no way to stop stressful situations from happening. But when they do arise, you can help your body and mind handle them better. A healthy diet, regular exercise, relaxation techniques, and supplements for stress can help. Read more here.
SLUSD Retiring Pet of the Month: Ruby Hornada

Ruby is about to get a lot more walking time and she's pretty excited about it!

Meet Ruby, a 7-pound toy poodle. Ruby’s tail never stops wagging. As the fur child of Garfield Elementary's Principal Hornada, she has, of course, been at the top of her class when completing her many tricks and training classes. She spins, rolls over, jumps through hoops, and gives high fives. During distance learning, Ruby made several video appearances as Garfield’s honorary vice principal! Don't tell HR! Ruby is looking forward to more cuddle time with Lynda when she retires in June. We will miss you Principal Hornada. Gatorville just won't be the same.

Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Month at Hayward's Japanese Gardens

Find peace and perspective right nearby.

The Japanese Gardens is the first garden of a Japanese design to be developed in California, and possibly in the entire Western United States, using the principles of traditional Japanese Garden art, combined with native stone and rock and California trees and plantings. Read more here and take a stroll this weekend!
Vegan Asparagus Soup

This Vegan Asparagus Soup is rich and creamy without any cream. It's made with vegetables & roasted asparagus - a quick, easy, and healthy recipe for spring!

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic clove minced
  • 2 pounds of asparagus ends trimmed and chopped
  • 2 medium Yukon gold potatoes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1-2 cups unsweetened almond milk or vegan half & half
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • Grilled bread for serving
  • Chives for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and place asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and roast for 10-15 minutes until the asparagus slightly softens.
  2. Heat remaining olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, then cook with the onions and garlic for a few minutes. Pour the vegetable broth and almond milk, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
  4. Add the roasted asparagus to the pot. Uses an immersion blender to blend the soup until it’s smooth and creamy. You can also do this in batches in a blender.
  5. Stir in the lemon juice and serve with grilled bread and chives, if desired.

(Credit: www.feelgoodfoodie)
Vegan Lemon Olive Oil Cake

This light and fluffy sponge-like cake is absolutely delicious and oh-so-easy to make—no eggs necessary!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 ¾ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons of baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 cup of granulated sugar
  • ½ cup of olive oil (see olive oil tips below)
  • ½ cup of applesauce
  • 1 large ripe banana, mashed completely with a potato masher
  • ½ cup of fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
  • 3 teaspoons of fresh lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • powdered sugar, for dusting

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together until evenly incorporated. 
  3. In a large bowl add the sugar, olive oil, and applesauce. Using a hand mixer, mix on high for 2 minutes. Add in the mashed banana and whip to combine. Add in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract and mix with a spoon just until combined. 
  4. Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet mixture and stir with a spoon just until combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Scoop the batter into a greased 9″ cake pan and tap it roughly on a hard surface to remove any pockets of air.
  6. Bake for 35 minutes, or until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 
  7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully in the pan before gently removing and plating and dusting the top generously with powdered sugar. If desired, decorate the top with a few thin slices of lemon that have been patted dry before adding to the top, and a sprig of rosemary. 

What’s the Best Olive Oil to Use?
Olive oil is key to this cake recipe. It is an olive oil cake after all! So while you can use any olive oil you have on hand for this recipe, you might want to choose a higher quality oil or take into account the different flavor profiles of olive oil. Just like wine, olive oil can be made using many different olive varieties and processing techniques, and they all have very different flavors.
If you love the flavor of olive oil, be sure to choose “Extra Virgin” which is less processed and retains that olive flavor. 
Here are a few tips to consider before baking your cake:
  • An Italian olive oil (especially from Tuscany) has a slight buttery, mild flavor.
  • Use Spanish olive oil for its fruitier-with-a-slightly-peppery-taste profile.
  • Choose extra virgin olive oil because it’s more flavorful and is less processed.

(Credit: worldofvegan.com)
San Leandro Unified School District | communications@slusd.us | www.slusd.us