Albuquerque Public Schools
2026 August Employee Wellness Newsletter
Something designed specifically for our APS educators, employees, kids and teens! Be the change you want to see at work, NEW Life on Mindfulness platform and content, and more wellness trends in the news.
"Mindfulness is choosing to be present for life's experiences as they happen, with a sense of balance." Michelle DuVal, MA, The Mindful Center.
We talk a lot about the benefits of mindfulness; it lowers stress and blood pressure and enhances well-being. For students, mindfulness improves focus, lowers anxiety, and helps manage emotions, but we might not feel confident using it on our own or in the classroom.
At the APS Rising Educator Summit, Michelle DuVal, Director of the Mindful Center, led an amazing session on "Awareness in Action: Practical mindfulness for stress, self-regulation, and resilience." It was clear, actionable, and offered simple practices that educators (or anyone) can use in the moment for themselves and their students.
DuVal has created a content section specifically for our APS educators, kids, teens, and employees. Some of the resources include:
- Two questions that will change your day.
- Awareness comes first
- Easy, actionable ways to practice mindfulness in the moment.
- Simple classroom rituals.
- Rituals that calm the mind.
The APS Life on Mindfulness program is free for all employees - and the youth in your life! It is easy to enroll and is mobile-optimized, so you can practice anytime, anywhere. Keep scrolling for more information and a link to enroll.
Be The Change You Want to See at Work
Work is an activity involving mental or physical effort undertaken to achieve a purpose or result. Generally, there are teams with shared goals and a paycheck that goes with that effort. Since we spend more waking hours at work than at home, I think something that's missing from the definition is the social connection, collaboration, and sense of belonging that can enhance our workplace environment and our lives. The J-O-B does not have to be drudgery. It doesn't have to be a lonely, disconnected, unfulfilling experience.
Work is not a dirty word, and I think we need to redefine it as a place where we foster community, growth, and connection- one that lifts, enlightens, brightens, and supports all of us- one where we can all thrive.
The APS Employee Well-being Ambassadors help fill the belonging gap by promoting and cultivating wellness in schools and departments. The ambassadors also serve as the 'boots on the ground,' giving creative feedback to the APS Wellness Department. So, what do you say - Do you want to help bring some fun back to 'work', foster community, and spread wellness mojo? Click here to learn more about becoming an APS Well-being Ambassador.
You can also email Becky MacGregor, APS Employee Wellness Coordinator, at becky.macgregor@aps.edu.
Life on Mindfulness For Awareness In Action
This free, flexible program for all employees offers daily drop-in meditations, new weekly and monthly content, and featured meditations. Use the link below to enroll in the Life on Mindfulness program for all content and email reminders. Everything is recorded for on-demand access. Links for daily drop-ins are available in the Employee Wellness Google Calendar. This site is mobile-optimized so you can access a wide variety of recorded meditations anytime, anywhere. *The Life on Mindfulness program is open to all APS employees as well as the youth in their lives. Students/children aged 10-18 years.
The mindful center has a new page and a new daily schedule.
New login information for Life on Mindfulness
- Click here to log in or enroll if you are a new participant.
- If you previously used a shared password (such as LOMPREMIUM), click Forgot Password to create your own secure password.
LIVE SCHEDULE Monday - Friday
- 11:55 - 12 pm: 5-minute stretch break
- 12-12:20 pm: 20-minute meditation
*Feel free to join or leave anytime.
Michelle begins the sessions at 11:55 a.m. and keeps things flowing until 12:20 p.m. The same schedule and Zoom link apply Monday through Friday. Sessions are recorded for on-demand access and are available in the Life on Mindfulness member portal. Practice Live with Michelle.
ComPsych Guidance Resources
Marital and family struggles, money problems, conflicts at work, grief, and trauma are some of the "unmentionables" sabotaging our health and shattering peace. ComPsych offers free, confidential counseling, financial and legal guidance, and well-being coaching services.
To access ComPsych GuidanceResource® services:
- Call the toll-free number at (800) 497-9088. You'll be connected with a highly trained professional who can guide you to the appropriate services.
- Register with GuidanceResources® online at www.guidanceresources.com and enter the APS company WebID: APSEAP
- Choose the role group that most closely aligns with your position at APS. For family members, choose the APS employee role group. Your designation (ie, spouse, child) will be captured later.
- Download the GuidanceNow™ app for fast and easy access to all your ComPsych resources. Use the same APS WebID: APSEAP.
APS Offers Wellness Coaching for All Employees
We can't always control other people and situations. But we can control how we react and respond, and foundational wellness practices help us do that. If you're struggling, wellness coaching is the perfect avenue to help you navigate emotional and physical health issues and stressors. Try one of these APS programs that offer personalized health coaching and enroll today.
- Health Coaching: This service is offered through our Solutions Group wellness partner. Get help shifting lifestyle habits, managing a chronic illness, losing weight to improve health, or simply feeling better. APS offers free Health Coaching for all employees. *Open to all APS employees.
- APS EAP free, confidential counseling and lifestyle/well-being coaching services through ComPsych Guidance Resources . *This is open to all APS employees and immediate family members.
- Livongo/Teladoc is an integrated program for diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, and weight loss. Livongo offers wrap-around, integrated mental health services and health coaching. *This program is open to all eligible employees and dependents covered under APS Benefits. Getting started is easy!
- Text “GO APS” to 85240 to learn more and join
- Join by visiting https://www.livongo.com/aps
- Call 800-945-4355 and use the registration code: APS
- Hinge Health: Get the relief you need to feel and function better with this virtual physical therapy program by Hinge Health. Hinge Health gives you the tools you need to conquer joint and muscle pain, including back, neck, knee, and shoulder pain, recover from injuries, prepare for surgery, and stay healthy and pain-free. Hinge Health also offers a one-of-a-kind, industry-leading women's pelvic floor program.
Click here and learn more to register. Begin your journey today with a team of physical therapists and health coaches! *Hinge Health is available at no cost to employees covered under the APS Benefits plans and eligible dependents.
Wellness Trends In The News
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