Connect Newsletter (May 28, 2026)

More than Compensation: Benefits and Perks Factor into Total Rewards

We're taking a deep dive into total rewards at Cook Children's. Total rewards is a comprehensive approach to employee compensation and benefits that goes beyond just your paycheck. It refers to the full package of monetary and non‑monetary rewards for employees, to help ensure that employees get the most out of their experience working at our organization. 

Understanding the concept of Total Rewards is like seeing the job landscape with a wider lens. The big picture contains your compensation plus the variety of benefits, perks incentives that make Cook Children’s the best place to work.

Learn more about Total Rewards on Connect Newsroom. 

Coming Soon: Feedback and Reviews on Job Performance

Kickoff is just around the corner for Performance & Development (P&D), a lineup of activities empowering you to elevate your skills and thrive on the job.

What’s the goal of P&D? To help our employees become their best professional selves. It’s designed to reinforce what you’re already doing well, provide ongoing support and identify opportunities for growth.

Year-end components of our annual P&D cycle run from June through early October. The framework uses tools in Workday starting with Peer Feedback from colleagues you select. You’re encouraged to add your own perspective through Self-Evaluation. Performance reviews and check-in conversations with your manager happen in the homestretch.  

The P&D process matters because it’s a chance to:

• Celebrate your accomplishments in the workplace since the start of the fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2025)
• Recognize your contributions to meeting our Promise: Everything for the Child
• Have candid conversations about your challenges
• Strengthen areas for improvement
• Outline a path for your career aspirations

You can get a jump start by completing any requirements for your role such as the 2026 Required Annual Trainings in ULearn by Aug. 1, 2026. Additionally, all employees whose role requires an N-98 respiratory fit test must complete their annual fit appointment at Occupational Health. Employees who haven’t met the deadline for these requirements may be subject to corrective action.

You can expect regular communication from now until P&D wraps up this fall. Check out Connect newsletter to find resources, key dates and reminders to keep you up-to-speed. Go to our CookNet site to access tips, Job Aids and the P&D timeline. Thank you for tuning in to stay informed.

Cook Children’s Celebrates Peaks the Dragon Appreciation Day

Enjoy the new "Peaks and Love” music video and song this May in honor of Peaks the Dragon Appreciation Day on May 31, celebrating Peaks the Dragon’s first magical appearance. 

The song and music video were created in collaboration with the Child Life Department’s CLZ TV and Sparklefly Studios. 

Take a look at the video on Connect Newsroom🎵

Purchase Peaks' Soccer Jersey

Ahead of the World Cup, be sure to check out the Peaks the Dragon soccer jersey being sold at our Under the Peaks store. The jersey will cost $36 and runs small so be sure to size up. Employees from across the system can purchase this jersey using the inter-office mail form, by returning the Under the Peaks signed order form through email to underthepeaks@cookchildrens.org. Please make sure your Cook Children's location is listed on the form. 

To celebrate the tournament, we'll have World Cup Jersey Days on June 11-14 for staff. You can wear this jersey or any other soccer jersey you have to work. Don't forget to send us your photos! 

Sign up for Stop the Bleed Training

Register for upcoming Stop the Bleed course on Ulearn. These classes have a two-part registration process. 

First, you must finish the American College of Surgeon’s online course that can be completed by watching the associated videos (15–20-minute time commitment), click here to sign up. 

Once the online courses are finished and the comprehension quiz is passed, participants care return to register for the hands-on skills portion in the next step (a 30–40-minute time commitment). You must bring the results of the online quiz to validate completion of the online course.

To register, click here. Below are the dates for the in-person portion of the class. 

• June 1 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• June 2 – 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. in the SimLab
• June 17 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Pavilion 2 Classroom
• June 30 – 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. in the SimLab
• July 6 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• July 22 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center
• Aug. 3 – 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. in the basement - Pavilion 5 Classroom
• Aug. 19 – 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. in the basement - Command Center

Untold Podcast: Sonny Burgess

Music has the power to heal, connect and inspire - and few people understand that better than Sonny Burgess, Director of Clinical Performing Arts. In this final episode of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children’s, Sonny shares the remarkable journey that took him from playing music in small-town Texas to Nashville stages - and ultimately to the halls of Cook Children’s.

Visit Connect Newsroom to view this episode of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children's. 

Share Your Content with Us

Do you have any tips, ideas or content you would like us to know about? We want to hear from you! Please view our SharePoint site and email us at InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org. 

Check our CookNet calendar for more system-wide events and to find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.