NOLA Public Schools to Launch "The Mental Minute" Campaign to Prioritize Mental Health in Orleans Parish

WHAT:

NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS), in partnership with The Blairisms, will be launching "The Mental Minute". The campaign aims to bolster the mental health of scholars, families, and faculty across Orleans Parish by providing essential tools to cope with stress, reduce anxiety, and enhance emotional resilience.

WHEN:

Wednesday, August 9 • 9:30 – 10:00 AM

MEDIA IS REQUIRED TO RSVP TO THIS EVENT VIA COMMUNICATIONS@NOLAPUBLICSCHOOLS.COM BY 5 PM TUES., AUG. 8

WHERE:

Bricolage Academy • 2426 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

WHY:

NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is taking a significant step towards promoting emotional well-being with the launch of "The Mental Minute" campaign, a vital initiative developed under the umbrella of NOLA CAREs (CAREs - Community Access to Resources and Equity – is a program that marshals mental health resources, literacy, and career development under a single umbrella, and creates a federation of support services). Led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, and developed in partnership with The Blairisms, the campaign aims to provide mental health support to our scholars, families, and faculty across our school family and community.

Kicking off during the start of the 2023-2024 school year, the special event will focus on training students and faculty in the art of deep breathing/meditation, which can lead to improved sleep quality, lower resting heart rate, and lower resting blood pressure. Hip-Hop artist Mac Phipps will make an appearance to share his experiences with the students who are walking the same halls he once walked when he attended John McDonogh High School. To ensure the message resonates throughout the district, vibrant visual posters will be displayed strategically, reminding everyone to prioritize self-care, meditation, and reflection.

NOLA-PS is committed to ensuring the campaign's benefits reach all members of the community, including educators, families, and scholars. To facilitate this, the district will distribute comprehensive training materials for educators, guiding them through deep breathing exercises, explaining the benefits of meditation, and offering methods to share these skills with students and fellow faculty members.

NOLA-PS will ensure the wide dissemination of "The Mental Minute" campaign's messaging by making posters available to all schools within the district. The goal is to saturate classrooms, hallways, and common spaces with reminders to prioritize mental wellness and embrace moments of self-care. Additionally, students, faculty, and families are encouraged to take posters home or display them in other community spaces, contributing to the greater effort of promoting emotional well-being.

For those interested in obtaining the Mental Minute posters or fliers, NOLA-PS encourages contacting the district via nolapscares@nolapublicschools.com for information on where to pick them up.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 67 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps, and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.