NOLA-PS to be Awarded $25,000 by Special Olympics Louisiana During 2nd Annual Dr. Rosalynne B. Dennis Fitness Challenge Kick-Off

Event Supported by Special Olympics Louisiana Unified Champion Schools

WHAT:

NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is excited to receive $25,000 from Special Olympics Louisiana as it officially kick-offs the Opening Ceremony of its annual Dr. Rosalynne B. Dennis Fitness Challenge supported by Special Olympics Louisiana Unified Champion Schools!

WHEN:

The kick-off event will take place Monday, March 28 at 9:30 AM.

WHERE:

NOLA-PS Central Office Board Room – 2401 Westbend Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70114

WHY:

NOLA-PS will be awarded $25,000 to continue its annual Dr. Rosalynne B. Dennis Fitness Challenge supported by Special Olympics Louisiana Unified Champion Schools! The Fitness Challenge promotes inclusion, healthy eating, and physical fitness. With this award, NOLA-PS will be able to provide awards to students who excel during the challenge, such as an XBox, Fitbits, fitness equipment, healthy snacks, teacher incentives, student technology scholarships, and a few lucky schools will win a sponsored field day and/or equipment to build a sensory room.

In addition, District schools previously received another $27,000 for a total of $52,000 from Special Olympics Louisiana to provide to students with exceptional needs.

During this year's Fitness Challenge, nearly a thousand students with special needs, across 50 District classrooms, including a group of three to five year olds, under the NOLA-PS local education agency, will be participating in the 2nd Annual Dr. Rosalynne B. Dennis Fitness Challenge.

The event is supported by the Special Olympics Louisiana Unified Champion Schools program which is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change.

Each school's fitness challenge administrator will devise individualized fitness plans for each child and determine which exercises and challenges best fit into the students' individual education plans, as well as their adaptive physical education programs. Exercises/challenges could range from jumping jacks, high knee kicks, sit-ups, push-ups, etc. to a bean bag toss and arm strengthening exercises for children who are in wheelchairs.

Participants can earn a Xbox, Fitbit, fitness equipment, healthy snacks, teacher incentives, student technology scholarships, and a few lucky schools will win a sponsored field day and/or equipment to build a sensory room.

"It's so exciting to be able to host this event in-person this year for our students with exceptionalities. Last year, we held the inaugural challenge virtually due to COVID-19, but that didn't stop us from creating this fun fitness challenge for our students where they can learn healthy habits and push to beat their own personal health goals," said Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. "Dr. Rosalynne B. Dennis compassionately served our District for more than 40 years. She made it her life's mission to ensure children with disabilities were provided exceptional educational services, while also promoting initiatives, such as Special Olympics Louisiana, that focused on their health and safety. Alongside her family, we will continue to honor her hard work and dedication through this annual initiative."

"The Dr. Rosalynne B. Dennis Fitness Challenge has helped students across our system of schools grow physically and mentally stronger, and we are so proud of our schools' commitment to health, fitness, and inclusivity as our students work together to achieve their individual goals," said Dr. Shayla Guidry Hilaire, NOLA-PS' Chief of Student and school Support Officer. "In addition, this program is also a reminder of the selflessness and commitment of our educators to our students, and it has been an occasion for all of us to come together in celebration during extremely challenging times."

As students with disabilities and general education peers work together on social skills, they will forge lifelong relationships. In addition, the challenge will also encourage a healthy lifestyle at school, as well as at home through the introduction of weekly exercises and healthy snacks, while addressing and promoting gross and fine motor skills.

With sports and inclusion as the foundation, Unified Champion Schools offer a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities, and functions.

NOLA-PS is grateful for the support and the organization is excited to, once again, be partnering with us for this annual event.

"Special Olympics Louisiana is excited to join this event for the second year in a row. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide support and resources to NOLA Public Schools to promote inclusion throughout school campuses," said Peter Hunt, United Champion City School Manager, New Orleans. "This fitness challenge will help students learn to live a healthier lifestyle as well as learn more about ALL students and the wonderful things each student can achieve. We are excited to support this wonderful project and look forward to expanding our Unified Champion Schools initiative in NOLA Public Schools in the future!"

The fitness challenge will conclude on April 29, 2022, and prizes will be awarded to the participants during the Closing Ceremony on May 6.

### 

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 76 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.

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