NOLA-PS to be Awarded $25,000 by Special Olympics Louisiana During 3rd 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 kicks-off 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 Thursday, March 23 at 10:45 AM.

WHERE:

NOLA Public Schools Board Room • 2401 Westbend Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70114

WHO:

●Dr. Fateama Fulmore - Deputy Superintendent of NOLA-PS

●Fallon Buckner Ward - Unified Champion Sports Manger, Special Olympics Louisiana

●Chase Bolden - Fitness Challenge Student Participant

●Shawn Williams - Fitness Challenge Coach at Bricolage Academy

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 City Schools! The five-week long fitness challenge promotes healthy eating habits, emphasizes the importance of physical exercise, and encourages all students to participate in inclusive sports so they can reach their potential. With this award, NOLA-PS will be able to provide awards and incentives to students who excel during the challenge. In addition, participants can also earn fitness equipment, healthy snacks, teacher incentives, and a few lucky schools will win either sensory equipment for students or a stipend to host an inclusive field day at their school.

In total this school year, Special Olympics Louisiana has given a total of $44,000 to district schools, with $19,000 being previously awarded to schools. This grant money has helped with programs for students with exceptionalities and has helped to promote inclusive sports across the district.

During this year's Fitness Challenge, over 1,100 students from across the 28 District schools, including St. Michael Special School and a group of three to five year olds, under the NOLA-PS local agency, will be participating in the 3rd 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.

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

Prizes will be awarded to the participants during the Closing Ceremony on May 12. Please stay tuned for more details.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) 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 (OPSB). NOLA-PS currently oversees 72 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.