NewHope Academy’s First Student Mental Health Fair

NewHope Academy students stepped into leadership roles as they planned and hosted the school’s first Mental Health Fair, welcoming families, staff, district partners, and community members for a day centered on wellness.

Students Lead the Student Mental Health Fair

Students in the school’s leadership course researched, planned and led the event. Over several weeks, they selected mental health and wellness topics, developed activities, and created interactive learning experiences for the fair.

Interactive Wellness Activities

Guests visited stations on executive functioning, coping skills, creativity, self-care, nutrition, hydration, and therapy animals. Activities included games, reflection exercises, hands-on demonstrations, creative expression, and an opportunity to create your own trail mix.

Therapy ponies were a highlight of the fair, giving students and other attendees a chance to learn about the role animals can play in supporting emotional well-being.

Learning Through Leadership

The fair gave students an authentic opportunity to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting. They strengthened their public speaking, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills while sharing what they learned with the school community.

“This Mental Health Fair showed what happens when students are trusted to lead with purpose,” said Bethany Arteaga, principal of NewHope Academy. “Their creativity, compassion and hard work created an engaging event that supported wellness across our school community.”

NewHope Academy looks forward to continuing this work and making the Mental Health Fair an annual tradition.