Rosston, Ark. (November 13, 2023) — Nevada Elementary School is excited to begin
working on a new campus addition. The school was recently named among 75 schools
in the state to receive $2,500 to construct and furnish a calming room, aimed at
addressing the mental well-being of students.

The funding is part of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Take Good Care Calming
Room initiative.

Nevada Elementary School principal, Tonda Pennington, stated” Our school is very
excited to be awarded this opportunity. We believe our student’s mental and emotional
wellness is just as important as their education.”

According to state data, more than 14%, or 83,135 Arkansas children and teens, are dealing with anxiety and depression. Calming rooms are designed to give students who are feeling
stressed or anxious a quiet place to reflect and refocus so they can perform their best
when they return to the classroom.

Calming rooms often feature items such as:
 Soft lighting
 Tranquil colors
 Comfortable furniture
 Positive, inspirational messages
 Journals, coloring books and other sensory objects

“To mark Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s 75 anniversary this year, we wanted to
do something that would make an impact on the health and well-being of young people
in our state,” said Arkansas Blue Cross President and CEO Curtis Barnett. “What better
way than to help 75 schools provide a safe space where their students can decompress
and learn healthy coping skills that will last them a lifetime.”
In conjunction with its 75th anniversary, Arkansas Blue Cross has also trained nearly
900 people in communities across Arkansas in Mental Health First Aid, surpassing its
goal of 750.

Construction of the calming room will be complete by May 2024