OHbreathe was born out of the increased need for awareness and action related to student/staff mental health. The purpose is to influence positive transformation in the Ottawa Hills Junior/Senior High School community by striving to create a community that is safe and and supportive for all students by inspiring personal growth and deepening connectivity between students and teachers.
Each month, students either participate in a workshop or attend a speaker presentation during a 55-minute session, with class periods shortened to accommodate OHbreathe. Typically, one grade attends the speaker while the remaining grades participate in workshops. This schedule may vary when a speaker’s message would benefit multiple grades or when all students are placed in workshops.
Weeks before each session, students participating in workshops complete a survey so they can be placed in one of their top-choice activities. Workshops range from coloring and yoga to dance and P.E. games; some are offered monthly, while others return only a few times each year. Every workshop introduces an accessible technique that students and teachers can continue using at home to manage stress and support their well-being
From renowned professionals and past alumni to current students, OHbreathe speakers provide meaningful advice, insight, and practical strategies. Although each session lasts only 55 minutes, we select speakers whose messages can leave a lasting impact, particularly in the areas of mental health, personal growth, and student well-being. Past sessions have included alumni panels discussing academic pressure and life after Ottawa Hills, as well as upperclassmen offering younger students guidance on navigating high school. Speaker topics may vary widely as long as they align with OHbreathe’s mission.
OHbreathe began in 2017 when Maggie Mitchell and Will Rand (OH'18) approached social studies teacher Jessica Kozy with an idea to help students navigate the rigor and stress of high school. Since then, the program has evolved under new generations of student and advisor leadership while remaining grounded in its original mission and motto, "notice. choose. act."