Wednesday, November 08, 2006

 

Just for Girls


Our staff, at the local junior high where I work, had a concern for a number of years that our Hispanic girls were deficient in the areas of health, personal safety, and general self esteem issues. In an effort to fill in these gaps, an after school program was developed just for these girls. The unique thing about this program is that the information is taught and then discussed in Spanish with the assistance of an ESL aide. The weekly sessions are scheduled from 3:30-5:00 on Tuesday afternoons. Approximately 50 girls attend this program with an average of 25 girls on any particular day.

Our objectives include:
1. Education of the Hispanic girls with respect to healthly lifestyle and personal safety with classes on nutrition, skin care, and sexuality
2. Improvement of confidence and self-esteem through group work and support
3. Explore roadblocks to academic success such as pregnancy and substance abuse issues
4. Establish friendships and social connections within the school

Some of the fun activities included: a fashion show by their teachers to demonstrate appropriate and inappropriate dress, a make-over for skin and makeup, an edited version of the movie "Real Women Have Curves" that has Spanish subtitles and demonstrates some of the roadblocks which exist for these girls, a weekly drawing for a teddy bear, and planning the music and food for their celebration days. This year the girls attended the SMU Visioneer program and won an award.

The outcome and results have been very rewarding with the older girls helping the younger ones with personal, family, and school issues. The girls also expressed their goals for the future and how they think they could attain these goals. There has also been evidence of improved self-esteem and healthier lifestyle choices.

The objectives, as previously stated, were developed to present information in Spanish with fun activities to assist the girls in choosing to make healthier decisions as well as improved self esteem and success in school. When families come for school conferences and express concern for their daughters' welfare, this programn is sometimes recomemended by the staff. The staff had also recommended individual girls for this program that have been identified as at risk for pregnancy or substance abuse. In many cases the girls find some support within the Just For Girls class as they struggle with their personal decisions.

One important factor missing for these girls is the lack of a positive role model. The staff assists them when possible with some of the lessons, such as the fashion show, to demonstrate what it takes to be successful on a personal level as well as in the school and work environment. The girls are exposed to these adults on an ongoing basis during the school day. These adults make an impact by not only giving their time to demonstrate a caring attitude, but by supporting their program to be a better person.

The "Just For Girls" program was developed to assist the native speaking girls in developing self confidence and a healthy, safe lifestyle. It is not uncommon for a girl to become involved with an older boy and then become pregnant at an early age and/or drop out of school. These girls typically come from lower income homes and in many cases where the parents have limited educational and work opportunities.

Our school has approximately 550 students enrolled with many special programs. The students who are enrolled into the English as a Second Language (ESL) program are allowed three years to develop enough skills to then be scheduled into regular classes. Some of these students do not have the support at home, although the school has offered parent education programs in Spanish to try to assist in this. Our ESOL aides make home visits to bridge the gap between home and school. In many cases the staff communicates the student's needs through an interpreter. Approximately 30% of our students are bused here from Hispanic neighborhoods. We have at least 35% of our students on free or reduced lunch. In some cases students miss school when they are required to baby-sit or care for younger siblings. There are also some issues of truancy, substance abuse, and gang related activity that impedes the learning process. There are limited resources for many of these students due to lack of insurance and social security status.

Our Hispanic girls are especially at risk. They have a difficult time with the academics and struggle with their school work. They feel socially isolated and discouraged. They are also given mixed messages on how to fit in. They tend to grow up too fast and become enamored with the older boys who seem to offer an easy answer to school frustrations, a bad home situation, and/or security. The families are ignorant in many cases of the dangers involved. They too, struggle with feelings of isolation and discouragement. It is our hope that their sons and daughters will develop a greater understanding and appreciation for a healthier, more secure lifestyle.

The program we would like for these girls and their mothers to attend next year would cost $75/person. The SHARP program (Sexual harassment assault rape prevention) would greatly improve assertive behavior and teach the individual rape avoidance. The research indicates that girls younger than 14 years that become pregnant have been forced into early sexual activity. This could be prevented if the girls and their mothers could learn some techniques to avoid an assault and improve assertive behavior. The cost of this program would be well worth the results. Our program now functions as a club that is entitled to limited financial support. Our T-shirts were donated. It is our hope that we can secure funding for this program.

There are many benefits obtained from anyone choosing to be a corporate sponsor for this group. The Hispanic parent meetings are held monthly and the parents are updated with respect to the activities that take place at the school. These parents are most supportive of the Just for Girls program that was started three years ago. We will continue to promote this after school program for the school year at the Hispanic parent meeting, PTA, and through the newsletter.


Volunteer Activities:
Our school staff and community support make a big difference in the success of this type of program. These are some of the things they have done to support these girls:

Staff members dressed in very sexually suggestive ways for a fashion show to depict appropriate/inappropriate dress.

A Mary Kay representative volunteered two years in a row to supply and teach the girls basic skin care and make-up. She brought free samples and treats for the girls.

The 8th grade counselor presented a program on peer pressure and put the girls "in the hot seat".

The mother of one of our girls brought a cake and decorations for a celebration day.

One of our ESL teachers arranged for her Hispanic doctor to visit with the girls and answer health related questions.

The School Librarian assisted in getting stories and books to read with the girls.

The Administrators have supported the special activities that were planned with additional money for snacks and pizza.

The school designated money for a bus for a field trip in 2003-2004 to attend the UTD LULAC program and lunch.

A parent purchased our group T-shirts for the 2004-2005 school year.

The Go Van Go program from The Dallas Museum of Art presented a program in Spanish for the girls on Aztec art and culture in November 2004.

The community at large contributed to the Veronica benefit fund (see letter) and benefit dance which raised $600 for the family during December 2004.

The girls attended and won an engineering award at the SMU Visioneer program in Feb 2005.

The PTA sponsors Cinco de Mayo and contributes money for decorations.

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