Presidents’ Note – The Circle, May 2018

This year we are pleased to announce the expansion of our Girls’ Circle Program to include mothers and daughters. We piloted this new effort at Mont Pleasant Middle School and Central Park Middle School. Moms and girls met for about 90 minutes each week for 6 weeks and talked about issues that affect teens and women. Child care and dinner were provided for participants. Using activities and crafts the groups explored ideas like healthy relationships, stress management, self compassion, social media, sibling rivalry and planning and building dreams for the future. One of the groups visited Yoga Bliss on the Boulevard and those moms, daughters and muses have begun regular yoga classes there. A big thank you to owner Mary Clare O’Connor who has been a long time supporter of the WGGS. We received very positive feedback from this first effort and look forward to continuing next year.

The Girls’ Circle groups and muses were able to take advantage of a number of field trips this year. We serve girls of varying ages and needs and each year our planning committee searches out cultural, educational and creative offerings that are within our budget and logistics. We strive to present opportunities beyond the school setting that will help these girls visualize a fulfilling future for themselves and learn more about their community and the world. Connecting with women who are artists, activists, or mathematicians helps open girls’ eyes to their own infinite possibilities. Even what may seem incidental to the casual observer may have an amazing impact. When an 8th grader who may not be excited about her education sits down at a college dining hall to eat a sandwich, she can look around and see young women who look like her, and suddenly, college starts to feel like a tangible opportunity and worth the effort.

This year of programming is winding down, and we will share the highlights of our culminating event, the  Celebration Dinner in our next newsletter. In the meantime, we are busy planning for next year and welcome you to join us at our monthly planning meetings to share your ideas for programming!

-Gwynne DeLong & Dianne Crozier,
Co-Presidents