During the weeks of September 21 and 28 freshmen girls went through a three day workshop. These workshops were designed to build awareness and provide guidance and support for girls and their friendships. The workshops grew out of the recognition that the friendship issues facing girls in high school were sometimes interfering with their success, happiness and security at school.

     The sometimes painful, usually confusing, and complicated nature of girl friendships have been largely ignored and/or undervalued by adults, and girls have had to resort to their own survival strategies. Our culture doesn't always define the different ways girls are mean to each other as "aggression", when in fact some of the deepest wounds girls ever experience are from gossip, rumors and/or exclusion from friends.

     Two books were used as guides for these workshops: Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman and Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons.

     In our experience, these workshops have assisted in mending friendships and in improving the general climate of our school. While we know that old habits are hard to break, these workshops will provide our girls with new skills and strategies to deal with what is a critical developmental stage in their lives. The workshops will also help our girls to grow into well-adjusted women with healthy relationships.

     Please feel free to call Pam Ogren with any further questions that you may have. We thank you in advance for your continued support in making Paradise High School the best that it/we can be.

Supporting web links:
www.girlsempowered.com
www.girlsinc.org
www.stop-violence.org
www.clubophelia.com/camp
www.empowered.org
wwwgirlscircle.com