Grade school can be a tough time for any child. Whether she is being teased in the lunchroom or simply has to face her class when she is having a bad hair day, elementary and middle school can present quite the challenge when it comes to maintaining a healthy self-esteem.
At Conestogo Public School, girls in Grades 2 through 8 can participate next weekend in an event called RISE UP – Raising Individual Self Esteem, a half-day workshop and seminar for girls and their mothers that explores the concepts of self-esteem, confidence boosting and resilience.
Juli Chinnick, one of the organizers of the event, has two daughters of her own in Grades 3 and 5.
“Self esteem hasn’t been a big challenge with my kids yet, but they are getting to the age where any day now, something could happen that could cause a problem for them,” she explained. “We (the organizers) thought it would be a good idea to put on this presentation and give girls and their parents the tools to deal with the issues when they come up.”
The day will be filled with activities and workshops discussing topics such as proper skin care, how to build your child’s self esteem and how to identify your strengths. Organizers are encouraging mothers to participate as there will be valuable information for the parents on how to build confidence and foster self-worth in their children.
Chinnick and co-organizer Allison Gramlow heard about the event when they were talking to a mother and daughter who attended a similar presentation in Fergus.
“They were just gushing about it,” said Chinnick. “They only had good things to say and it seemed like just such a fun day for both of them.”
The duo is hoping to have a turnout of around 60 girls, and they plan on running a similar event for boys in September or October if this one is successful.
“Everyone can use a little boost of confidence and empowerment – both boys and girls,” said Chinnick. “As parents, we went through those tough years but that was a long time ago. It is so helpful for parents to be on top of things and know how best to help our sons and daughters grow and deal with issues they are facing.”
The school’s parent council is sponsoring this event along with the Conestogo Optimist Club; several other generous local businesses are offering this workshop at no cost to the families interested in attending.
The workshop is for girls in Grades 2 to 8 and will take place May 29 from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Conestogo PS gymnasium. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. For more information, contact Juli Chinnick (519-664-1915) or Allison Gramlow (519) 206-0115.
