| Best
Friends is a school based character education program for girls that begins
in the sixth grade and continues until high school graduation. Best Friends
provides a developmentally sound curriculum in an educational setting which
promotes fun, companionship, and caring. When Best Friends girls reach ninth
grade, they enter the Diamond Girl Leadership program which is designed to keep
girls interested, involved, and committed to their character education through high school
and until marriage. All Diamond Girls participate in the Diamond Girl Jazz
Choir or Performance Dance Troupe which fosters discipline as well as the
social and presentation skills important for future success. Our goal is
for all Diamond Girls to graduate from high school with specific college,
vocational, or career plans.
Curriculum
Best Friends provides a character-building curriculum, an intensive peer support structure, and long-term adult involvement.
Each year, Best Friends girls receive at least 110 hours of instruction,
mentoring, and group activities.
The
Best Friends Curriculum includes:
Group
Discussion
Girls discuss and receive guidance on the topics of friendship, love and
dating, self-respect, decision-making, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, physical
fitness and nutrition, AIDS and STDs. Group discussion sessions are conducted
during the school day at least once a month.
Role
Model Presentation
At least twice a year distinguished women from the community meet with
the girls to discuss their own lives and families and the important decisions
they made when they were young.
Mentor
Meetings
Each Best Friends girl has a mentor, a member of her school faculty, who
meets with her for 30 to 45 minutes each week. Girls select their own
mentors from a list of teachers who have agreed to participate.
Fitness
and Nutrition Classes
Best Friends girls participate in a weekly fitness/dance class.
Community
Service
Girls are required to participate in at least one community service project
each year such as Race for the Cure, clothing drives to benefit the homeless,
adopting a community day care center, and reading to children.
"Make
Music Not Madness"
This is our new all-school outreach effort designed to deliver the messages
of rejecting drugs, alcohol, and premarital sex to the entire student
body. Our goal is to utilize Best Friends and Best Men as role models
for their fellow students, helping them say "no" to risk behavior
and "yes" to positive music and positive choices.
Cultural
Enrichment Activities
We provide opportunities for the girls to attend uplifting cultural events,
including theater and dance performances, concerts, and exhibits.
Annual
Family and School Recognition Ceremony
At the end of the school year, the Best Friends girls, Diamond Girls,
mentors, and parents are honored. The ceremony is held to showcase the
Best Friends girls and Diamond Girls and their commitment to the Best
Friends messages through music, dance, and public speaking. Girls are
recognized by their family, school, community, and national leaders. College
scholarships, awards, and prizes for outstanding essays are presented.
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