OCTOBER 4 – ACTIVATE YOUR GIRL POWER!

Focus of this session:

1. An overview of the Ms President US program;
2. Why civic leadership among women and girls is important, including information about the current representation of women in politics;
3. What girls can do to create positive, lasting change.
   
   

Group Activity: Interview a Future Leader!

Optional Assignment: Look through your local newspaper and find a topic that you care about.   Think about your opinion on the topic.  Do you agree with the decisions that are being made about that topic?

Presenters:
Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut
Charlotte Anglade, Ms President US Mentor, Junior Board Chair

OCTOBER 25 –  LOCAL LEADERS

Focus of this session:

1. Meet the women who are making important decisions in their own towns and cities today.
2. Learn about some of the issues that are being discussed and why they are important to the community.
3. Discuss different opinions on local topics – find common ground among peers.
   
   

Group Activity (from GS of CT):  4th & 5th Graders (Inside Government): STEP 3 – Think about laws you might propose someday.  6th-8th Graders (Finding Common Ground): STEP 2 – Make decisions in a group.

Optional Assignment:  Draft a letter to your town newspaper that presents your position on an issue you are concerned about.
Girl Scouts:  4th & 5th Graders (Inside Government):  STEP 1:  Be an Active Citizen in Action:   List 10 things that make an active citizen.   6th-8th Graders (Finding Common Ground):  STEP 1:  Get to know someone different from you.
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Presenters:
Barbara Henry, First Selectwoman, Town of Roxbury (R)
Julia Pemberton, First Selectwoman, Town of Redding (D)
Rudy Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield (Moderator)
Hersha Chauhan, RHS Student Government Senator

NOVEMBER 15 – STATE LEADERS

Focus of this session:

1. Meet women who are making important decisions in Connecticut today.
2. Learn about why they chose to run for a state position, and what issues are important to them.
3. Understand leadership roles that are available to girls and women in the state.
   
   

Group Activity:  Make a Vision Board

Optional Assignment:  Finish Vision Board at home.

Girl Scouts:  6th-8th Graders (GS of CT:  Finding Common Ground):  STEP 4 – Understand a Compromise.  Discuss the compromises you heard the state speakers describe.
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Presenters:
Toni Boucher, former CT State Senator (Moderator)
Julie Kushner, CT State Senator (D)
Laura Devlin, CT State Representative (R)
Kyela McGuire, Ms President US Ridgefield
Pamela Miles, Facilitator of Vision Board Activity 

DECEMBER 13 – NATIONAL LEADERS

Focus of this session:

1. Learn about the structure of Federal Government and the role of women who are/have been leaders on a national level
2. Meet and greet female leaders who have had experience in US Congress and/or leading a national initiative
3. Learn and Practice debating skills – how to make a structured and compelling argument among peers.
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Group Activity:  Learn Debating Skills, practice debate.

Presenters:

• Sue Hatfield, former staff to Speaker of the US House of Representatives (R)
• JAHANA HAYES, US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 5TH DISTRICT OF CT (D)
• Ellie Carter, Junior at Ridgefield High School, Coach of the East Ridge Middle School Debate Team
• Kavya Anand, RHS Sophomore and Mock Trial B Team Lawyer

JANUARY 10 – FINDING YOUR VOICE AND MAKING IT MATTER 

Campaign season kick-off!

Focus of this session:

1. The importance of finding your own voice
2. Guidelines for speaking well / what makes a great speech
3. Role-playing speeches
   
   

Group Activity:  Among small groups, practice speaking about simple topics (ex: favorite ice cream).  See speech guidance.

Optional Assignment:   At home, consider topics you might want to include in your campaign speech.  Discuss with parents.

Presenters:

• Christine O’Leary, Comedian, and Public Speaking Expert
• Kylie Macancela, 2019 Ms President US Danbury

JANUARY 31 – MEDIA’S IMPACT ON SELF-ESTEEM

Focus of this session:

1. Address how the media portrays successful women leaders and the obstacles female leaders have to overcome.
2. Bring awareness to students about how they live each day, and how outside influences can affect their thoughts.
3. Show the students that they have the ability and power to change thoughts for the positive, connecting to their true, authentic self.
   
   

Group Activity:   Practice power poses and other self-esteem builders.   Among small groups, continue practicing speeches – identify campaign partners.  Use speech guidance.

Optional Assignment:   Continue at home with campaign preparation – identification of topics and partners.
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Courtney Lauria, Prevention Educator, Women’s Center of Greater Danbury
Gopika Sheth – 2019 Ms President US Hamden
Wayne Floegel – Ridgefield Republican Registrar
Cindy Bruno – Ridgefield Democratic Registrar

FEBRUARY 21 – VOTES FOR WOMEN

Focus of this session:

1. Learn how women in Connecticut helped shape our state, our nation, and our world
2. Explore stories of CT’s remarkable women from the colonial period to the Civil War.
3. Make connections between past and present; consider ways to take an active role in shaping the future
   
   

Group Activity:  Continue practicing campaign speeches among campaign partners.

Optional Assignment:   Continue at home with campaign preparation
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CT Women’s Hall of Fame
Savannah Joseph – 2019 Ms President US Wilton
Dee Dee Colabella – RPAC Founder

MARCH 20 – MAKE-UP SESSION / CAMPAIGN PRACTICE

Group Activity:  Finalize campaign speech among campaign partners.
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Optional Assignment:   Finalize campaign presentation (PPT, Google doc, poster, supplemental materials, music selection, etc)

MARCH 29 – CAMPAIGN & ELECTION AT THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE