Grant-A-Week WINNER
Fielding School Drive School - Girls' Night Out

I have been teaching intermediate girls Physical Education since 1986, here in Ottawa. I have often wondered why I ever chose to become a Phys. Ed. teacher. I was never a ‘jock’, or talented athlete. I never participated in traditional team sports, and am one of the least competitive people I know! But I absolutely love my job! I have come to the conclusion that my ‘job’, as a Phys. Ed. teacher, is to focus on the non-participant, the ‘dis-inclined student’. The student who has never had a lot of success in the gym, the adolescent who is not coordinated, not particularly fit; they are the girls I specifically try to reach. Most of the girls already involved in organized sports are going to continue to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle regardless of my influence. They have bought into the program; it is the other half who need my help. And my goal in each gym class is to make them want to come back, to make them laugh, to increase their fitness level, whether they realize it or not!

I have been teaching at the same school for the past six years; girls here receive two 60 minute periods of Physical Education during every six day cycle. Since this is below national recommendations, we pushed our House League program, which was every day, after school.

My attendance, however, virtually doubled, when our administration agreed to let us use the gyms for House Leagues, at lunch. Last year, for example, I had over 100 girls playing House League volleyball, out of 150 intermediates! But I still had the feeling there were a lot of girls I was missing; still there were many who hadn’t bought into the idea of extra gym time being fun. The population of my school includes many new Canadian citizens; some were very reluctant to participate; some had had a limited opportunity to just play. And some just needed a little encouragement, and the opportunity to socialize.

While attending the 2000 OPHEA conference last fall, I went to a workshop presented by Sydney Millar, a CAAWS representative. She stressed the importance of keeping things simple, and FUN! It was her suggestion to organize a Girls Night Out event; an evening of volleyball and pizza for the girls. When I suggested it to my principal, Susan Nouvet, she added that I should also include mothers, or an older, female sibling, especially if they were former graduates from our school. So on November 19th, from 3:30 - 7:30 pm, I held my first "Girls’ Night Out". The cost was low: $1.00 per slice of pizza, and the school paid for drinks. Flyers were sent home with homeroom teachers, and within 3 days, I had 84 people registered!!

What really struck me, as I watched the girls, was the mingling and socializing going on. There were grade 7’s playing with grade 8’s; girls who spoke very little English, playing volleyball with girls in the French Immersion program; mothers playing with daughters, mothers playing with other parents. Age, ability, language was no barrier; they all seemed to enjoy themselves. We had music playing, holiday lights decorating the stage, and lots of girls willing to help. Even the clean up impressed me; there was virtually no mess!

The success of our first Girls’ Night Out shocked me! They were knocking on my door the next day to ask when the next one would be, and because it had been such a pleasurable evening from my point of view, I had no trouble promising another one.
Our second one was the last week of school, in December, but due to a very busy time for everyone, and working around the rules of Rammadan (fasting for many of the girls), our numbers dropped to 68. But again, it was a fun evening; many of my female colleagues joined in, which definitely added to the enjoyment, for both students, and myself!
My final Girls’ Night Out for the 2000-2001 school year was held in April. Of the three evenings, this one was the most tiring; several older students came as guests, and suddenly it turned into something I had to now supervise and referee, instead of enjoy. And although this evening was the most difficult, it did turn out to be one of the most interesting from the point of involving many girls who had not come to the other two nights. And they seemed to really enjoy the sports, and the socializing.

When I asked some of my current grade 8 girls what they remembered about last years’ Girls’ Nights Out, the comments were encouraging:
"It was something I looked forward to. It was a good opportunity to get to know people you wouldn’t normally hang out with." (from Ashley Warden)
"It was fun, and I liked how my Mom could come too." (from Katy Huddlestone)
Already I have heard from the recently graduated grade 8’s to see if there will be an "Alumni Girls’ Night Out"!

My first Girls’ Night for this school year will be held on Thursday, November 22nd, and I am looking forward to it. It is a good way for me to meet some of my students’ parents, and a good way for students to show off their parent/guardians! It definitely does not raise any money for the school; in fact we end up covering some costs. We are always in need of new equipment, and our CD player is not a reliable one. When I asked my grade 8’s what they thought I could spend any Grant money on, their answers were interesting; they would like a nice mural painted on our gym walls, and perhaps a really ‘cool’ guest speaker! Since it is their program, they will decide.

From my point of view, I am helping the students who most need my help; by giving them the opportunity to play, to laugh, to feel welcome, to meet new friends, to spend time playing with their parents. But most of all, I hope I am giving them the experience that promotes a lifestyle that includes sports and activity, and laughter, and fair play, and tolerance.

It is a great job!
Sue Dewar
Fielding Drive School,
Ottawa, Ontario.

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