— from Suzanne Olson, Sandi Burt, Berto Gandara, Serena Burman and RJ Myers —
On behalf of the students, families, and teaching team that have just completed the 26-week Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education Program for 7-9th graders, we would like to thank the following businesses and individuals, without whose support we could not have succeeded. Some of the individual names are excluded to protect their privacy – but you know who you are and we appreciate the personal stories and perspectives you shared with our class.
Brown Bear Bakery
Dr. Camille Fleming
Camp Orkila
Clever Cow Creamery
Emmanuel Episcopal Church Dinner Crew
Grace Grantham
Healing Arts Center
Jake Perrine
Jay Kimball
Kathryn Kier
Laurie Gallo, RN
Mandy Troxel
Office Cupboard
Orcas Family Health Center
Orcas Island Community Foundation (and all of their donors who supported us)
Orcas Island Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
OWL Alumni Teaching Assistants Kaya Osborn and Adia Dolan
OWL Panelists
OWL Parents
Ray’s Pharmacy
Rhys Hansen
SAFE San Juans
Dr. Sarah Lyle
Susan & Ted Aspinall
Wild Island
The OWL Program provides honest, accurate information about sexuality. It dismantles stereotypes and assumptions, builds self-acceptance and self-esteem, fosters healthy relationships, improves decision making, and has the potential to save lives. This is the third class of OWL graduates on Orcas since 2012 and we have seen the positive effects on our community as a whole as these students make informed and healthy choices, provide leadership and role modeling for their peers and feel comfortable standing up for their values.
This is a great example of our Village at work and we thank you for your support.
The OWL program has been wonderful for our kids. Thanks so much to all the businesses and individuals who made this year’s program possible. And to the amazing group of leaders that put so much time and heart into making this experience possible for the kids.
Suzanne, Sandi, Berto, Serena and RJ – Thank YOU!
…For your countless volunteer hours and dedication to the great kids in this remarkable and substantive program.
The Island Reproductive Health Initiative is fortunate that, since 2012, several OWL graduates have volunteered to be IRHI Teen Representatives in high school. It is gratifying to see how well OWL provides these teens with excellent experience for being roll models and peer confidants for other students. They are especially at ease when talking about sexuality and intimate relationships, and are prepared to be able to help other students learn where and how to find reliable sexual health information, where to get medical help for sexual problems, and how to find help on Orcas.
OWL is an intense and extremely comprehensive program that concentrates on only 10 students per session, however the ripple effect of these young participants will benefit many, many more. Thank you Sandi and Suzanne for pushing forward with this program, to Berto, Serena and RJ for their help, and to all of the community supporters.
Jean Henigson, for the Island Reproductive Health Initiative