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Harding girls read their way to confidence
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
It’s more than a book, it’s a movement.
Harding Elementary School Principal Susan Koulianos convened a book club earlier this year for third- through sixth-grade girls.
About 65 girls applied, each completing an essay and submitting a teacher’s recommendation.
Koulianos selected 15 girls for the first group.
“I chose them based on how they answered the questions,” she said.
Others will get the chance to read the book in future rounds.
They meet a couple of days per week around lunch time to discuss the book, “Use Your Girl Power: Nothing Can Hold You Back!” by Ashley Rice.
It’s full of motivation and encouragement about competition, having faith, following dreams and doing your best.
“They learn a lot from this book,” Koulianos said.
She sees club members carrying the book around school and keeping it close by while they’re in class.
“They’re going to the book to help them when they’re having a difficult time,” Koulianos said.
Fourth-grader Robanique Ossenfort is one example.
“I was walking in the hall, and I saw her come out of her classroom with her book,” the principal said.
Robanique had a dispute with another student. She flipped to the passage, “Always be true to you.”
It made her feel better, and she and Koulianos talked more about the book.
The girls look forward to each meeting, clamoring to answer questions about the book and their thoughts.
Koulianos found the book when she was searching Barnes and Noble for a Valentine’s Day gift for her daughter. Mother and daughter started reading the book together and Koulianos decided the Harding girls would benefit from the advice, too.
The book includes 95 pages, each with a colorful illustration.
Koulianos has given it to her staff members who are buying it for their daughters and granddaughters.
Fourth-grader Arlayza Collier, 11, said she uses the book when she’s having a bad day.
She pointed to “Life has lots of smiles and frowns as days have their own ups and downs” as one of her favorite passages.
Some of the girls use the book to help their classmates.
When a boy in her class was having a problem with a teacher, fifth-grader Rosalee Direnzo, 12, turned to the book for help. She found the passage, “If you show respect, people will show respect back” and showed it to the young man. It helped.
It helps fourth-grader Rose Williams, 9, too.
“It helps me feel better when I’m sad,” she said.
Fourth-grader Nijah Adams, 10, wanted to join the book club because the book inspired her. “It tells about getting over your fears, keeping true to yourself and always doing your best,” Nijah said.
Fifth-grader Savana Cline, 11, and Jaylinne Flores, 9, a third-grader, used the book when other students were bullying them.
“You are an amazing girl,” is the message that helped Savana through it.
She realized, “I am a daughter and a sister, and I have friends. They’re all important to me.”
Jaylinne found the passage, “Who cares what other people think,” to help her through the situation.
Besides the social and emotional issues the book addresses, there’s also an academic element.
“You’re doing higher-level thinking,” Koulianos said.
She looks forward to the book club meetings, too.
“Every time I leave you guys, I have goose bumps,” Koulianos said.
And it’s spreading.
“The boys have been asking me about a boy-power book club,” the principal said. “This is a movement. We’re making changes and feeling better about ourselves.”
Rose believes a similar book club for Harding boys is a great idea.
“If we get a boy-power book club and we have a girl- power book club, everybody in the whole entire school will feel better about themselves,” she said.