• Program
  • Homecourt
  • Academic tutoring
  • SAT Prep
  • Mentoring
• Calendar
• Staff
  • Director
  • Volunteers
  • Board
• Sign-up
• Your Pictures
• Donations
  • Donors
  • Ways to Donate
• Girls Only
  • College Links
  • Financial Aid
  • Your Schools
  • Teen Attorney General
• Outreach Projects

 

Director

Anne Windsor

Anne has worked as a teacher in the Mukilteo School District for 17 years and has a Masters in Psychology from Seattle University.

Philosophy for Developing Your Place Afterschool

I have taught a class, Interpersonal Relationships, for 17 years and the focus of the class was to teach students about who they are and how that person impacts each of their relationships.  At the end of each semester, the students would reflect on their experience in the class and found that they learned so much about themselves.  They began to learn about their own voices and true selves.  Adolescence is the stage in the life cycle where an individual needs to develop an identity.  So I decided to develop Your Place Afterschool which is about developing an identity and finding one's true self.  

Why Girls?

Drop in Self Confidence

Many times girls will be strong confident individual in their middle ages and during middle school.  But when they turn 14 -15 there seems to be many questions that come up for them about their capabilities, the role they are to play in the school setting as well as the outside world.  They also start to understand and grasp that this outside world is quite large and holds many unknowns for them.  This new realization can be overwhelming.  As they begin to question the world, they begin to question themselves.  This uncertainty impacts the development of their independence, academic success, and the acquisition of future goals. 

Experience greater stress than boys

Researchers have found that compared to boys, adolescent girls experience greater stress and pressures, are twice as likely to be depressed, and attempt suicide than boys.  Poor body image, eating disorders, drug use, and low self esteem can result from not being able to sort out all these different and conflicting pressures.

Independence yet desires guidance

Adolescent girls want independence from their parents yet the whole time they seek guidance for understanding the world around them.  They will look for support from their community of peers and adult friends. 

The Program Design

Researchers have reported that after school programs that had long term effects on the individuals did the following things:

• focused on the participants as resources rather than problems
• Provided services during the critical hours of 3 - 7 pm.
• Allow adolescents an opportunity to be in an environment that will provide 20+ hours of leisure work... for example
  • Reading for pleasure
  • Playing board games
  • Doing word games

  Research has shown that students who do well academically spend 20+ hours a week on leisure work.  Only 2% of adolescents spend this much time on leisure work.  Most adolescents spend 5 hours a week. 

Your Place Afterschool is designed to be a part of a girl's support system.  It is a safe, supportive and comfortable environment that will allow her to explore, examine, and define her values, beliefs and ideas as well as enhance her academic skills, and strengthen her self confidence. 

Student Comments  

                        When I think of a real role model, I think of Mrs. Windsor. Genessee, 18

                         Mrs. Windsor helped me see who I really am and what I really want . Beth, 18

                        I will use the things that you have taught me throughout my life. Kristin, 17