FAIRMONT —
Middle schools got their name for a reason.
For school children, middle school, particularly seventh and eighth grades, represents a transition from the structure of elementary school to the relative freedom and responsibility of high school.
Transitions aren’t easy for anyone, and this can be an especially difficult time for young girls, who are often struggling to discover who they are and how they relate to a society in which they can be marginalized.
The Young Women Christian Association of Marion County, more commonly known as the YWCA, with the help of the United Way of Marion County, sponsors “Y Teens” in six county schools, empowering them to be better students and future leaders in their communities.
Though the YWCA does provide other services for the community, the Y Teens is “the program I love,” said executive director Cecily Enos.
The YWCA has a facility in Pleasant Valley used by the community for a variety of events and classes, such as kung fu, drawing, painting, instrument lessons (including guitar, piano and bagpipe), tai chi and more.
“We have a lot of classes,” Enos said.
The YWCA has been incorporated since 1922, and the Y Teens program is almost that old itself. Enos said she is surprised and pleased when she goes out into the community and meets past Y Teen participants in places of authority.
The program operates out of Monongah, Mannington, Barrackville, East Fairmont Junior High, West Fairmont Middle and Fairview Middle schools. The official mission of the YWCA is eliminating racism and empowering women, as their letterhead says, and the individual school programs are designed to meet those goals.
Local News
Related Photos
-
The Y Teens at Monongah Middle School gather for a group picture. The YWCA, a United Way of Marion County member agency, teaches girls in six county schools about diversity and leadership. PHOTO BY JONATHAN WILLIAMS
Empowering students
Middle schools excited about YWCA’s ‘Y Teens’ program
- Local News
-
-
Three Rivers Festival features variety of entertainment
The 34th annual West Virginia Three Rivers Festival started in fine form Thursday night with a grand feature parade through downtown Fairmont, ending at Palatine Park with opening ceremonies.
The parade launches the annual festival, which draws many to the city’s Palatine Park for fun-filled activities for the young and the young at heart. -
County pools opening for summer
For many, Memorial Day weekend marks the real beginning of summer.
And nothing says summer like hitting the pool.
The 12th Street Park and Mannington pools and the East Marion Park Wave Pool open Saturday for the summer, offering families the chance to beat the heat and enjoy a day of fun in the water. -
Julia Pierpont Day celebration Saturday
Members of the community are invited to kick off Memorial Day Weekend at the 9th annual Julia Pierpont Day celebration, set for Saturday.
-
Adding value to food sector can be spark to economy
Officials from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Education and the USDA visited Pierpont Community & Technical College Wednesday as part of the Appalachian Foodways Tour.
-
County Department of Homeland Security debuts Facebook page
In today’s instant news world, information travels fast.
And, unfortunately, so does misinformation.
The Marion County Department of Homeland Security debuted its new Facebook page Wednesday to both alert the county on impending emergencies and dispel rumors about unfolding events. -
Big name in competitive eating arrives today
The biggest name in competitive eating arrives in Fairmont today.
In its third year, the annual Three Rivers Festival Pepperoni Roll Eating World Competition has attracted some major-league talent, including the famous Joey Chestnut, six-time consecutive winner of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. -
Adult & Community Education Center students mark milestone: PHOTOS
Students of the Marion County Adult & Community Education Center celebrated their completion of the General Education Development test at a graduation ceremony Tuesday evening at the Feaster Center on the campus of Fairmont State University.
-
Hearing set for murder suspects
The two men indicted in the 1974 triple Windmill Park murders will share a pretrial hearing on June 25.
According to records obtained at the Marion County Circuit Court, a hearing for Eddie Jack Washington and Phillip Reese Bush is set for 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, in front of Circuit Judge Michael Aloi. -
Gravel, fuel spills cause traffic delays in county
Once again, drivers were forced to take a detour from Interstate 79.
This time, instead of near mile marker 139 northbound, it was at the southbound 136 mile marker near Pleasant Valley. -
Pierpont to move some classrooms, offices downtown
Pierpont Community & Technical College has announced its plan to move some of its classrooms and administrative offices from its shared campus with Fairmont State University to Veterans’ Square in downtown Fairmont.
- More Local News Headlines
-
