As the 2019-2020 school year opens at Arlington Community High School, our AAUW members, Principal Dr. Barbara Thompson, and Counselor Patricia Sanguinetti are looking forward to another successful Lunch Bunch program. AAUW members have been motivating, encouraging, and supporting the Lunch Bunch students (young women ages 18-30) for over 30 years. The school serves students from diverse cultural backgrounds, all hopeful of attaining a high school diploma. Lunch Bunch programs are held monthly on the third Thursday of the month (October through May) from 12:30-1:20 PM at 800 S. Walter Reed Drive in Arlington.
Our educational programs and themes are developed cooperatively with the school administrators and with input from volunteers and students in the program. Topics and themes frequently relate to current issues identified through student surveys and concerns, including immigration issues, health care, community resources, careers, finance, continuing education, sexual harassment, and navigating legal systems, to name a few.
Last year’s theme, “Finding My Voice,” addressed multiple strategies to buildself-confidence, empowerment and healthy relationships. The monthly presentations for students were both inspirational and practical. Our own member, Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez, opened our program with an inspirational message about setting and maintaining high standards and expectations.
The final meeting last year provided an opportunity to congratulate the Lunch Bunch students who were graduating. One student, Keiry Argueta, was presented with a $1,000 AAUW scholarship to NOVA. In addition, three students were awarded $25 gift certificates for top attendance at meetings.
If you are looking for an opportunity to be part of a team effort to make a real difference in the success of young women from different countries, contact the Lunch Bunch Coordinators. AAUW volunteers provide pizza or chicken as a main course along with a salad, fruit, and/or dessert.
Contact Susan Senn if you can join us or need more information.
“April’s Lunch Bunch”. Black best Tae Kwan Do master, Judy Pendergast, gave a demonstration to the young women on self-defense. She demonstrated ways to disarm an attacker from the front, the side and the rear. Her instructions included how to use body parts – the head, the heel of the hand, the foot, the elbow and the little finger to defend oneself. Her one rule: “Never, ever walk with both earbuds in your ears! You need always to be aware of your surroundings. She instructed them to “run in the opposite direction if one hears a car approaching slowly. The young women were quite willing to participate in each individual instruction as demonstrated by the attached photos.
