New Website!

COS is proud to announce that we have a new website!

Please check us out at http://circleofsisters-sjhs.org/index.htm

COS' Six Flags trip

For the sixth year, Circle of Sisters went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Over a hundred Circle of Sisters girls participated in this fun trip.

Here are a few of our pictures:

COS goes to the California Afterschool Challenge in Sacramento

From May 11th to May 12th, Circle of Sisters members from Cook Middle School and Mountain Shadows Middle School participated in the California School-Age Consortium's Afterschool Challenge. After receiving a day of training in advocacy, they spoke to state legislators about the importance of after school programs.

Thank you to our participants for doing such a great job!

COS goes to Power of Know conference at Sonoma State

On April 30th, sixty Circle of Sisters girls went to the "Power of Know" girls empowerment conference at Sonoma State University. The conference was put on by Sonoma State students as part of a class in the Women and Gender Studies department.

Check out some of our pictures!

SSU students, COS girls, and volunteers/staff.

SSU students teach COS about bullying in a workshop entitled "Mean Girls."

COS participants learn about body image and the media in "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Eating."

COS goes to Medicine Horse Ranch

On Saturday March 7th, 10 Circle of Sisters participants from Guerneville Elementary School went to Medicine Horse Ranch in Tomales, CA to participate in the Horse Sense For Teens program. The girls were able to work with the horses on the ranch while also learning about themselves.

Check out some of our pictures!

COS visits The Living Room

On December 10th, COS girls from Meadow View elementary school donated 30 handmade quilts to The Living Room, a drop-in center for homeless women and children. Here are some pictures of our event!

COS visits Sloan House

On December 5th, COS girls delivered 30 handmade quilts to Sloan House, a women's emergency shelter. The quilts were made by COS's 150+ participants. Here are a few pictures from the event:

St. Joseph Health System Christmas Gala

On December 5th, nine girls from COS went to the Agatha Furth center to help set up for the St. Joseph Health System Christmas Gala fundraiser. The girls also got to look at the beautiful Christmas trees. Check out some of our pictures!

California Academy of Sciences field trip

On November 11th, 46 Circle of Sisters participants went to the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Check out some pictures from our field trip!

Make a Difference Week 2008

Throughout the week of October 20th-24th, all 11 Circle of Sisters groups made 60 quilts for homeless children as part of Make a Difference Week. Vida Jones, a professional seamstress, gave both her time and the materials for this project. We will be donating our quilts to Sloan House and The Living Room, two women's shelters in Santa Rosa.

Check out some pictures from this year's project!

2008-2009 Staff

Here is our staff for 2008-2009. We're looking forward to another great year!

Top row (from the left): JoAnn Sotres, Chris Bongardt, Patty Ochoa, Jen Hyman, Amy Chevrolet

Bottom row: Becca Schlichtig, Nina Reynoso

ROPES COURSE 2007

Check out some pictures from our first site-wide field trip for the 2007-2008 school year!

Date: November 12, 2007

Participants: 82 girls + 14 staff/volunteers

Hours: 11

Location: Westminster Woods Ropes Course: Occidental, CA
Four Winds Ropes Course: Sebastopol, CA

Discovery Kingdom Field Trip with Circle of Sisters

Circle of Sisters Members, Staff and Families all got to enjoy a sunny, fun-filled day at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Monday, June 16, 2008. There were around 80 of us in attendance and everyone had a blast! Thanks to everyone who participated in the fun. If anyone else has any pictures to add, please do. Have a great summer everyone! See you in the fall. Love, Chris

Volunteer for the Summer Lunch Program

You can enrich the lives of Sonoma County children and by helping keep them fed and engaged this summer.

Volunteer to plan, coordinate and execute fun activities for the kids. Volunteers can contribute their enthusiasm and their time daily, weekly or monthly.

WHO: Volunteers coordinate and facilitate fun and educational activities to compliment the free lunch service provided to Sonoma County children up to 18 years old.

WHAT: Free nutritious lunches and enriching activities for low-income children up to 18 living in or around the Carillo Place neighborhood.

WHEN: Monday through Friday
12:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Beginning Monday, June 16

WHERE: Carrillo Place Apartments
200 Cranbrook Way
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

WHY: During the school year, over 23,000 Sonoma County children in low-income communities rely on free meals. During the summer, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs stop and low-income children still need the meals they depend on during the school year.

The Department of Agriculture, organizations, community members and volunteers collaborate to fill the hunger gap. The Summer Lunch Program also engages children by involving them in fun, educational and enriching activities.

For more information on how YOU can make a difference, call Alexandra Walter, Circle of Sisters Volunteer Coordinator, at 707.525.5300 ext: 3221 today!

PICTURES

COS girls from Monte Rio learn how to Hip-Hop Dance

COS girls from Sheppard make quilts for Make A Difference Day

COS Field Trip to Four Winds, a Ropes Challenge Course

COS girls from Guerneville pose after a toilet paper relay race

COS goes to Windsor Bowl!

COS girls from Comstock posing with their handmade masks

SPA/BEAUTY DAY at Mountain Shadows Middle School