FHS Women's Self Defense Project

FHS Senior and Junior girls taught self defense lessons to female staff members.  They did a fantastic job teaching some basic stances, strikes, and kicks. P.E. teacher, Deb Draper, brings this first  Women's Self Defense Class to FHS.  The idea for this course came about when she was teaching a course called Senior Seminar and they did a unit called,  "Not being a victim" for students as they venture out into the world.  FHS Resource Officer, Mike McManus, was a guest speaker.  The students got a lot out of his presentation, however, they wanted to be trained in self defense in the event they were ever attacked.  This course was created last year and offered this year for the first time. 

Thanks to a Bradley Family grant, Deb became a certified, Women's Self Defense instructor through RAD, which is a multi-national organization that teaches self defense for different group-kids, women, men and elderly.  This class has 15 Junior and Senior girls.  It is separated by gender because each gender is taught differently how to defend themselves.  The students have learned how to assess situations and  avoid being in risky ones, but they have also been taught how to physically defend themselves if necessary.  The ultimate goal is to escape. This class is a combination of  self defense with fitness activities.  It has become an environment that is uplifting, empowering, and educational.  It will be offered again next year and the current students highly recommend it to all teenage girls!