16th Annual Petals and Pearls

"Try Everything" was the theme for the 16th annual Petals and Pearls program held Saturday, February 4th at Lewis County Middle School. The event provided a fun day of learning for girls in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. Girls and their mothers or adult guest attended a variety of break-out sessions highlighting important issues facing girls today.

Saturday's program brought ninety-six, daughters, mothers, grandmothers, or guardians together for a day of celebration. Participants were greeted and signed in by Tonya Woodward, Destiny Hensley, and Christian Shadix with Hope Hohenwald and Sasha Powers, Coordinated School Health Supervisor. Erinn Roberson along with her mother, Patty Seiber took Mother Daughter photos. A light breakfast was served in the library by Sasha Powers and Shiloh Skelton with Coordinated School Health.

Coordinated School Health Supervisor, Sasha Powers welcomed participants to the event and recognized speakers, presenters, and helpers before introducing our keynote speaker Kara Farr, Kindergarten Teacher. Mrs. Farr was back for her eighth year. To get the celebration going she got the audience laughing and interacting with each other.

Sasha Powers provided information for the day including program descriptions and locations. Break-out sessions followed. In the first rotation participants could choose from: Growing Up, it's Totally Normal with Laura Brewer, RN, Healthy Relationships with Julianna Duca with Centerstone, Positive Body Image and Self-Esteem with Connie Griggs, Lewis County Middle School Guidance, Straight Talk about Abstinence with Debbie Landers Lewis County Chamber of Commerce.

The second rotation was all about fun with: Painting with Acrylics with Ann English with Hohenwald Flowers, Hair with Graceful Beauty Company, Gracey Taylor, Kate Villarreal, and Hannah Rochester, Skin Care with Grace Revitalife, Kaitlyn Williams and Lauren Crowell, Make-Up with Emma McCoy and Nylah Halbrooks, STEM Challenge with Tara Tiller, RTI supervisor with Lewis County schools and daughter Chanley Baker, Escape Rooms with Tonya Woodward, Christian Shadix, Destiny Hensley and Mya Woodward with Hope Hohenwald, Cake Decorating with Nicki Lewis, Cake Decorator and owner of Cakes by Nicki.

Lunch was prepared by Lewis County Schools' Food Service Department and served by Coordinated School Health. During lunch participants had time to visit UT Extension table set up by, Gena Powers.

Gathering back in the auditorium after lunch the LCHS TNSTRONG girls, Paige Roberson, Mahaley Bean, Emery Norris, Addison Osborne, Kylie Carroll, and Allee Carroll and Delicia Hull, Lewis County High School Nurse and overseeing the TNSTRONG students presented a powerful power point on the vaping epidemic followed with a fun game of Tobacco Jeopardy with audience participation and lots of prizes.

Shannon Denton, Family Resource Center Director, then introduced the program sessions and presenters for the afternoon rotations they included:

Healthy Habits for Life with Shelly Ray and Delana Bean with UT Extension, Love Your Selfie with Lindsey Wayland with Lewis County Health Department and "The Social Dilemma"- with Denna Darden-Carroll from the Davis House.

After the last rotation Mothers and Daughters gathered in the auditorium for closing remarks from Shannon Denton, Family Resource Center Director followed by many generous door prizes. Shannon Denton drew names for the many donated door prizes by Family Resource Center, Coordinated School Health, Lewis County PTO, Youth/Tobacco Subcommittee, Child Help Task Force, UT Extension, Avon- Tammy Adkins, Bank of Lewis County, CB&S Bank, Peoples Bank, Citizens Bank, Walmart, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Hohenwald Flower Shop, Fancy Peacock, Hohenwald Nutrition, Family Nail Spa, Terry Whittenberg, Gena Powers, UT Extension, Rusted Hinge, Hank's Family Diner, The Shop, Paula Dyer, Shoe Sensation, and TNCEP provided bags to help participants carry all their goodies home.

Petals and Pearls is a program of the Lewis County Health Council Youth/Tobacco Subcommittee through partnership with the schools' Family Resource Center and Coordinated School Health. Sponsors are Lewis County Schools PTO and Lewis County Health Department.