Absegami students present GROW wellness and mentorship programs to Greater Egg Harbor board; board approves minutes

At a meeting of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District Board of Education, student presenters from Absegami High School described a student-run program they said supports female students through wellness sessions, mentorship and community outreach. The board approved the minutes from its Aug. 25 regular and executive sessions.

The student presenters described the club as a space for female students to "grow socially, personally, and professionally." "Girls recognizing our worth just gives our female community a space to grow socially, personally, and professionally," a student presenter said during the special presentations segment.

School staff introduced the program as having formed in 2022 and grown quickly. "So about 3 years ago, I think, in 2022, The club has quickly grown to 1 of our formal attended groups," said Mr. Kern, who introduced the presenters and the club's work.

Presenters said the group runs a weekly "Wednesday wellness" meeting, mentorship programs, workshops, community service projects and special events. They noted a keynote speaker in the club's first year — identified in the record as a former Olympian — and said the program has received local media attention; presenters referred to an ABC News segment.

The students also described a new program called "Bloom," a pen‑pal initiative the presenters said will pair Absegami students with an elementary-grade classroom (third, fourth or fifth grade) and culminate in an in-person meeting at the end of the school year. Presenters said Bloom aims to strengthen communication and social‑emotional skills and build long-term mentorship connections.

Board member Amy asked whether the program could expand to other district schools. A student presenter and Mr. Kern said expansion would depend on a staff member in another building stepping forward to sponsor the club and that similar clubs in the district often begin in a single building and then migrate after a few years of sustained interest.

The board also observed a moment of silence for Vicky Hood, whom the record identifies as a member of the Galloway Township Board of Education and a longtime contributor to the Galloway Education Foundation.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve minutes from Aug. 25 (regular and executive): approved. Board members Edmonds, Garrison, Gunther, Hartman, Hossa, Carlisle and Wright are recorded as voting yes; Board member Sartorio is recorded as abstaining. The motion was declared approved in the meeting record.

The presentations were part of the meeting's special presentations segment; no formal board action on the GROW/Bloom programs was recorded in the transcript excerpt.