SISTERS, short for Sharing Individual Stories Through Everyone’s RootS, provides a valued formal support system for girls of African-American, Afro-Caribbean, Cape Verdean, and Latina descent.
Originally called Mentoring, the program took on its new name in 2008. A Winsor senior suggested the acronym SISTERS as an expanded way to see both mentoring and the sisterhood that girls achieve through the program.
The Upper School program kicks off each fall when older girls are matched as mentors to younger girls. At weekly meetings led by program staff, Upper Schoolers discuss identity, academic achievement, cultural awareness, leadership and other concerns.
The Lower School program shares many of the same objectives.
Program goals are to:
- Help students develop language to discuss issues that affect their sense of self and racial identity
- Encourage the students to be full, connected participants in the Winsor community
- Nurture girls’ leadership and voice
- Reinforce the high academic expectations that parents set in the home
- Support efforts of parents as they guide students on paths to excellence
- Develop girls’ capacity to mentor each other
- Teach students how to find resources to deal with racial issues