Who We Are
In 2010, Castilleja received a bequest from alumnae parent and former Trustee, Bill Halford, that was used to found the Halford Young Women Leaders' Program (HYWLP). Based on a well-established curriculum developed at the University of Virginia, the program creates a partnership between motivated 5th grade girls from local under-resourced communities and Castilleja Upper School students.
What We Do
The 5th grade girls are matched with Big Sisters from Castilleja’s Upper School for the duration of the academic year. Together, we participate in a structured mentoring curriculum which addresses key adolescent development topics, such as: dealing with failure, confronting body-image issues, developing problem-solving skills, enhancing self-esteem, defining goals and aspirations, and various science oriented projects. In addition, each semester all participants also attend a social event, such as ice skating or visiting a science museum.