Some 65 fifth grade girls, their parents and teachers gathered at I. Ellis Johnson Elementary School Thursday to celebrate "G.I.R.L. Power" in a ceremony held to honor the students' development into "refined young ladies" emanating confidence and self-respect. The occasion followed a two-month program during which the club members studied appropriate social behavior that included good manners and proper etiquette.

Initiated by Cynthia Johnson, the facilitator for academically gifted students at the school, the girls met for a half hour each school day to practice "lifelong skills" from how to remove food from a serving tray to socially acceptable dialogue with the opposite sex.

"We operated this like a sorority," Johnson said from the media center of the school where the ceremony took place. "We used the approach that we as a partnership have to work together. As parents, teachers, and community leaders, we have to be role models. We have to give these kids the skills to carry themselves well and to learn how to handle conflicts. We have to instill within them the ability to survive in this world."

In her address to the students, Johnson said that she has seen great changes since the program began.

"I see new attitudes today," she said. "When we first met back in March, I talked about etiquette, and I talked about becoming great leaders, and some of you raised your eyebrows. But today I see smiles on everybody's faces."

The keynote speaker for the event was Amber Watkins, Scotland High School Teacher of the Year and a regional finalist for the 2010-2011 North Carolina Teacher of the Year.

"I see beautiful faces, you have dressed nice, and I know you will represent your school in a way to make everyone proud," Watkins said in her address. "Remember that you are a proud, beautiful girl."

Watkins said the lessons are important to retain, especially as the girls enter middle school.

"These lessons in manners and the importance of being nice, and of respecting themselves and others, are extremely important as they enter the sixth grade," Watkins said. "Many external factors become influential in their lives, and many times these things are negative. I am speaking to them today on how to remain positive, how to say no, and how to make the right decisions that are important to their lives."

After opening remarks by school Principal Emma McNeil-Stone, the students enjoyed light refreshments in a "High Tea" format. Johnson reminded the students of the correct way to remove food items from the trays as fourth grade servers brought sandwiches, crackers, dip, and other snacks to their covered tables.

"Do you use forks to take a sandwich from a tray?" Johnson asked the assembly. "No," the students responded in unison.

"Do you take the cubes of ham, turkey and pineapple from the trays with your personal fork? No, you use the fork on the tray and then put it back."

Johnson, who is at work on a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership, said the program was inspired by teachers witnessing inappropriate behavior during the 2009-2010 school year.

"Girls Informed to be Respectful Leaders and Powerful (G.I.R.L. Power) has been inspired by the many girls that have somehow failed to meet society's expectations in regard to showing respect (and) presenting appropriate behavior and motions," she said. "G.I.R.L. Power is an attempt to address these concerns through the establishment of a club dedicated to ... the basic rules of etiquette and lifelong skills that will lead to I. Ellis Johnson girls becoming contributing members of society."

The students heard motivational messages from Mentor Ruth Flick and I.E. Johnson Teacher of the Year Katyna Deberry-Spaine. A fashion show on "What Not to Wear", judged by Visual Consultant Neatte Ridgeway of It's Fashion Metro, concluded the event.