Tomball program offers etiquette tips for young women

By KIM HUGHES, Chronicle Correspondent 3/1/2005

FORUM EXAMINES DATING, HAIR, MAKEUP ADVICE

What do eighth- and ninth-grade girls like to talk about?

Tomball resident Virginia Johnson, who owns and operates the Contemporary School of Etiquette, 15915 Timber Grove Court, said it's mostly about trying to fit in.

"I recall myself how eighth-grade was for me. It's such a transitional period," Johnson said.

That's why Johnson has started a program called Girl's Night Out, which will will meet one evening a month for seven months at Raveneaux Country Club in Spring in September.

Topics vary from dining etiquette to make-up to rules of dating.

Russ Rudy, a Spring resident, said he was looking for some help in teaching his daughter the rules of dating.

"Anything that helps prepare kids for life, and ease the transition into adulthood is a positive thing," Rudy said of his daughter, Sara Rudy, 14, who attended the class last year.

Johnson said one of the program's sessions focuses on dating violence and features guest speakers like Sheryl Johnson, youth educator of Northwest Assistance Ministries' Family Violence Center.

"We look at how you might end up in that situation and how to protect yourself and more subtle forms of abuse, like emotional abuse and controlling relationships," Sheryl Johnson said. Fairly heavy topics for teenagers to grasp, but very important, Rudy said.

"I'm grateful for the education my daughter received."

Sara, a ninth-grader at Klein High School, said the group was helpful in terms of dating and relationships. But she was glad to pick up etiquette tips, too.

"Good etiquette really shows when you're out somewhere." Sara said. "It makes you seem more sophisticated."

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