The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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September 10, 2008

Message of abstinence, self-worth offered during fall tea for EPS students

By Bridget Nash, Staff Writer

Enid Public Schools’ seventh- and eighth-grade girls of got special treatment Wed-nesday.

Hope Outreach Parenting Resource Center held a fall tea for the girls that featured a luncheon, small gifts, music, door prizes and a special speaker.

Several hundred girls gathered at Cherokee Strip Conference Center and were seated at tables decorated with flowers and balloons to hear Carol Sallee’s motivational message.

Sallee, of Bixby, is an inspirational speaker and writer who travels across the nation giving presentations on the im-portance of abstinence.

Sallee opened her presentation by saying, “We’re going to be doing a lot of talking about boys.”

The statement was answered with girlish squeals and giggling.

Sallee told a humorous story about a first date, gave a list of “the worst pick-up lines ever” and then started into the topic of the hour: Abstinence.

“It means that you are going to hold on to your virginity until your wedding night,” said Sallee.

Sallee talked to the girls about valuing themselves as important individuals, standing up to pressure and thinking about the future rather than only the present moment.

“You were created special and you are of great worth,” said Sallee. “You have worth bestowed on you. You must believe that.”

The luncheon was held by Parenting Resource Center but made possible by donations from business, churches, families and individuals.

“It’s a communitywide project,” said Ruth Ann Erdner, EPS assistant superintendent.

Many volunteers spent the evening before the event elaborately decorating the room, and tables and food trays were donated by individuals and groups.

“We thank Enid Public Schools very much for allowing us to bring you here today,” said Ann Price, director of parenting ministry, addressing the large group of girls at the event. “We did this for just one reason, and that’s because you are very special and we wanted to do something special for you.”

Hope Outreach Parenting Resource Center hopes to make this “character-based abstinence program” an annual event for Enid’s girls.

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