Greetings from Konika and Kya at Girl Power Science!
Happy Fall Equinox,
I'm so excited to launch our new after-school STEMinista club this Thursday. I'm going to read "Shark Lady -The True Story about How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist" while we snack on our "shark-cuterie" board. We're going to experiment with density columns representing the ocean zones and make wave jars to take home. We'll investigate real shark teeth fossils my daughter found at Caspersen beach. I shared a video of the fossils at the end of this newsletter.
There is one spot left. Huge shout out to the moms that helped spread the word at Glen Park, Sunnyside, and Clarendon Elementary schools. Thank you!
If you are curious about the other female scientists we will learn about and the experiments we will do, you can learn more here:
Speaking of after-school, I'll be leading the following virtual workshop soon!
Live Virtual Workshop: Media Mindset - Navigating the Digital World on Tuesday, September 29 from 4 - 4:45 pm PST.
Stranger Dinner
My daughter is now a sophomore in high school, and she's so independent that I'm finding more time on my hands. Being a mom for 15 years has changed me so much. Add perimenopause on top of that, and I don't even recognize myself anymore. Who am I? What do I like to do just for myself? What size do I even wear?
I was craving connection time with other moms, so I spontaneously clicked on an Instagram ad for a dinner gathering hosted by two local psychotherapists in my neighborhood. The theme of the dinner was "Redefining Motherhood."
I was nervous about going over to a stranger’s house for dinner, but taking a chance and doing something different felt exciting and liberating. I got dressed up and actually put makeup on, and it was the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time. The Instagram algorithm knows me well, and girl, did it deliver.
The menu was catered by local chefs with Uproot Culinary and was inspired by our menstrual cycle. Each time the chefs delivered a course, they announced a stage of the cycle and the inspiration for the dish. The food was AMAZING, and the conversation was electric.
The follicular course represented emergence and the beginning of something new, paired with a seasonal sparkling shrub. The next course, ovulation, was all about connection. The hosts shared a prompt: “How do you orient toward the identity of mother?” We mingled and met new people.
Ovulation is a time when we glow and feel very social, and that was exactly how I felt as I ate my endive boat with roasted carrot hummus and wondered how the chefs made something so simple taste so good.
The menstrual phase was about reflection, nourishment, turning inward, and making space for deeper revelations. Each of us around the dinner table shared with so much vulnerability. A professor sat on my right and told me about the class she teaches on matrescence. Everyone brought a different story and I was struck by how quickly a group of strangers could create such a deep sense of connection.
I felt so inspired and alive meeting everyone. I shared that my current stage of perimenopause feels like I am giving birth to a new me, and I am trying to mother myself in ways my mom didn’t.
The diverse group at the dinner reminded me of the inspiring families I meet through our Girl Power Science workshops. I thought about how brave and exciting it must feel to sign up for our workshops and openly talk about taboo topics. Families often say the container we create not only fosters girl-and-grown-up connections, but also a sense of community.
My dinner experience made me so excited about our upcoming Pause Power workshop on November 14th. We deserve to learn about perimenopause through an empowering framework just as much as our daughters deserve to learn about their bodies.
And just like our daughters have so much fun giggling together, we’re going to laugh together in the treehouse, too. They'll be jealous that you got to see the magical lighting at night.
The workshop is definitely not just for moms, so share it widely with your friends. Diverse perspectives and personalities make it powerful.
🍂 Fall at Girl Power Science
Puberty Power (1 spot left)
Saturday, September 26 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
$150 Includes 1 child + 1 grown-up
Period Power (4 spots left)
Saturday, October 24 from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
$150 Includes 1 child + 1 grown-up
Pause Power (NEW!)
Because you deserve to learn about your body, too!
Saturday, November 14 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm
$85
Veterans Day Camp
The Confidence Code:
Social-Emotional Tools to Tap Into Your Girl Power
Wednesday, November 11 • 9 am–3 pm
$240/child
Optional aftercare until 5 pm: +$45
A day of science, games, creativity, and connection designed to help kids understand their emotions, build confidence, navigate challenges, and discover their own superpowers.
Two Virtual After-School Classes (Ages 8 - 12)
Can’t make it to the Treehouse? Join us online for two fun, interactive science classes after school!
Media Mindset - Navigating the Digital World
Cost - $35
Tuesday, September 29 from 4 - 4:45 pm PST / 7 - 7:45 pm EST
Based on Harvard’s “Project Zero” curriculum, this class will cover strategies to strengthen media literacy skills using digital dilemma scenarios. Topics will include healthy digital habits, digital safety, and proactive conversations about pornography to prevent trauma.
Be your own BFF - Navigating Changing Friendships
Cost - $35
Wednesday, October 28 from 4 - 4:45 pm PST / 7 - 7:45 pm EST
The brain remodel leads to identity shifts and it makes perfect sense that friendships evolve too. In this class, we’ll learn about healthy friendships, self love, and self care. We’ll break down the science of why we compare ourselves to others and how we can harness this human trait to build confidence.
What people are saying on Yelp:
My daughter and I, along with five other mothers and daughters we know, had the most wonderful time at Ms. Ray's CuriosiTea workshop. Our girls are 3rd graders, a mix of 8 and 9 years old, and I feel like we are now so prepared to face puberty with confidence and curiosity. Everything the kids are learning is supported by science, with a framework of empowerment and autonomy. Both kids and moms felt encouraged to ask questions and were met with enthusiasm and great insight from Ms. Ray. This workshop was worth every penny and then some.
You also can't beat the location. Not only is Ms. Ray's treehouse itself a breathtaking, almost magical-feeling location, but the neighborhood is awesome, too! I grabbed lunch with my daughter before the workshop, and then during the kids-only section, the moms and I took a long walk in the nearby canyon and then grabbed coffee before coming back for the mom/daughter tea party and learning session. Our girls were all so proud to show off their crafts and what they'd learned, and I feel like all the moms learned something, too. It was also a fantastic bonding experience and made our community feel stronger, safer, and more loving for both us and our girls.
Ms. Ray does period workshops for dads, too! Whatever your need, she is an amazing resource, and followed up with us after with even more helpful resources. This is a 10/10 experience and I've recommended it to every mom I know.
-Rachel A. (San Mateo Mom)
If you have any questions, email Konika here.
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