Letting Them Be Girl First Since 2009

Who We Are

Girls First is a tuition-free, out-of-school program for students in grades 1 through 4 that offers academic, social and emotional support through creative studies in dance, visual arts, drama, and music.

We provide a safe, stable environment where students practice respect for self and others, discover new skills and talents, and develop tools that will allow them to achieve greater success in school and beyond.

To reach children in more communities with our unique trauma informed, arts-based, and emotionally responsive academic programming, which inspires and  empowers students to be their best selves every day.

We build character, instill a positive sense of self, and provide tangible life skills through a creative arts-based curriculum with exposure to the sciences, academic reinforcement, and social-emotional learning.

Core Values

A Proud History in Providing Safe Spaces

Girls First of Norristown (then known as St. Augustine Academy) opened its doors in 2009, as an outreach endeavor supported financially by St. David's Church in Radnor. The idea originated with a young woman serving as the Deacon of St. Augustine’s Church in Norristown. A fundraiser provided the seed money for our independent, non-religious after school program to be launched.

Since its beginning, the goals of Girls First have been quite specific; to enrich the lives of young girls through exposure to visual arts, music, dance, drama, creative writing, culinary arts, painting, and more. In addition, homework support and a full meal are given to the girls. Above all, Girls First wants to create a safe place where girls can discover their creative gifts and build their self-esteem.

During the 2023-2024 school year, Girls First expanded our reach through Outreach Programming at two additional sites in southeastern Pennsylvania – The Chester Charter Scholars Academy (CCSA) in the city of Chester as well as The Gesu School in Philadelphia. During the Fall of 2024, Girls First established an outreach program partnership with Chester Exchange and Chester Eastside, Inc. to launch Kids First, an inaugural co-ed afterschool program using the Artsee Curriculum.

Meet The Team

Girls First Staff

Teaching Artist Apprentices

Integral to our program are Girls First’s Teaching Artist Apprentices (TAA) . The Apprenticeship Program provides training for teaching artists to create and support equitable learning environments through trauma-informed, arts-based explorations that integrate academic and social-emotional skill building. Apprentices are hired annually for the duration of one, or more, program year.

Program Assistants are also hired to help TAAs promote a fun and engaging environment and maintain the physical/mental/emotional safety, well-being, and attention of all students. They assist with the implementation of developmentally appropriate lesson plans, provide support to students with homework tasks and activities, and support program mealtime preparation, set up and clean up.

Lastly, we have an amazing crew of Volunteers that are directly recruited from within the community, ranging from retirees to former Girls First students, who actively participate in our after-school programming. Volunteers arrive early to help set up meals, travel with small groups to their daily activities, provide one-on-one mentoring, and offer project and academic support.

Board of Directors