A critical understanding of body image and related self-esteem issues aimed at preventing self-abuse among teens is the subject of a free program Monday.

Give Every Child a Chance in partnership with Kaiser Permanente is staging the presentation at 7 p.m. at the Golden West School gym at 1031 N. Main St. Light refreshments will be served. Parents as well as students and educators are invited to attend.

GECAC Executive Director Carol Davis noted the purpose of the assembly is to challenge the audience to have a positive impact on others every day, in order to make school a safe, healthier place.

It is a prelude to Tuesday’s 2011 Better Engaged Students Thrive (BEST) Teen Summit at Golden West School built around the same theme of “Teen Truth Live: Body Image.” Some 280 teens have pre-registered for the 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. event that takes place during the week-long fall school break for Manteca Unified.

The “Teen Truth Live: Body Image” presentation is an interactive, multi-media presentation incorporates motivational speeches with an award-winning 22-minute film that was created by students. 

Following the presentation students will disseminate into breakout sessions.  These sessions will include topics such as: Body Art and Body Piercing, Think Before You Act; You Be the Next Top Chef; Cyber Bullying; Fit as a Firefighter;  Gangs, the Ugly Truth; Get Up and Move; Phat Farm, Positively Yoga; Martial Arts, Be Safe and Alert; and Multimedia Graphic Design.   Students will be able to attend two of the 10 classes mentioned.

Following the breakout sessions, the students will return to the auditorium for a closing session, where they will each be entered into a drawing to win raffle prizes.  The raffle prizes include a  Amazon Kindle Reader with a Leather Cover with Light, a Samsung flat screen) 21 1/2 inch wide screen HD TV, (2) SanDisk MP3 Players, CD Radio and iPod Dock, Portable DVD Player, Portable Stereo Speakers for iPhone and iPod, and a Digital Camera

The children will start their day with a light breakfast, and at noon be served a healthy nutritious lunch donated by Panda Express.

For information on Monday’s presentation contact GECAC at 825-7003