We’ve heard from the boys; now it’s time for the future of female leadership. The Girl’s League Board (GLB) is not just a club or program; it’s a crucial opportunity for young women to take center stage and build real-world power. Founded in the 70’s by Mrs. Pat Hodges, before the Men’s League Board, the club was created to foster an environment where a group of females, almost like a sorority, could work together, hang out, participate in school and community activities, and exhibit leadership qualities while making lasting friendships.
GLB continues to shape young women’s experiences at Cal High, guided by the leadership of advisors like Mrs. Moore, who ensures that each generation benefits from the club’s supportive and empowering environment. Mrs. Moore has not only guided GLB for 16 years, but she was also part of the program when she attended Cal High, even serving as President her senior year. She has seen many changes in the club over the years, but also heartwarming continuities:
“Celebrating members’ birthdays, throwing the Sadie Hawkins Dance, and selling Valentine Grams. We also used to put on Winter Formal and a dance competition called Hi Jinx, but as students’ willingness to get involved on campus has changed, these activities have died out. We now serve as volunteers at all Special Olympics/Lions Association competitions and focus more on giving back to the community through canned food drives, toy drives, and other activities.”
Having experienced it herself, Mrs. Moore added, “The girls find lifelong friends, share lasting memories, experience a feeling of inclusion and safety, and go out to the campus and create experiences for other students.”
With Mrs. Moore’s guidance, GLB nurtures girls to take initiative — one shining example being Samantha Alva, this year’s president. “I just love and admire the club so much. My two previous years in GLB, I really put my whole heart and soul into it because I really believe in the message that we’re trying to send about being involved with our community, giving back, and women empowerment in general. I saw myself being able to lead the club because of how much love I have for it.” In her time as president, Samantha has helped plan Sadie’s, led passion-driven community volunteering, and inspired many young women like herself.
Because of girls like Samantha, GLB has fostered a culture of sisterhood that breaks stereotypes. “A lot of people get the impression that girls are catty… GLB has proved the opposite,” Lucy Montoya shared. She described GLB as, “a fantastic, all-girls club driven by community and passion! It’s such a welcoming and positive atmosphere, and it is one of the longest-standing clubs at Cal High.” Lucy especially highlighted her excitement to participate in service opportunities — from Sadie’s to events like the Special Olympics, Night to Shine, and GLB’s toy and food drives.
For freshmen and first-year members, joining GLB is more than just stepping into a club — it’s stepping into a
supportive community where they can grow, bond, and find their place among like-minded girls. As new faces join each year, students like Bella Gibson and Lindsay Damico quickly discover the empowering environment that has shaped countless girls before them. Bella is most looking forward to, “all the group bondings that we’re gonna do, like we just had a Halloween bonding, and it was really fun, and all the community service hours, and meeting new people.” Lindsay chose to join GLB because, “I think programs like GLB are important for young girls because it helps them meet others who have the same mindset and different ideas that, when they share, they can learn from each other. It also gives girls opportunities to grow as leaders and teammates and bring them closer to a bright future.”
Beyond the service and leadership opportunities, GLB gives students the chance to experience authentic girlhood. Samantha Andrade found much value in this: “I never really had healthy girl bonds, and I felt like this is what I really needed to finally experience that.” With many bondings, like Friendsgiving (or as they call it, GLB-Giving), the girls truly connect and help each other grow. “I feel like my impression so far is that everyone is so nice and loving, like everyone gets along, the vibes are great, and it’s a place you would want to be at.”
GLB does a lot for the girls on campus: it empowers them, sets the foundation for new friendships, teaches leadership, and encourages giving back to the community. Mrs. Hodges founded GLB with hopes of helping young women grow, and since then, the club has done just that. Mrs. Moore has continued to carry the GLB legacy, creating strong leaders like Samantha Alva and Lucia Montoya, and inspiring new girls to join, like Bella, Samantha Andrade, and Lindsay. From the 1970s to today, GLB continues to nurture the next generation of strong, empowered women at Cal High.