Del Val alumni, Makayla Sozanski — daughter of one of the science teachers, Cynthia Ezzard — will be accompanied by Vincent Pontillo and several others to coach a women’s reality-based self defense class called SafeStart.

On Nov. 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., women of the Del Val community partaking in the event will have the opportunity to learn a variety of self defense tactics including escaping from common attacks and using their surroundings to their advantage.

“It covers four areas of awareness,” said Ezzard. “Staying safe on campus, recognizing warning signs in someone’s behavior and language, and recognizing threatening body language. It will show you body positioning, balance, and structure.”

The session aims to leave women and girls empowered and prepared to take on possible dangerous encounters.

“The goal here is to provide students with real world safety and life skills that they can carry with them as they transition into college and throughout their whole adult life,” Ezzard said. “And any woman, regardless of age, could benefit from this.”

Female students, their sisters, and their female guardian(s) are invited to participate in the event. Having attended the class herself, Ezzard urges anyone who is available to sign-up.

“I took one of their seminars back in March and felt so strongly about it, I organized for them to come to our school and run the program here,” Ezzard said. “If you are able to, I would love to have you and your mom or female guardian or guardians join us and see for yourselves what it is that they do.”

For those interested in attending, the admission fee is thirty-five dollars per person and sign-ups are in room B100.