2026–2027 Academic Year Registration

Registration is now open for the inaugural cohort of the Arkansas Academy of Etiquette and Excellence!

The Academy provides girls with intentional, age-appropriate instruction designed to cultivate confidence, courtesy, character, cultural awareness, and personal leadership. Participants will gain practical skills that support their development at school, at home, online, and in the broader community.

The 2026–2027 cohort is open exclusively to girls ages 11–17.

Academy Divisions
Junior Academy: Girls ages 11–13
Teen Academy: Girls ages 14–17
Some sessions may include both divisions. Activities and discussions will be adapted when appropriate to reflect the developmental needs of each age group.

Academic Curriculum
Each month will feature an area of instruction within the Academy’s academic curriculum. The complete curriculum calendar, session topics, and preparation instructions will be provided to registered participants.

Modern and Cultural Etiquette
Participants will learn how courtesy, respect, and social awareness are expressed in different environments and across cultures. Topics may include introductions, greetings, forms of address, hosting and guest etiquette, public behavior, event etiquette, appropriate use of technology, and navigating unfamiliar social settings with confidence.

Confident Communication
Participants will develop the ability to communicate clearly, respectfully, and confidently. Instruction may include conversation skills, active listening, eye contact, posture, public speaking, appropriate telephone and email communication, expressing an opinion respectfully, and interacting with adults, peers, teachers, and community leaders.

Social and Emotional Intelligence
Participants will strengthen their self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, discernment, and relationship skills. Topics may include managing emotions, responding to conflict, resisting peer pressure, recognizing healthy and unhealthy friendships, respecting personal boundaries, recovering from embarrassment, and making thoughtful decisions in social situations.

Dining Etiquette and Manners
Participants will learn the fundamentals of dining with confidence in both everyday and formal settings. Instruction may include table settings, napkin placement, proper use of utensils, dining conversation, ordering from a menu, passing and serving food, handling difficult foods, and demonstrating courtesy to hosts, guests, and restaurant staff.

Personal Leadership and Character Development
Participants will explore the relationship between personal choices, reputation, responsibility, and leadership. Instruction will emphasize integrity, self-discipline, accountability, service, respect, resilience, sound judgment, and the importance of becoming trustworthy before seeking recognition or influence.

Confidence, Identity, and Self-Respect
Participants will be encouraged to develop confidence that is grounded in character rather than appearance, popularity, or social-media approval. Age-appropriate discussions may address self-esteem, comparison, personal values, virtue, self-respect, friendships, social pressures, and the importance of making decisions that protect their dignity and future.

Digital Etiquette and Social-Media Awareness
Because social media has become a powerful source of influence for young people, participants will learn how to engage online with wisdom and responsibility. Topics may include digital footprints, privacy, online communication, cyberbullying, image and reputation, oversharing, discernment regarding online content, and the difference between healthy influence and social pressure.

Poise, Presence, and Personal Presentation
Participants will learn how grooming, posture, clothing, body language, and situational awareness contribute to personal presence. Instruction will focus on presenting oneself appropriately and authentically—not promoting perfection, expensive clothing, or appearance-based worth.

Participants may also explore wardrobe care, dressing for different occasions, modesty and appropriateness, fashion-show presentation, and how to express personal style with confidence.

Academy Schedule
Academy sessions will be held on the first Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Each one-hour session will focus on a designated area of the Academy curriculum and may include:

Instructor-led teaching
Guided discussion
Demonstrations
Role-playing and practical exercises
Individual or group activities
At-home application assignments
The full academic calendar, session dates, topics, location, and participant expectations will be provided after enrollment is confirmed.

Academy Kickoff
Saturday, September 5, 2026
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Inaugural Class:
The Art of Introduction: Confidence and First Impressions

Year-End Academy Experience
The academic year will culminate with a special Academy Graduation, Fashion Show, and Formal Dining Experience.

This event will give participants an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year, including confident introductions, poise, personal presentation, social courtesy, dining etiquette, and gracious interaction with others.

Eligible participants will:

Be recognized during the Academy graduation ceremony
Receive a Certificate of Completion
Participate in an age-appropriate fashion presentation
Demonstrate poise, posture, and occasion-appropriate dress
Apply their dining-etiquette skills in a formal setting
Celebrate their growth with family and invited guests
Participation in the culminating experience will be based on attendance, conduct, and completion of Academy requirements. Event attire, guest seating, location, and any additional costs will be communicated to enrolled families in advance.

Enrollment and Materials Fee
A $75 enrollment and materials fee is required for each participant. The fee helps cover instructional materials, program supplies, and the participant’s Certificate of Completion.

Enrollment is not complete until the registration form and materials fee have been received. Space is limited, and registration will close once the cohort reaches capacity.

The year-end formal dining experience and related event expenses are not included in the $75 materials fee. Complete pricing and participation details will be provided to families before commitments are required.

Attendance and Supervision
Consistent attendance is important because each monthly session contributes to the participant’s overall development and preparation for the year-end experience.

The Arkansas Academy of Etiquette and Excellence is an educational enrichment program and does not provide childcare or extended supervision. Participants may not be dropped off before the designated check-in period and must be picked up promptly at 12:00 p.m.

Repeated absences, early drop-offs, late pickups, or conduct that interferes with the learning environment may affect continued participation and eligibility for graduation.