Sun staff
Every Thursday a dozen fifth grade girls at Amelia Elementary School meet after school, complete an inspirational lesson, talk about their thoughts and go for a run.
The girls are a part of a Girls on the Run team, which encourages girls to be positive and build confidence by using running to promote a healthy lifestyle, according to the organization’s website.
This is the first year Amelia has had the opportunity to have a team, said Teresa Hennessey, a fifth grade teacher who leads the program at Amelia.
Hennessey was involved in Girls on the Run at another school and wanted to bring it to Amelia.
The team meets twice a week for just over an hour and girls learn lessons and then participate in a running workout, according to Hennessey.
“It’s such a great program,” she said.
On March 19, the girls completed an activity about body image, and feeling comfortable in their own skin.
As part of the lesson, the girls traced each other on paper and wrote down their positive traits that did not have to do with their appearances.
After completing the activity, the girls ran laps outside and after each lap they stopped to write down what makes their Girls on the Run team beautiful.
The program began in February, and Hennessey said she is already noticing a difference in the girls.
“Their attitudes change,” Hennessey said. “It’s a big difference.”
Hennessey likes that the girls in the program feel comfortable coming to the team leaders or other girls to talk about how they are feeling.
Stephanie Fowler and Lisa Evans, also fifth-grade teachers and team leaders, said they have seen a difference in the girls confidence and physical abilities.
“I am seeing the girls push themselves,” Fowler said.
Evans believes having the program is a wonderful opportunity for the girls at Amelia.
“You can see the confidence growing in the girls each week,” Evans said.
Victoria Racic, 10, said she always looks forward to coming to Girls on the Run practice and has learned a lot.
“Don’t think about what other people say about you only what you think about yourself,” Victoria said she has learned.
Ellie Speed, 10, also enjoys seeing her friends and running as part of the club.
“When we run, I feel like I can do anything,” Ellie said.
The program at Amelia Elementary School will runs for 12 weeks.
The team will be hosting a practice 5K at the school at 3:30 p.m April 23 to prepare for their 5K race, the Girls on the Run 5K May 9 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Hennessey said.
For more information about Girls on the Run, visit www.girlsontherun.org.