Younger students feel power of Girls on the Run

As the bell rings and students from Highlands Elementary School rush out to go home, 15 fourth and fifth grade girls linger back.

They slowly make their way to the gymnasium, a ritual they follow twice a week for a program that’s meant to bring out their potential and encourage them to be active.

The girls are part of Girls on the Run, an international program geared to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running,” according to its website.

This is the second year the program has been at Highlands and it is already making an impact in the participants.

Taking the lead on this year’s program is counselor Rebekah Appleton and fourth-grade teacher Gwen Ryno.

“It is such an amazingly done program,” said Appleton. “The curriculum is well thought out. It has so many benefits. We have serve an underprivileged population. We’re a Title I school. We’re extremely diverse and we’re mostly low-income. A lot of our girls don’t have opportunities to do programs like this. Just the chance to interact with these girls in a positive manner, give them self esteem and life skills, talk about deeper things and connect with each other, for us as a staff, it’s a slam dunk.”

Ryno said she got involved with the program two years ago when she did her student teaching at Honey Dew Elementary School and was hooked instantly.

“I feel so lucky to be a part of the program and I wish there had been something like it when I was growing up,” she said. “The program is really special for me because sports were really important for me growing up, and I saw how teams could create the best group of friends and teach you so much about working together and getting along with new people…. I find that I am learning so much more about the girls, even the ones who are in my class, because I’m getting a real opportunity to hear about what’s happening in their lives without the chaos of a school day getting in the way. Girls on the Run is special to me for so many reasons, but I think the biggest one is being able to see girls connect with one another in a way that they don’t have the opportunity to in school.”

The program is limited to 15 spots. Teachers give recommendations on students they think will benefit from the program. The recommended students then are briefed on the program and its commitments, then are encouraged to apply to be part of the program. The first 15 girls to sign up get to be a part of the program for the next 10 weeks.

The students are able to participate in the program for free, partly due to the scholarships provided by Girls on the Run and partly with school funds.

“We want to do anything we can to open the door to this awesome program,” said Appleton.

On this particular Monday, the lesson is about “Starpower” — or the inner strength that brings joy and resilience in difficult days. After instructing them through a meditative practice, Ryno ushers the girls to sit in a circle and discuss when in their life they rely on their starpower.

“Each practice has a different theme that builds upon the previous conversation. It builds very thoughtfully. From week to week, all the concepts connects,” said Appleton.

This is followed by a quick warm up session where the girls stretch and gear up to head outside to get their hearts and feet racing. The girls took advantage of the early spring sunshine by starting off with a game of modified tag. They then starting running laps around the field after setting a goal.

The theme of the week is incorporated into each activity as a means to help the students get a better grasp of the concepts.

“(This helps them) connect a social, emotional or personal development concept to being physically active, being outside and doing something that’s good for them,” Appleton said. “It goes back to making a choice. I’m choosing to go outside and get stronger. I’m choosing to be a good friend. It’s amazing how naturally they start encouraging each other.”

Ryno said even though they are only few weeks into the program, she’s already seen changes in the girls.

“Our last lesson was on negative and positive self talk, and we decided as a team that whenever we hear someone using negative self talk we will say ‘err’ like a buzzer,” she said. “Today during class one of my girls said ‘errr’ to another girl when she said she couldn’t do her writing. It’s small things like that, but I think the lessons definitely stick with them, and some of the girls who are more shy are making more friends.”

At the end of the 10-week course, the girls will participate in a 5K with other local schools that are participating. The non-competitive 5K is scheduled for May 20 at Renton Memorial Stadium.

Appleton said she would love to see the school have the capacity to take on more than one team so more students are able to benefit from the program.

Highlands isn’t the only school in the Renton School District that has the program. Cascade, Honey Dew, Maplewood, Renton Park and Tiffany Park elementary schools also have the program.