CCSD59 Gets Girls on the Run
“From being in Girls on the Run, I learned to never give up and to believe in myself.”
-A Robert Frost 5th grader-
On Saturday, December 12, 43 girls from Robert Frost, Rupley, and Ridge elementary schools braved the unseasonably warm but extremely foggy December weather to show their dedication to a healthy lifestyle via a 5K run. The students and teachers organized their own 5K when the official one scheduled on November 19 by the Girls on the Run program had to be rescheduled because of bad weather.
Ten CCSD59 schools are proud participants in the Girls on the Run program, a not-for-profit organization that teaches elementary and junior high girls the importance of healthy eating, exercise, and mindset. According to their website, over 120,000 volunteers serve over 168,000 girls in more than 225 cities across North America each year.
Teachers at CCSD59 who coach the program helped organize the run at Audubon Park in Elk Grove Village by working with the Elk Grove Village Park District. The students still wanted an opportunity to participate in the 5K they trained to run, and the collaboration helped make this goal a reality.
Julie Botkin, Physical Education Teacher at Rupley, said she loves that the district is part of the program. “It has been a great season for us with Girls on the Run. Together as a team, our girls have learned to be creative, empowered, confident, and healthy young women.”
A Robert Frost fifth grader who participated in Saturday’s run summed it up well: “I am excited about the 5k because all the hard work we have done results in us having a great finish.”
For more information about the Girls On The Run Program, visit their website at www.girlsontherun.org.
