Afternoon Program Spotlight: Girls on the Run
Providing students with enriching experiences, both in and out of the classroom, is an integral part of our mission here at Springfield Prep. This fall, our 3rd through 5th graders had the opportunity to participate in the Girls on the Run afternoon program, hosted in partnership with the national organization. Through a research-based, 10 week curriculum, students met in small groups, engaged in interactive lessons to grow their physical, social, and emotional skills, and trained to run in a friendly, non-competitive, 5k at the end of the season. Some of the lesson topics included discussing the importance of self-care, selecting and maintaining healthy relationships, and celebrating one’s strengths (just to name a few). By pairing physical activity with conversations around social, emotional wellness, the students worked to build confidence within themselves in a variety of ways.
Arianna Romero, K-1st Special Education Teacher, shared with us her thoughts on the program, and her experience as a lead coach this season. Continue reading to learn more about GOTR, and to see some awesome pictures from throughout this season!
Q&A with Coach Romero
Is this your first year as a GOTR Coach? What motivated you to participate?
Yes, this is my first year as a coach! Girls on the Run is just such a great program, and as a K-1st Special Education Teacher, I don’t often get the chance to interact with the older students (3rd-5th). That was my initial motivation to coach this program.
What do you think makes GOTR special?
Due to the curriculum, the impact of this program is life-long. The lessons are truly impactful because they highlight different life skills and strengths to help others, and provide teaching moments for emotional awareness, expressiveness, and emotional mediation. The lessons start with a focus on identity, self-care, self-awareness, and knowing themselves. As the season continues, the lessons progress to focus on connectedness; where the girls learn about selecting and maintaining healthy relationships. Then finally, we move on towards an empowerment focus where the team comes together to participate in a community impact project. Finally, we end the season with a team celebration and the final 5k.
I have seen each and every girl on our team grow in confidence, awareness, and friendship over the course of this season. As we took time to reflect at our final celebration, my fellow coaches Colleen Brown, Hannah Shields, and Aimee Bouchard, and I were so touched by the ways in which our girls articulated the impact of this program on their lives. When asked about what they had learned, what they liked about the program, and what they liked about themselves, responses included statements like "I learned to respect others and myself," or "I liked making friends and that we set goals for ourselves”. Another shared, "I like that I am more brave, kind, strong, and no one can stop me from what I love." I am confident that the lessons, skills, and tools learned within this program will follow them well into adulthood.
GOTR teaches that physical activity can have a major positive impact on one’s confidence. How have you seen this aspect of the program play a role in supporting students?
During training, the facilitators explained that setting goals around physical activity is just an additional way of instilling confidence in young girls. There is so much value in setting individual goals for yourself and then gaining confidence as you make progress towards achieving them.
As the girls were completing their laps and practicing for the 5k, they got really excited to track their progress using lap counters, popsicle sticks, and by adding beads to their GOTR bracelets. They really lit up when they noticed they were beginning to run faster and improving with every practice.
The GOTR program incorporates the following six core values in their programming:
Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making.
Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness.
Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts, and actions.
Nurture our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent.
Stand up for ourselves and others.
Which core value resonates the most with you?
The value of nurturing one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health resonates the most with me. I see kids as wholistic individuals, who are impacted by all aspects of their health. For example, arguments with family members or not getting enough sleep the night before, can really impact their day in the same way that it would an adult. Teaching students how to manage those challenges in the early part of their lives is so impactful.
Is there a particular moment from this season that stands out in your memory?
There was one lesson in particular where we discussed the differences between negative self-talk and positive self-talk, and worked with the girls to recognize instances in their lives where these might show up .
One of the girls then shared with me that she joined GOTR because she wanted to lose weight. It really impacted me to hear that, at such a young age, she was already conscious about her body weight. We started to talk through how beautiful she was on the inside and out, and I could really see her processing what it meant to love yourself and be proud of yourself. It was a sweet moment, and I was glad to be able speak into that for her and affirm her in a safe space.
In what ways has this experience impacted you as an educator?
I’ve learned the importance of building up confidence in my students, and showing them to celebrate the little victories along the way - not just at the end. Working with the youngest students in the school, I sometimes forget that they are capable of setting objectives and identifying their progress. I plan to validate that more, and give students more space to acknowledge their own achievements throughout the year.
Season-Culminating 5k
SPCS students joined more than 770 GOTR participants and finished off the season with an organization-wide 5K! Staff volunteers ran alongside our students in support.
