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Date: 12/1/2022
WESTFIELD – On a cold and blustery Sunday, 27 third- and fourth-grade girls from Agawam and Feeding Hills – 17 from Clark School and 10 from Granger School – celebrated the end of a 10-week afterschool program with a 5K run.
They formed two of the 32 Girls on the Run teams representing schools around Western Massachusetts at the Nov. 20 race at Stanley Park. The national physical activity-based, positive youth development program is for girls in grades 3-8.
Girls on the Run uses running as a way to teach girls critical life skills with 20 “lessons” incorporating teamwork, self-reflection and physical activities. Scenarios are presented to girls who think about how they would respond to different situations, said Lisa Beaulieu, one of Granger’s three Girls on the Run coaches.
“It’s not just about running,” said Chloe Maynard, a Granger third grader. “We learned to be good teammates by cheering each other on and trying to help each other.”
“I’ve learned about empathy and always being kind [and] respectful – especially of myself – in any situation,” added Zoie Brown, a fourth grader in Granger’s program.
Girls at both schools met Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. The Clark team, which has a fall and spring season, began in spring 2019. When gatherings were restricted because of COVID-19 rules, it met at School Street Park.
Granger started its program in September, but hasn’t decided yet whether to host a spring season. Beaulieu said a Granger parent suggested starting the Girls on the Run program.
“I knew this program fostered building self-confidence, teamwork and physical fitness, so I was eager to see how the group of girls would grow during the program,” said Beaulieu.
Clark teachers Alyse Roy, an occupational therapist, and Laura Latuilippe, a speech language pathologist, are among the school’s five Girls on the Run coaches. They started the program to give girls an outlet for their social-emotional needs as well as opportunities beyond the school walls for a safe space to build positive peer relationships.
“We promote a healthy lifestyle, including making smart choices, coping strategies for emotional regulation and learning to set and achieve goals,” said Roy.
Beaulieu, a kindergarten teacher, added that for grades 3-5, this program focuses on helping girls understand themselves, value relationships and teamwork, and recognize how they can shape the world at large.
One of her lessons focused on “star power”: “We all have unique and amazing characteristics that make us special. Sometimes, ‘clouds’ can get in the way of our ‘star,’ keeping it from shining. Girls generated ideas on ways to move ‘clouds’ away from us.”
Granger coaches Madeline Drigo and Pam Rivers said they have seen many positive changes among girls who participated.
“They’ve learned strategies to handle conflicts and they have learned the importance of being a good teammate and friend,” said Drigo.
Rivers said a few girls were a little shy at first, but then took the initiative and participated in all the activities.
Granger third grader Amelia Carmody likes running and enjoys the many activities she and her teammates do when they meet. She also learned something important about herself: “When you try your best, you’re a good person.”
Clark third grader Adrianna Circosta learned the value of friendship.
“It’s good to have more friends – and I’ve made more friends because of this program,” she said. “It makes me feel happy that I’m not alone.”
Roy emphasized that girls don’t need to be athletic to participate in Girls on the Run. They can hop, jump, walk or skip at each practice and during the 5K, and all set individualized goals for how many laps they’ll run at practice.
“Running allows the girls to move their bodies, set a goal, and achieve something. The 5K is a tangible outcome of putting their minds to something and completing it. They’re also doing it with their friends, which creates teamwork and develops the muscle of encouragement to others,” Roy explained.
Last year, Clark fourth grader Liliana Croteau hurt her knee and didn’t feel confident about running the celebratory 5K. But as she waited near the finish line, several teammates joined her so they could walk across the finish line together.
“It made me feel so happy. It gave me more confidence to run this year,” Liliana said.
Clark fourth grader Zoey Dolman said the program has prompted her to exercise more.
“My parents encouraged me to practice running more often. They’re proud of me for doing [Girls on the Run] and participating in the 5K.”
Roy added that each season the girls also choose a community project to help people in a positive way: “The project is about creating positive change for the community and showing the girls how to serve others and how to do it well,” she said.
This fall the staff and students of Clark and decided to pick up trash around the school. Last spring, they brought books to create a roadside library for the playground.
Beaulieu said Granger parents have been “incredibly supportive throughout the program. We had a practice 5K in early November and it was heartwarming to see how many parents and community leaders came to cheer on the girls.”
Roy said Clark’s parents are equally supportive.
“Many parents come to the practice 5K and end-of-the-season 5K to run with the girls or cheer them on,” Roy said.
Clark fourth grader Yazgulu Kumas was looking forward to having her older sister by her side as her “running buddy” for the 5K: “She supports me the most –we walk and run together.”
Granger third grader Eliana Kirilovich was looking forward to jogging with a friend at the 5K: “There will be lots of people cheering us on – it’s so cool.”
The program cultivates a positive view of running and physical activity while teaching girls positive coping strategies to handle life’s everyday moments. Roy said girls can use Girls on the Run’s “foundational blocks” in childhood and into adulthood.
“Girls have fun while learning tools they can use for life,” she said.