Pine Plains to adopt Girls on the Run

PINE PLAINS — Strap on a pair of running shoes. 

Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center (ILC) is incorporating a running initiative to empower girls with its new program, Girls on the Run.

Seymour Smith ILC Principal Julie Roberts approached Pine Plains Central School District Board of Education (BOE) on Wednesday, Feb. 17, to propose the initiative for third- through fifth-grade girls.

“This is a way to get our girls involved in their physical fitness, their emotional well being and build their self-esteem,” she said.

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit dedicated to the empowerment of girls in North America through a network of more than 225  councils, according to its website, www.girlsontherun.org.

It will teach girls important values and inspire them to define their lives on their own terms.

“Its about celebrating who they are,” Roberts said.

Roberts, who received information from the organization last year, has considered making it a part of her school ever since.

She said that every day before leaving work she sees teachers put on work-out clothes to run up and down the stairs of the school before going home to their families. It gave her the idea to take part in the Girls on the Run initiative.

Roberts approached some of those teachers to see if they would be interested in coaching the girls for the Girls on the Run 5K.

Roberts reported that two of her fourth-grade teachers were interested in being part of the program and are very eager to get started — Kerri Knuschke and Jenesis Campbell.

“They’re excited and whole-heartedly behind this program,’ Roberts said.

Seymour Smith’s first Girls on the Run season will start on Monday, April 4. At the end of a three-month training season, participants will run a 5K race on Saturday, June 18.

Information will be mailed to parents this week about the program.

“We’re excited to get started,” Roberts said.

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