The current Girls on the Run session at Circleville Elementary School came to its conclusion last weekend as the 17 third-to-fifth grade participants ran a 5K at LEGOLAND in Goshen, alongside their adult buddies.

John Tobin, sixth-grade math and social studies teacher at Crispell Middle School, Tara Robinson, an occupational therapist at CES, and Trish Rivas, Mr. Tobin’s cousin, coached this spirited team throughout its 10-week season, meeting twice each week.

The Girls on the Run program  is an international organization empowering girls, building confidence and encouraging healthy habits.

“Every lesson begins with a strategy to help us be the best we can be,” said Mr. Tobin. “That might consist of positive self-talk, how to make friends, how to maintain friendships, etc. Then we have a 35-45 minute run where we continue exploring that day’s strategy after each lap.”

The Girls on the Run program has served more than 2.25 million girls since its founding in 1996. The group’s goal is to “envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.”

According to research, Girls on the Run has a positive impact on all participants, with the greatest impact on girls with a lower perception of their physical, social and emotional competencies. The curriculum includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork, and recognizing how we can shape the world at large. It inspires confidence through accomplishment.

The next Girls on the Run session at CES begins in September, with another following in April. Information about the fall program will be sent to Circleville Elementary School girls in grades 3, 4 and 5 in August. Look for it and let your girls be part of this amazing program.