Educators and Aide Voluntarily Support Girls on the Run Program at Emerson Elementary in D200

Girls on the Run is a 12-week after school program for third through fifth grade female students at Emerson Elementary in District 200. This program was started three years ago by Ms. Rebecca Chambers and the Emerson PTA. Ms. Chambers is currently their volunteer site coordinator. Their volunteer coaches are Ms. Brittany Reid (3rd grade educator), Ms. Sharon Beiersdorf (classroom assistant) and Ms. Kaitlyn Kurtzweil (Special Education Educator).

The program is designed to help girls develop friendships, build self-confidence, and celebrate each characteristic that makes them unique and special. Each week, members of the group are presented a lesson focusing on social and emotional challenges such as gossip, bullying, and inner-beauty. Every year the group organizes a community project. This year, Girls on the Run chose to help animals in need. They have worked tirelessly to collect materials for Fetching Trails Foundation and DuPage County Animal Control. The participating girls created a note to go home in classroom newsletters to inform community members of the collection. They also created signs to advertise the collection around the school building. Among the items collected were: new or gently used linens, new or gently used pet beds or food bowls, dog collars and leashes, dog crates and carriers, dog/puppy and cat/kitten toys, dog and cat food, soft dog treats, kitten bottles, dog shampoo, puppy pads/newspapers, cat litter and cleaning supplies. At one of their practices the students braided fleece together to make their own dog toys to donate to the shelter. They accumulated a total of 10 boxes for donations. Girls on the Run delivered these donations by running to DuPage County Animal Control after school on June 1. Running is a major part of the program to instill health awareness and confidence.

Thank you, Ms. Chambers, Ms. Reid, Ms. Beiersdorf, and Ms. Kurtzweil, for voluntarily providing an opportunity to strengthen student confidence while building relationships within our community. We can’t wait to see what the Emerson Girls on the Run program has in store for our community next year.