Girls and Women at Bolton Elementary School on the Run

On Wednesday afternoon, the girls in the Girls on the Run (GOTR) club at Bolton Elementary School had a mission to complete before heading outside for their run: write a thank-you note to the staff at Bolton for helping them raise $200 for their community-service project.

The girls were looking for a good community-service project, and, after third-grader Johanny Paniagua noticed that the copy of Charlotte’s Web she had checked out of the school library was a bit frayed, she suggested that they raise money to buy some new books for the media center.

The rest of the 15 third- through fifth-graders in the club thought that was a great idea. So, yesterday, they served hot chocolate, bagels, breakfast casserole and other treats, and members of the staff donated whatever they wanted. By the time breakfast was done, the girls had raised $200.

“We are so proud of you – all the work you have done,” said Katherine Bryant, the school’s assistant principal.

Asked what books they would like to see bought for the media center, third-grader Lindsey Rivas-Navarette said she was hoping to see some Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth books. Other girls mentioned Dork Diaries books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and Pinkalicious books.

Thank-you note done, it was time to head outside and warm up before running. GOTR has four coaches from the school: second-grade teacher Shawn Byrd, teacher assistant Susan Hair, third-grade teacher Amy Phaup and Natalie Massaro, an EC (exceptional children) resource teacher.

“They learn so many wonderful lessons,” Massaro said.

Phaup said that it’s been good to connect with the girls through the club and to watch them get to know each other better.

“It’s been great to see them form a team,” Phaup said.

“The purpose of the club is for the young ladies to be inspired to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running,” Bryant said. “Our young ladies meet every Monday and Wednesday after school for one hour. They are such an inspiration at our school that several teachers have now joined in to work with these girls each day.”

When the club formed at the start of the year, Bryant said, they started out by walking together. It wasn’t long before everyone was running.

Once outside, the girls and adults did some jumping jacks and other warm-up exercises and then sprinted off.

On Dec. 6, the girls and adults are going to participate in the 31st Annual YMCA Mistletoe Run. The Y has waived the entry fee for the girls. For more about the event, go to Mistletoe Run

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