BRS
Walker School’s groundbreaking boys running program is called Boys Running Strong. It is an after school program in the fall, and open to boys in 4th and 5th grade. We have designed our program to promote positive thinking, encourage healthy behaviors for physical and emotional well-being, and set personal training goals. Using PBIS data and observing the social and emotional needs of our boys, we continually develop lessons and activities to cultivate positive behaviors. We charge a minimal fee each season that helps ensure all interested boys have an opportunity to participate. The fee covers snacks each session, activity materials, and a special BRS t-shirt. Each season ends with the boys running a local Chicago 5K race and experiencing the thrill of completing their goal. BRS is led by three 4th and 5th grade teachers -- Laura Rouse, Freda Wood-Livingston, and Kelly Oldfield -- who developed the program in 2014.
What boys say ....
I like BRS because running is a good way to let my stress out. It makes me think not everything is a race. It lets me pace myself. I also joined it because I like running. My friends also recommended it and they said it was fun, so why not try? I also liked how our session would start and we would have a beginning lesson, and at the end I would have more tallies than the last session.
-Jalen, 5th grade, 1st year We get to work together and learn to pace ourselves. I think I lost weight. It actually gave me something to do. Plus I got to run with my friends and even run a 5K.
-Lukasz, 5th grade, 1st year |
BRS was awesome and fun. I’ve been in BRS for 4th and 5th grade, or 2 years. It was a good after school program especially because most schools only have girls running. When the celebration came it was the best time in BRS. Also the 5K and 6K was nice. We got to go to downtown Chicago and Evanston. BRS made me better at running. Awesome! Best! Activity!
-Obsa, 5th grade, 2nd year |
I really liked BRS because I like to run long distances. I also never ran in the halls before and it is very cool. I really liked my first 5K and mock 5K. It was very long and challenging, but also very fun. I also liked the lessons that we did. They help me learn new things.
-Eddie, 5th grade, 1st year I loved BRS because I love running and I like quick talking with my friends while I’m running -- or just saying “Run!” I like running because it makes me stronger and it’s fun because I get to run with my friends. I joined BRS because I thought it would be fun to run. BRS is what got me into running, so I did it again in 5th grade. It got better every day I came.
-Troy, 5th grade, 2nd year |