FROM STAFF REPORTS

NORTH SHELBY—This spring, Oak Mountain Intermediate School fielded their first-ever Girls on the Run team. Girls on the Run is an educational program that integrates running into lessons on self-esteem, bullying, peer pressure, gratitude, community building and diversity.

The spring 2016 season kicked off with a 5K run at Marconi Park. More than 300 girls from four different counties participated in the event.

In addition to lessons and training for a 5K, every Girls on the Run team chose a community impact project.

Expressing gratitude is an important pillar of the Girls on the Run program, so the OMIS girls decided to show their appreciation during Lunch Room Heroes Week.

The team of girls created posters to honor the hard work of the lunch room staff. The girls also made posters displaying positive messages in an effort to spread the joy, inspiration and acceptance fostered at Girls on the Run to the whole school.

The team was organized and led by OMIS counselor Julia Venable. Teachers Aimee Hackney, Kim Ethridge, Beth Scharding and Molly Young served as coaches.