Published Thursday, January 26, 2012

Girl Power: Moreland girls feel good about belonging

By Rebecca Leftwich

The Newnan Times-Herald

Tiny Hannah Currence breaks into a full run, long brown hair flying, grinning over her shoulder at friends running and walking near Moreland Elementary School on an unseasonably warm and overcast afternoon.

Hannah is a fourth-grade cancer survivor who leads Moreland's Girl Power group in miles logged -- more than 40, before Monday's meeting. The exercise is important, but it's Hannah's big smile that gauges success for Girl Power's seven teacher-sponsors.

"The girls love having a place where they can feel good about belonging," said Leigh-Anne Camp, a second-grade teacher at Moreland who helps lead the program. "They set goals and we track them, but the real progress is in the way they present themselves, in their attitudes and self-esteem."

Girl Power has found an ally in Coweta-Fayette EMC, which recently approved a $600 grant to help the group buy sneakers and pay entry fees for next month's Run for Angels race in Newnan through its Operation Round-Up program.

Among 15 fourth- and fifth-grade members of this year's group is Nakayla Daniel, who says she enjoys not just walking but the interaction between Girl Power participants during their exercise sessions.

"It's tiring, but once you start, you just want to walk more and more," Nakayla said. "When we're walking, we talk a lot and learn things about each other. We tell funny things that happened at each other's houses, and sometimes we sing songs."

Girl Power provides charms with the number of miles achieved for the students to wear on necklaces and holds a special dinner to honor their achievements. In just its second year of existence, Girl Power has already inspired many students to blossom.

"They start coming out of their shells as they build friendships," said Camp, who along with the other sponsors incorporate self-care into the program. "Their grades improve as they feel better about themselves. That is so important as they make that transition from little girls into big girls."

Looking outside themselves also contributes to the girls' self-confidence. That's why Girl Power will participate in Run for Angels, which raises money for Angel's House, a group foster home in Newnan.

"They just need the opportunity to be a part of something bigger," Camp said.