The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Cleaning up City Park are Ella Volk, Addyson Gussiaas, Nicole Johnson, Jocelyn Biel. (Photos courtesy of BIO Girls)
Bio Girls, bottom row (l to r): Jayci Whitman, Alayna Gussiaas, Kaylee Brunette, Linda Yuja, Grace Inglish, Jessa Larsen, Paige Fiebiger. 2nd row seated on steps (l to r): Hadley Volk, Haddie Anderson, Everly Anderson, Arilynn Gehrtz, Morgan Esslinger, Averie Neis, Chloe Pierson. 3rd row standing (l to r): Lily Crawford, Adeline Beal, Brinley Trostad, Allison Smith, Natalie Rau, Rylee Partlow, Zhaylee Jo Hubbard, Zelda Yuja, Morgan Hatch, Amari Whitman. Top row standing (l to r): Kyla Jo Beach, Emma Smith, Laken Johnson, Aveerie Hulbert, Ella Volk, Gemma Inglish, Jocelyn Biel, Renae Raines, Addyson Gussiaas.
Small group animal costumes, left to right: Emma Smith, Kaylee Brunette, Jen Whitman, Grace Inglish.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future." - Proverbs 31:25
For the past 11 weeks, 35 girls and their mentors have forged a connection steeped in positive self-esteem, goal setting and kindness.
Beautiful Inside and Out (BIO) Girls is a self-esteem building program for girls in grades 2-6.
The program is based on research that shows girls struggle with mental health issues at almost double the rate of boys. Further, girls' self-esteem is highest in the third grade and plummets to a low by the time they are in sixth grade.
"Working with girls in this very transformative time in their lives helps the girls learn skills that will combat low self-esteem," the BIO Girls founders say.
Now in its third year, the Carrington chapter has 35 girls enrolled. The first year, 2020, they met virtually due to the COVID pandemic. Then, 2021 was the first year of in-person sessions.
The program's evidence-based and research-proven curriculum revolves around our four pillars: Mental Wellness, Healthy Relationships, Leadership and Kindness. In practice, the curriculum builds up in girls the skills necessary to combat societal pressures and recognize their inherent values.
A season consists of 12 sessions, 90 minutes each. The sessions combine life-skills lessons, Christian non-denominational devotions, small-group mentoring, and non-competitive physical activity. Each week they introduce a new mantra, or mindset.
The mantra for last Monday's session was "One Day or Day One," and as member Rylee Partlow explains it, "Start one thing and today's that day." The premise is that a person can choose to either think about trying something one day, or make today the first day and actually do it.
Of the 12 mantras this season, the girls were generally in agreement that their favorite was "Throw Kindness Like Confetti." The BIO Girls curriculum teaches girls about the importance of kindness, which includes being kind to ourselves, being kind to our peers, and spreading kindness within the community.
Girls learn that the simplest form of kindness is the spoken word. As the sixth grade participants explained, exhibiting kindness sometimes means "leaving the conversation before it gets worse" if harsh words are spoken.
"Don't turn goof-ups into give ups" was also a mantra that really resonated with the girls. Did you know that between the ages 12 & 13, the number of girls who say they're afraid to fail increases by 150 percent? That means 80 percent of pre-teen girls give up the things they love because they are afraid to fail. This mantra focuses on the importance of goal setting and perseverance in working towards those goals, as well as celebrating successes along the way.
"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1)
The physical activity component of BIO Girls is running. Throughout the 12-week program, they work towards finishing a 5K race. Each week they run a little farther, so they can complete the race during the finale. This year, watch the local BIO Girls run on Sunday, June 5 at 4 p.m. The race begins and ends in Carrington City Park.
Jennifer Whitman and Jade Volk are the directors of the local chapter, and 10 women also serve as mentors for the girls. Each small group contains three to four girls and their mentor.
Local sponsors include Carrington Drug, Garr Dental Center, Bickett Insurance Agency, CHI St Alexius Health, Bessette Motors, Family Vision Center, 813 Sales, Bank Forward, Dakota Central, Brinster Law, Hagel Construction, Larsen Plumbing, Heating and A/C, Inc, Summit Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, Central Pharmacy, Farmers Union Insurance, Bremer Bank and Schulz Plumbing, Heating and A/C Inc.
BIO Girls was founded in 2013 by Missy Heilman of Odin, Minnesota. Her background and education are in business management and marketing, and her favorite piece of advice for the young and old alike is to not fear failure. Now in its 10th year, BIO Girls chapters are found in 76 locations throughout the Midwest.
Watch the BIO Girls-Carrington Facebook page for Season 4 registration information, coming this winter. The season runs from March to June.
