At the end of each year, Lowellville’s Wellness Club, directed by Ms. Robin Carlos and Ms. Christina Freed, coordinates a special day for elementary students. These students, who range from grades kindergarten through sixth, spend the day playing games outside with their friends. Since field day began in 2002, the students have enjoyed participating and competing with their classmates before the start of summer and this is the perfect way to end the school year.
Field day requires help from members of the high school’s Wellness Club. These students attend Wellness Club meetings and events throughout the year. If a student reaches enough meetings, they can volunteer for field day. This year, 47 students from grades 9-12 assisted Ms. Carlos and Ms. Freed. High school students help with field day by spending time with younger students and teaching them sportsmanship.
In the morning, grades 4-6 went to the track to dust off their running shoes and competed in the 100-meter and 400-meter dash. They also participated in long toss and long jump. Meanwhile, younger students (K-3) played games such as Whistle Mixer and tag. After lunch, students participated in tug-o’-war, a balloon toss game, and basketball shooting. To end the day, students were separated by grades and classes to compete against each other in kickball. When asked their favorite part of the day, students had many different responses, however, the parts of the day that came up most frequently were tug-o’-war and kickball.
At the end of the day, to thank the high school students for their work, the volunteers were given the opportunity to play their own game of kickball on the football field. Many high school students claimed their favorite part of the day was “playing kickball with my friends and younger students” and “being able to teach younger students new games and allow them to have fun.”
Overall, field day provides an opportunity for students to go outside and spend time with their friends towards the end of the year. As an annual tradition, many students, both in high school and elementary school, eagerly anticipate this day.