Field Day
Yesterday School Girl’s school had Field Day for the 1st and 2nd graders. I went over to cheer her on, along with cheering on her friends.
I have to admit, Field Day has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Our school never had anything like that when I was growing up – come to think of it, the concept of physical education for anybody younger than 4th grade has been a bit…puzzling to me as well. But anyway. I do know that at some schools, Field Day is just that – a big track and field contest, complete with sprints, hurdles, field events (yes, it means exactly what you think it means), etc. At our school, Field Day meant a morning full of loosely organized games involving running the kids until the point of exhaustion. The plastic egg carry through an obstacle course, parachute games, tag, ball tag (no, not dodgeball – tagging a person carrying a ball to the other side) – games like that. Oh yes, and the Tug-o-War. Girls rule. Especially when they outnumber the boys by 1/3 of the class.
School Girl did…okay. She’s got the gift of physical coordination, but she doesn’t really enjoy it. Especially in 85F heat – she’s never been good on a hot day, and by the end of 2.5 hours she was really fading. Lunch came about 1/2 hour too late…
And after lunch, they had a Reading Day. Which she enjoyed much more, I hear.
I’m not sure if Brendan’s school is doing one this year or not. He enjoys it, though he talks a bigger game than he plays with regards to how he REALLY did at the contests.
To listen to him, he wins every event…
*tight hugs to you both*
Have you guys been able to go to Field Day? This year was my first – the weather was miserable last year, and I was planning on kindie graduation the next day, so I didn’t go.
Like I said, the whole thing’s a mystery to me. We didn’t have PE at all until 4th grade at school, so the whole PE-for-little-ones is a bit of a mystery to me as well.
*hugs* Are they having one? When’s Brendan’s last day?
I’ve been to most of them, but did not go last year due to a work conflict. All of the schools Brendan has attended have had once-a-week PE classes even for the pre-K’s.
I, like you, don’t remember such things in school until about 4th grade, but by then i was also playing some organized sports (softball and basketball) away from school as well.
Boo’s last day is Friday, and between then and now, they have an ice-cream party in his class, the 3rd-grade field trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo (B and i are both going), and then ‘field day’ is on Friday — something of an incentive for the kids not to take the last day off, i guess. I don’t know if i’m going to be able to go or not this time… totally depends on how my ankle feels that morning, because i’m not going to be much use to the other volunteers if i’m hobbling.
*tight hugs*
Gonna be a busy week… glas i only have to work the beginning and the end of it (tonight/tomorrow night, then Saturday/Sunday mornings).
See, School Girl doesn’t even have PE once a week. It’s one week per month, in rotation with art, music and “technology” (computer/keyboarding skills). Apparently next year they won’t even have that – not sure what else will be eliminated, but the younger kids won’t have PE, and the older kids will have…far, far less instrumental music than they have now. Oh, don’t get me started.
Of course, back in the Stone Age we had what amounted to almost 2 hours of recess time per day. But anyway.
Ooh! Friday is School Girl’s last day too. It looks like it’ll be Sugar-filled Snack Day – they’re having a popsicle party in Art class, and an ice-cream party in their classroom at the end of the day, right after they clean out their desks and cubbies. Have a great time at the zoo this week too! *tight hugs*