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Field Day brings sixth-graders together
John Mills Elementary School student Cristian Feliciano throws a ball in the dodgeball competition during Field Day on May 23 at Elmwood Park High School. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 8, 2012 8:19AM
As Elmwood Park sixth-graders wrapped up their final day of elementary school, they faced one final test.
Field Day bragging rights.
For the past five years sixth-grade students from John Mills Elementary School and Elmwood Elementary School have met for a little fun and competition in dodgeball, kickball, soccer and other games.
This year the event took place May 23 at Elmwood Park High School with about 200 students on hand.
Lisa Scimeca, physical education teacher at Elmwood Elementary and one of the organizers, said the morning sports were the team-building portion of the event.
“They learned to work together and do various activities together in the morning,” she said.
But in the afternoon school pride was on the line for the coveted “Gong.” The school that wins the most events takes the gong back to school for the entire year. John Mills won it last year.
This year, things weren’t so decisive.
Going into the seventh event, both teams were tied. The winner would be decided if they took the “Win It In a Minute” event, where students had to eat a cookie off the top of their head without using their hands.
Neither school was successful.
So the gong will be put in storage until next year’s Field Day.
“The kids were phenomenal and everything ran smoothly,” Scimeca said. “It was full circle for the day and everyone got along and everyone was happy.”
Despite the outcome, the event was organized to be a fun way for students from each school to get to know each other. When the new school year begins they will all be attending Elm Middle School.
Susan Ponzio, principal of Elmwood Elementary School, said it takes away the newness of students getting to know each other when the new school year starts.
“This is a great opportunity for the sixth-graders to be together outside a structured teaching environment,” she said. “It’s kind of a kick-start to start their middle school activities
“It’s sort of a get-together before they go to middle school,” said Donna Kutrubis, assistant principal at John Mills Elementary School. “It’s a fun day for the kids.”
