With the school year coming to a close, Head O' Meadow Elementary School, Hawley Elementary School, and Middle Gate Elementary School held field days this week. Students at each of the schools made their way outdoors to participate in activities and challenges at different stations.Field Day At HawleyMiddle Gate FunSandy Hook Elementary School's field day was postponed due to rain from its original date of May 26 to this Friday, June 9, after the June 9 edition of The Newtown Bee went to press.

Head O' Meadow's Spirit Day began near the start of the school day. Students were grouped into teams by color, and each team had members representing different grade levels at the school.

Fourth graders Penelope Warren and Theo Anderson helped Principal Barbara Gasparine welcome the entire school outside. Penelope and Theo shared the morning announcement before Ms Gasparine thanked physical education teacher Steve Dreger and parent volunteers for making the day possible. PTA Event Chair Tara Schorfstall organized the parent volunteers.

Teams of fourth graders then participated in a spirited rope tug that highlighted the day's emphasis on sportsmanship.

"Head O' Meadow are you ready?" Ms Gasparine asked after the rope tug. The entire student body faced her, inching forward as they jumped and cheered.

"Yeah!" the students responded, before the teams broke up to visit different stations. Activities at the stations this year included an obstacle course, a Soccer Dribble Relay, a water balloon toss, and a Beach Relay that had students race to set up and break down beach equipment and toys.

Roughly an hour later, Hawley's field day began.

Roughly 100 volunteers were signed up to help support the day, according to Hawley PTA Co-President Kristen Bonacci. Hawley physical education teacher Doug Michlovitz said the day would end with a faculty vs fourth grade students in kickball games.

New stations at Hawley's field day this year, according to Mr Michlovitz, included Tic Tac Toe, which had teams of students toss bean bags in hoops on the ground to form a winning line of bags, and Human Foosball, which had a student-sized version of a Foosball table created with sticks, rope, and pool toys. Students took turns finding their place in the "Foosball table" to kick a ball while standing in one spot.

A bounce house was also set up as a field day station, and firefighters representing Newtown Hook & Ladder Co. #1 were on hand for Hawley's field day. Chief Ray Corbo said the company had two engines at the event to have students climb through the trucks and have a hand at using a fire hose. The firefighters were also incorporating elements of fire prevention lessons at the field day station, according to Mr Corbo.

Middle Gate's field day began with a one-lap march around the school. Classes chose names and paper posters to show their class spirit. As the classes walked around the school, some groups shouted chants.

Physical education teacher Laura Cooper said there were 11 stations at Middle Gate's field day this year. A Duck Race station was new and challenged students to "push" floating rubber ducks into a crate using air from empty ketchup bottles. The Apple Barrel Fill had students scoop plastic balls, in place of apples, up to fill crates with the balls before other teams could fill their crates.

Ms Cooper said the emphasis for the day was, "Be kind to each other and have a good time."