West Holmes fifth-graders enjoy Track and Field Day

Fifth-grade students from all over the West Holmes school district took a detour from the classroom this past week to celebrate Fifth-Grade Track & Field Day at West Holmes High School.

Uniting on the stadium track, the fifth-graders participated in 13 various events including a newly created obstacle course that traversed around half of the track infield.

The event was to celebrate the end of an era for the fifth-graders, who will move to middle school next year.

“This field day gives the kids a chance to participate in some of the things we have been working on all year during class,” said Bud Yoder, the district’s West Holmes physical education instructor for k-5.

Yoder has been involved with the event for years, and it was his idea to add the obstacle course, which resulted in a challenging, unique way for the students to push themselves as they went over, around and under a number of obstacles.

Yoder said they have been promoting health through the event since 1995, and it is one that the kids talk about participating in at length as it approaches.

Yoder said one key plus to the games, aside from getting the students outside and active, is that it promotes a unity between students who come from the district elementary schools. As fifth-graders, they will come together at West Holmes Middle School next year, and Yoder said giving them a chance to meet some other fifth-graders helps promote a familiarity before they get there and dive into the new and challenging world of middle school.

“They will be going to school with each other for the next seven years, so it is good to see them get a chance to get to know one another, and we do encourage them to mix and mingle with students from other schools,” Yoder said. “But the most important thing is that they have fun along with learning to compete, and hopefully they realize the importance of being healthy and staying active.”

While competing to win is what some focus on, all of the students relished the chance to get outside of their school walls and interact with their friends, whether lunching in the stands, hanging out on the track, high-fiving other athletes or simply enjoying the experience.

While the kids enjoy the day, there is little thought as to the amount of work that goes into the process of setting up such a monumental event, one that encompasses all of the district’s elementary schools.

Couple that with the teachers and volunteers who help drive the event, and it could be a bit overwhelming. However, because of the many people who hop in and help where needed, they are able to pull it all together for the enjoyment of the kids.

“It does take a lot of organizing and tweaking, but we have some good people who help,” said physical education teacher Megan Stryker, who along with Yoder puts together the event. “There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes on, but it is for the kids, and they absolutely love this day.”

The field and stands look like a bucket of rainbow sherbet, thanks to each class picking out the color of T-shirts they want to wear to the event. Florescent yellows, purples, pinks, greens and blues created a sea of rainbows, only adding to the fun.

However, with a bunch of fifth-graders, sometimes the rainbow colors all run together, but that is to be expected.

“It’s like running with your hair on fire, organized chaos,” Stryker said. “Once it is done, I am exhausted, but I am so glad we can give the chance to allow the kids this opportunity.”

Stryker has watched all of her fifth-grade students grow up, and she said it will be a bittersweet time as they prepare to move to middle school.

Rose Swartz, a parent volunteer and former teacher whose son is a fifth-grader, said she was excited about volunteering.

“It’s a neat event because it meets a lot of their athletic requirements for their physical education core classes,” Swartz said. “We have a lot of really great gym teachers here in the district who really care about these kids, and they have been awesome about putting this day together.”

She said the day also is a fun one because it allows kids to be kids, to go out, scream, yell, laugh, run and have a grand time not worrying about school work.

“Kids need to get out and move, and we are finding that out more and more as we are seeing so many kids sitting in front of computers and television and gaming,” Swartz said. “Hopefully this serves as a reminder that there are some fun things to do outside that can get their hearts pumping, and they can be more active.”