For Newtown's elementary schools, the 2015-16 field days were colorful ones, complete with sun and spirit.Sandy Hook SchoolMiddle Gate Head O' Meadow

Hawley Elementary School's field day began with the entire fourth grade gathering in the school's gymnasium on Friday, May 27.

"We always have an incredible field day that we enjoy very much," said Hawley Principal Christopher Moretti, as he readied his school for the day.

As kindergarten students in Deborah Pond's class made their way outside after the assembly, one student, jumping up and down, said, "This is going to be so much fun!"

Physical education teachers Doug Michlovitz and Tony Sortino oversaw this year's field day at Hawley, and the school's PTA volunteers ran stations.

Two new stations this year were "human basketball" and "snow cone." At the human basketball station students strapped small plastic baskets to their bellies and a partner tried to toss a ball into the "net." At the snow cone station PTA volunteers helped students cool down by offering snow cones of different colors.

Other stations included an obstacle course, water balloon toss, playing soccer with a large soccer ball and a potato sack relay.

At the end of the day, the PTA organized a cultural arts presentation by Ed Jakubowski of DiscDogs A2Z, LLC, who is also the president and co-founder of Yankee Flyers Dog & Disc Club. Mr Jakubowski and his five dogs - Rooney, Stella, Simon, Vixen and Alex - demonstrated the dogs' mastery of running, jumping and catching flying discs.

Mr Jakubowski he said he started participating in the sport of canine disc in 1978 and competes in international competitions.

The dogs caught discs thrown from across the field and did "freestyle" tricks for the students, including jumping off the chest of Mr Jakubowski. Some students and faculty members were also able to participate and have a hand throwing discs to the dogs.

Mr Jakubowski said when he is not competing, he performs at venues including schools and major league sports arenas during breaks in the action.

"The kids seemed to enjoy it," he said.

At Sandy Hook Elementary School students earned special points for its field day, also held on Friday, May 27, for listening to directions, having team spirit, displaying kindness and showing effort. Students were scored between 1 and 5 by parent volunteers and school staff.

"It's going really well," said physical education teacher Jaclyn Lloyd as the day was in full-swing around her.

Physical education teacher Matt Memoli, Maryrose Kristopik, Kim Hossler, Caitlin Fernandez and Ms Lloyd organized the school's field day this year with the help of many volunteers and support from the school's PTA, according to Ms Lloyd.

Stations for this year's field day at Sandy Hook School were set in the school's gymnasium and outside the school. In the gym, students flung Frisbees at targets and swung on a rope at the "Swinging Vine" station.

Outside, students fished for toy ducks using fishing poles with Velcro at the end to attach to the toys floating in the water, squeezed water from sponges to fill up jugs, stacked large cups at a relay station, participated in a potato sack race and balanced a large plastic egg on a large plastic spoon at the "Egg and Spoon Relay" station.

Ms Lloyd said there were 12 stations for younger grades to participate in during the second half of the field day, and earlier in the morning, the older grade levels took turns between 14 stations.

Teams for Sandy Hook School's field day included students from different grade levels and the teams were designated by different colors. Students were festively dressed, and some wore special hair colors for the day.

Middle Gate Elementary School physical education teachers Laura Cooper and Tony Sortino oversaw their school's field day on Tuesday, May 31.

"Welcome to field day, boys and girls," Ms Cooper said as students were seated before her outside the school. "It is an exciting day, and we have great weather."

Ms Cooper then instructed the students to begin the field day by walking around the school's parameter in a parade. Each class was dressed to show team spirit for the class, and students carried "flags," made from paper and decorated by each class, to show the names for each team, including the "Room 16 Super Stars," the "LaBonia Leopards," and "Cologna's Red Phoenix."

Once the parade marchers were assembled again, music teacher Tina Jones led the entire school in singing Middle Gate's school song.

Ms Cooper said stations for this year's field day included water stations, jump rope, a potato sack relay, scooter races, tug-of-war, and a "Co-Oper-Mat" station that had students work together to move a mat while standing within it.

Parent volunteers and PTA members waited at the different stations to instruct students on how to complete each challenge.

After Head O' Meadow Elementary School's field day was postponed from its original Friday, June 3, date due to rain, students arrived at the school on Monday, June 6, ready to play, with "Head O' Meadow 2016 Spirit Day" shirts on, each representing the color of the team the students were on. Some students had their hair painted to match their team's color.

Teams at Head O' Meadow included students from different grade levels.

"Welcome to Spirit Day 2016," Head O' Meadow Principal Barbara Gasparine said.

Physical education teacher Steve "Coach" Dreger and Doug Ballard showed team spirit for each team by dressing in multicolored wigs and outfits. Coach Dreger, Jen Ballard, and Tara Schoffstall helped organize the field day, according to Coach Dreger, who made sure to thank the parent volunteers for helping with the event, during the opening remarks for the day. PTA members and parent volunteers later stood ready at each station alongside school staff.

Coach Dreger also told the assembled students that this year's Spirit Day would have them earning special ribbons for sportsmanship. Throughout the day, he said, students would earn ribbons, and the ribbons would have influence in determining the outcome of the day.

"Let's hear it for sportsmanship," Coach Dreger said.

Head O' Meadow's designated fourth grade "spirit tuggers" began the day by playing tug-of-war, and after a number of matches, the field day began.

Stations for Spirit Day 2016 at Head O' Meadow included a "Beach Day Relay," a potato sack race, an obstacle course and a water balloon toss.

Coach Dreger, and his stepson and third grader Caden McLeod, used two drones to try to capture images of the day.

Across the field, behind where students were rotating through stations, the grass was decorated with the words, "There's no place like HOM."