St Rose of Lima School students and staff bonded through friendly competition at the school’s Fall Field Day on Tuesday, September 23.

Held at the Saint Rose field beside the school, the event had kindergarten through eighth grade students compete in various outdoor games and team-building activities. Not only does Fall Field Day celebrate the start of the season, it also fosters teamwork and community across the grades.

Every class voted on their favorite color before the event and wore it for the big day. When St Rose Director of Mission Advancement and Marketing Lisa Jackson started the event by asking everyone if they were ready, all the students screamed in excitement.

“Remember TEAM — together everyone achieves more,” Jackson said. “Let’s go out there, have fun, and have a great morning,” Jackson continued.

Students often worked together in the 13 different stations that were set up throughout the field. The Ball Balance Game station had students balance a ball using small pipe pieces. The Hula Hoop Team Building station proved to be quite tricky for some students, as they had to move a hula hoop between them without using their hands.

Other stations had students run in sack races, catch beach balls in giant pants, and run together in a big hamster wheel.

Perhaps the most exciting station for students was the Parachute Game, where students ran around with their teachers holding a large, multi-colored playground parachute. Everyone laughed as they raised the parachute over their heads, behind their backs, and sat down to try and make a circus tent.

This is far from the school’s first Fall Field Day. St Rose Dean of Student Life Mary Jo Bokuniewicz said they held the event years ago, but have not had once since the COVID pandemic. Instead, they had a traditional field day towards the end of spring.

Now, Bokuniewicz said St Rose hopes to have a team building event every quarter of the school year, giving each grade a chance to bond and become a team.

“The whole idea behind Fall Field Day is to start the school year with a bang,” Bokuniewicz continued. “We really want the classes to come together and feel like family, to cheer each other on and welcome any new students to school.”

To St Rose Principal Dr Bardhyl Gjoka, the best part of any field day is the “beautiful gain in spirit at the end of the school year.”

He continued, “It’s easy for kids go on a summer break and forget all about it. So the reason St Rose is moving away from one field day is simply because we wanted do it multiple times throughout the year.”

With Fall Field Day, Gjoka said they get to start the year with that spirit and community within the grades.

“That social-emotional component is so important to us,” Gjoka said. “For the kids who might not raise their hands much in the classroom, this is where they show their talent. And students can see that everybody has something to offer.”

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.