Field days at three Newtown elementary schools were highlighted with colorful attire, laughing students, sunny days, and sportsmanship on May 31 and June 3.

Head O’ Meadow Elementary School and Hawley Elementary School held field days on May 31, and Middle Gate Elementary held its field day on June 3. Sandy Hook Elementary School’s field day was slated for June 7, after this print edition of the paper went to press.

Staff and volunteers at Head O’ Meadow awarded sportsmanship points to students as they played through different activities.

“The most important thing is to have fun and to be good sports,” physical education teacher Steve “Coach” Dreger said, just before fourth graders began the school’s Spirit Day with an annual “spirit tug.” As students rotated through stations, different teams could be heard cheering for their opponents.

At the same time that Head O’ Meadow students were tossing water balloons and competing in relay challenges, Hawley Elementary School students were running, laughing, and participating in a range of field day stations.

“It’s a perfect day,” said Hawley physical education teacher Doug Michlovitz, under a partially cloudy sky. A breeze stirred the air, and the ground was barely damp, despite the rain the night before. Parent volunteers and school staff oversaw the day, which was organized by Mr Michlovitz, physical education teacher Tony Sortino, and PTA members Kristen Bonacci and Kathy McCleary.

As Middle Gate’s field day was just starting, physical education teacher Laura Cooper stopped at different stations.

“I just want them to have fun,” she said on June 3. It was another beautiful day for a field day, with the sun shining through clouds and a breeze keeping children cool as they ran and jumped.

Between scooping for “apples” with lacrosse sticks at one station and working together to walk on large skis, Middle Gate students were all smiles throughout the field day.