麻豆视频

With the sun out and warm temperatures abounding, the Arcola School held their annual Track Day for the elementary students. This event lasted all day on Thursday, June 5.

Though last year they had an obstacle course and have experimented with different events in the past, it is the common track and field events which have become the most popular, leading to more of them being added this year.

Youth took part in three new events including hurdles, javelin, and discus. The hurdles were set quite low for the Kindergarten kids, while they were raised for the different groups. Though javelin sounds dangerous with young children, the school actually has indoor javelins which have a plastic end thus allowing the youngsters to start training at any age. The discus also saw the rubber inside ones brought out for the youth to try.

Other events included the ball throw, a long and short race, high jump, long jump, standing broad jump and a favourite amongst many, tug of war.

One of the organizers, Judy Naylen, explained that the day is fun for the youth while it also promotes team participation and fosters school camaraderie.

"There [are] 10 teams and at each event two teams versus each other," Naylen explained. "At least one from every grade are on each team and the teams accumulate points this way. Then at the end of the day we give ribbons out to each team for placing"

Participating grades included youth from Kindergarten to grade six. The grade six students were the captains of the teams, giving them a little bit more responsibility throughout the day, while grade nine students were out running the events.

This Naylen said is very helpful and she is glad when the track day can come together, especially with the help of the staff and the students.

Naylen felt the day was a success, but explained that without the help of Mr. Dukart in preparing the grounds it would have been a very different scene as the track had been covered in water.

Next year the organizers are excited to be adding shot put as an event as smaller shot puts have been ordered.

"The kids look forward to it every year and they're always excited for it," Naylen stated. "Even if it rains we still make sure the kids have a track day and just hold it in the gym, it takes a little bit of organizing and moving things around but they always have so much fun."