Triton Students Celebrate Family Field Day
Triton Elementary School students met today at the Triton football field to engage in a unique blend of mental and physical challenges during Triton Elementary School’s first annual Family Field Day. Students of all ages were mixed into teams and given matching team shirts to wear during the numerous fun and stimulating challenges the day held for them.
The field day, which went from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., offered children a variety of activities, from a truck pull to relay races and obstacle courses. Children were also challenged through mental obstacles during a puzzle building challenge.
According to Jeremy Riffle, principal of Triton Elementary School, Jack Carpenter, a physical education teacher, developed the field day as a part of the school’s “Fuel Up to Play 60” program. Though normally field day victors are decided by their athletic abilities, Carpenter’s challenges reward those that come together as a team to accomplish more than what they could do individually.
“Often times within our society we ask kids to be leaders but rarely model leading or put them in leadership positions with the parameters to make it a positive experience,” explained Riffle. “Over 4 months ago we assembled family groups of 15 students that include sixth graders all the way down to kindergarteners. So, there are 460 students put into mixed family groups with the purpose of working as a team, building relationships and creating resources for our students that they would not normally have.
“Mr. Carpenter has created games that make the students work together and rely on each other, no matter how big or small, to be the best team and accomplish the greater purpose. Mrs. Brosman, TES fifth grade teachers has created team building exercises that put our fifth and sixth graders in leadership roles of problem solving and leading in a controlled environment.”
Riffle noted that both teachers and instructional assistants served as team leaders for the field day along with approximately 75 volunteers. In addition, Riffle stated that 30 business partnerships were formed, including a corporate sponsor of Rise ‘n Roll of Nappanee.
For more information on field day sponsors or the event, visit http://tritonfieldday.weebly.com/.