Key Stage 1 Sports Day

Today was Sierra's first Sports Day.  The primary school system is broken into Key Stages 1 & 2.  Key Stage 1 includes reception, year 1 & 2 students.  Key Stage 2 includes Years 3-5.  Today, Key Stage 1 gathered on the football field behind the school for the equivalent of the American field day.  Each class rotated through 6 stations with a new challenge at each one.  The class was broken into teams.  Sierra's class had 4 teams.  The teams competed against each other at each station.  I say competed, but they really were more cooperative games.  The kids ran relays against the the other groups.  Even one cheered on their teammates and at the end no winner was announced.  Everyone just applauded the entire class effort and moved on.  It was actually really sweet to watch the kids interact with one another and root for each other.

First Round:  I was impressed with how the event was organized.  In 20 minutes, all the children changed into their gym kits and marched onto the field.  The kids knew exactly what to do and where to sit at every station.  There is a shot below of Sierra seated with her team.  They started with an egg race (balancing a tennis ball on a tennis racquet) and then did a hula hoop race as a class. 

Rounds 3-5:  These were Sierra's favorites because she got to run as fast as she can.  The first pic shows her at the hurdle race.  They did the hurdles on the way down and hurdles on the way back. They had a ring relay and then a soccer dribbling relay.  

Rounds 2 and 6:  These were Sierra's least favorite relays.  She had to pick up bean bags out hulu hoops and run them back to a basket.  She was frustrated because she just wanted to run and could not be bothered with the bean bags.  All the kids dreaded the dressing up relay. They were complaining before they got there.  Seemed simple enough, they had to stop and put on each article of clothing then put it back in the hulu hoop on the way back.  At lot of them got tripped up with putting stuff on or off.

The End:  At the completion of Sports Day, every kid was awarded a medal that they designed themselves.  You would have thought Sierra won a trophy she was so excited.  The little girl in the middle is one of Sierra's best friends, Raquelsha. Sullivan was Sierra's biggest fan.  When he wasn't eating, he clapped for her at event.  There is a class picture below and another of Sierra's best friend, Ava.  It was a very fun end of the school year rite of passage.  Sierra is already looking forward to next year.