Field Day: Fun for All?
The freshmen felt self conscious. The seniors reveled in their hard-earned right to enjoy an unfettered day of fun. And the sophomores and juniors mostly waited on the sidelines imagining the day they too would rule the turf. Here is a look at various grades' take on the Sept 29 Homecoming event.
NEIRAD enilno edition
Field Day…It’s Just Not the Same
A tumbleweed bounces across the field. This is what Field day has seemed to come to now. The disorganized field day seemed to disappoint students that have participated in the past years' events. “This is totally lame. No one dresses up anymore except for the sports teams because they are forced to. I feel like we have all lost our school spirit” junior Emily Olsen said.
In the past, field day was a big hit during Homecoming week. People would be outwardly energetic and dressed up in a variety of wild outfits representing Blue Wave Pride. Senior Teresa Blosio said, “This year the seniors tried to bring back a grade rivalry with the blackout.”
Many say events linked to elementary school teams can’t compare. There was confusion over what the teams were and there was no representation on the field for a few activities. “There was more school spirit freshman year when we were divided in grade teams,” junior Emily Blosio said.
Years ago students would take the chance to partake in dressing up, the Homecoming dance, the parade. “The dance is outside and is really lame. I don’t think that I’m going to go it all depends if my friends are going, “ junior Emily Delora said.
There are many reasons why low participation has been hampering school spirit. Many seniors said they liked how before the Field Day was during the last few hours of school instead of during lunch time when they want to eat and not run around the field. Seniors including Claire Tuck said she would like if everyone had lunch free so everyone could be at field day at the same time. This would unify the field day event and bring more spirit to the school.
Freshmen Nervous to Participate
As one walked the halls, there was not as much school spirit evident among the newest members of the DHS community. And on the field there were even less participation from the younger kids. “I felt kind of intimidated by the seniors, so I didn’t do many events,” freshmen Garo Bailian said.
When asked whether he participated in activities, freshmen Tommy Cleary replied, “Wait, the events weren’t only for seniors?” But was it just the freshman freaking out at the large mass of upperclassman, or was there more to the lack of participation? “No, we didn’t want the freshmen to participate. This day is for seniors,” senior Brandon Coley said in a joking manner.
Some freshmen said they look forward to participating next year. They had some suggestions to help make the underclassmen feel more comfortable. “I think there should be more encouragement for kids to participate,” freshman Blake Lange said. “I want grade pitted against grade, in bigger group activities,” freshman Reed Barthold said.
These changes could really help field day be better next year, and help the underclassmen enjoy themselves to help them realize the event is not more focused on seniors.
Freshmen Enjoy Bystander Vantage Point
As a blackout of seniors took over the field yesterday, some felt the spirit present on Field Day 2009 was not as evident this year. Students missed having more organized activities such as badminton, Frisbee, and golf. Freshmen Matt Plank suggested a “giant duck duck goose game all around the field” for next year.
Plank joined many other freshmen who sat on the bleachers watching a group of black-clad seniors participate in the games. Freshmen interviewed said they appreciated the chance to take a year to get acclimated without the pressure of public competition. Freshmen Goose Bolton said the event was, “Arfing Epic”, and freshmen Drew Barnard said it was, “pretty chill.”
The freshmen also appreciated the schedule. “What’s better than 40 minutes of lunch?” Plank said. Whatever the grade, whatever the spirit, Field day 2010 seemed a hit for all ages, no matter what they seemed to do.
Freshmen Not Sure on Participation Policy
Hundreds of seniors blacked out the field yesterday as the 2010 field day kicked off. But while the upperclassmen were throwing footballs and playing a range of activities on the field, the freshmen were sitting on the bleachers, watching the fun from a safe distance. “It looks like a ton of fun,” freshmen Alex Gunn said. “But I’m a freshman, so I can’t play.”
Gunn’s sentiment was shared by many who said they didn’t realize they were allowed to join. Freshmen Peter Traver sat in the stands the entire field day. Traver said he, “felt not included, and didn’t feel part of the group.” Many freshmen didn’t even know that they were allowed to participate.
Some seniors admitted their strong force might have been intimidating. “People didn’t get involved because they felt pressured by the seniors,” senior Charlie Kunze said.
The new crop of freshmen would probably like to participate and told Neirad Enlino they hope to be more accepted as the school year progresses.
Seniors Urge Students to Step Up
DHS halls are filled with interesting sights during Homecoming week. From girls in fuzzy pink slippers, students dressed as villains fill the halls. Despite dress up ideas, “many people aren’t dressed up this year” junior Katherine Mosher said. The point correlates with a Neirad Enilno survey of 40 students who found only five students feel they have ‘strong school spirit.’
What to do about this lack of school spirit? “We should have more activities to get our blood pumping the color blue!” sophomore Fay Rizzuto said. “More pep rallies for every sports season will bring more Blue Wave pride” Mosher said.
The seniors were not one of the groups who failed to participate in Blue Wave Pride. They were out in full force for Senior Blackout on Sept 29. With the dark cloud that was the seniors overtaking the football field, this year’s field day was a bit of a bystander affair for many underclassmen. But some seniors say it is up to the younger members to show initiative. “Underclassmen need to participate more… they need to step it up a notch.” senior Susanna Rudner said.
But juniors counter they didn’t have the chance even if they wanted to join. “I didn’t really like how it was taken over by the seniors,” junior Alex Yergey said. “They didn’t give anyone else a chance and we were forced to sit on the side and watch.” Other students cited the style of organization as a reason for why the day wasn’t as fun as it has been in the past. Junior Jack Bair told Neirad Enilno, “If the games had been more organized, it would have been more competitive and might have been more enjoyable.” Junior Elliott Helgans said, “Hopefully next year the people who run field day will listen to our opinions and can make the changes that our necessary and make the day pleasurable for all.”
Seniors Sweep the Field in Storm of Black
Field Day has turned into an all-school Senior Day, dominated by kids in decked out in black. It has become a tradition for seniors to go all out: with their spirit, on the field, and on the pavement blasting music and playing 4-Square.
“Seniors are the coolest people in the school,” senior Katie Kikrman said. Of course, then, the cool kids show the rest of us up with spirit. It’s impossible to not notice the lack of pride in underclassmen. “We have the most spirit because it’s our last year,” Kirkman explained, and that “dressing up in all black is a tradition”.
Her fellow senior Andrew McGarey, who spent his field day playing Ultimate Frisbee, says that he participates because he loves activities. “It’s awesome,” McGarey said before running off to play.
Senior Charlie Kunze felt that this year’s field day was “an improvement, but the underclassmen didn’t get involved.” Sophomore CJ Raia echoed the sentiment, saying that “field day sucks for everyone but the seniors.”
For the seniors, however, field day is the best. They rule the sports on the turf. They get to control the music, playing anything they want and dancing on the blacktop. They circle up for an intense two-hour game of 4-Square in front of the cafeteria. It was a great day for the kings and queens of DHS.
At least the rest of the school community has senior year Field Day to look forward to, when they too will be dominating the school dressed in black.
