MS Field Day Builds Community Through Competition
By Jesse Beam, Middle School Physical Education Teacher
Middle School Field Day brought energy, laughter, and friendly competition to YISS on Thursday, April 30. Throughout the day, students, teachers, staff, administrators, and PTO worked together to create a memorable experience for the entire middle school community.
The day began with the Iron Giraffe Run/Walk, organized by Ms. Pakos. This annual school-wide fundraising event, run in partnership with Water for South Sudan (WFSS), supports clean water projects in South Sudan. Following the run/walk, middle school students rotated through a variety of games and activities across campus.
Students competed on color teams—Red, Blue, White, and Black—earning points based on first-, second-, third-, and fourth-place finishes. Outdoor events included nitroball, ultimate frisbee, four square, and track and field races.
In the gym, teams participated in badminton, basketball, table tennis, and cornhole competitions. The pool hosted swimming relays and water polo, while the courtyard featured trolley decorating and four-corner soccer.
After the morning activities and lunch, students enjoyed popsicles on the field with support from the PTO. The PTO also provided cookies and Gatorade throughout the day, helping students stay refreshed and energized.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the trolley race, where teams showed their creativity, teamwork, and excitement. The Blue Team finished first in the race, while the White Team won the trolley decoration competition. Afterward, the 8th grade volleyball players squared off against the middle school teachers in a fun and competitive game. The day ended with girls and boys from the middle school basketball teams playing against the staff in a friendly basketball matchup.
Mr. Beam and Mr. Poyo coordinated the planning and organization of Middle School Field Day, but the event’s success depended on the support of middle school teachers, staff, administrators, and PTO volunteers. Their help with supervision, activity rotations, snacks, and event logistics ensured that students enjoyed a smooth and exciting day.
Field Day is an important tradition at YISS because it gives each grade division a full day devoted to friendly competition, enjoyable experiences, laughter, and fun in the sun. For middle school students, it was a chance to build community, try new activities, encourage classmates, and celebrate school spirit.
At the end of the day, the Blue Team was named the winner of this year’s Middle School Field Day. More importantly, students left with shared memories, stronger friendships, and another meaningful YISS tradition to celebrate.
