Seniors Win NBTHS' First Field Day

By TARA JENNINGS, Staff Writer

May 23, 2019

On Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the North Brunswick Township High School Student Government Organization (SGO) hosted its first-ever Field Day; this event was similar to SGO’s old winter event, Class Olympics, but took place outside on the football field instead of in the gym. Much like the Field Days held when students were in elementary school, this event featured a variety of games in which classes could compete to defeat each other, including a water balloon toss, an obstacle course, capture the flag, and more. All of this provided students with lots of opportunities to work together with their classmates, have fun, and compete for their grade’s bragging rights.

Students from all grade levels compete in various events during NBTHS' first ever Field Day on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Events shown include the balloon-popping race (in which students must race to a chair, where they will sit down on a balloon until it pops) and capture the flag, as well as the pre-competition meeting to go over the rules. (Photos Courtesy of Tara Jennings)

Despite some initial difficulties getting kids to sign up for the event, over fifty kids ended up participating in Field Day. Five boys and five girls from each grade were allowed to take part in each competition; students had been able to sign up for these games in the History Department after paying five dollars to Mrs. Wright or Mrs. Pineiro, the SGO advisors. (If there were any spots left empty on the day of the event itself, other students from that grade level were allowed to fill in.) There were a total of ten games, with the classes gaining points towards their total score depending on how well they did in each contest: the winner got twenty points, the second-place team got fifteen, the third-place grade got ten, and the losing team got five. At the end of the event, the points were totalled and the overall title of Field Day Champion for 2019 was given to the seniors, who ultimately rose above the other grades to win the competition.

Samantha Zielinski, a senior and the Secretary of SGO, said she thought the event was a success despite the struggles of holding it outdoors in May for the first time. “I thought it went really well. Everyone seemed to be having fun despite the heat,” she explained. Thinking about her personal experience as a member of the Class of 2019’s team, she added, “I really enjoyed it, especially since the seniors won!”

Members of the Class of 2021's Field Day Team gather for a picture between competitions at the track on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Although the sophomores eventually fell to the seniors in NBTHS' first-ever SGO Field Day, the team had fun and enjoyed playing the games together. (Photo Courtesy of Tara Jennings)

This sentiment was echoed by Renee Hales, another senior who also participated in the event. “I thought it was so much fun! I had a great time competing and playing the games,” she said. “It was a plus that the seniors won.”

With the 2018-2019 school year winding to a close, the Class of 2019 took home one final trophy in one of their last school-sponsored competitions. SGO has two more events before the end of the year―the Spring Blood Drive and the Color Run, neither of which involve competition between grade levels―and hopes that they will be as successful as the first-ever Field Day. Although the seniors were this year’s winners, there is no doubt that there was fun for all in the 2019 SGO Field Day.