In the early 1990’s, physical education teacher Lynn Hurt started the yearly tradition of the Sixth Grade Olympics. Nearly twenty years later, the games still continue each May with Bonnie McCann at the helm. This year the sixth graders from Coronado Middle School (CMS) spent the entire day on Thursday, May 17 at Niedermeyer field or in the pool at the BBMAC.

Video shot by KCMS:

The parade of athletes is led by Mrs. McCann's home room class, Athens.

The event lasted all day and involved the entire sixth grade class. Students competed as members of their home room. Each home room assumes the identity of an ancient city-state from Greece, designs a flag and composes their own mission statement. Each class is also assigned a character trait from the CUSD Character Counts program. The Character Counts traits include responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, trustworthiness and respect. The character traits each have a corresponding color as well. For example, Mrs. Robinson’s home room class was Ithaca, their color was green and their character trait was responsibility. All these things were incorporated into their team shirts, team mission and flag. 

The day consists of a track meet with running and field events, a swim meet and a water polo tournament. Teams are awarded points for placing and an eventual winner and keeper of the trophy is announced once all scores are tallied. The day is designed, according to PE teacher McCann, “to link California Standards Based Instructional Content between Social Studies/History and Physical Education. This is accomplished by connecting and replicating many important aspects of Ancient Greek Olympic history and the Modern Olympics.”

Mrs. McCann instructs the athletes on how things will run for the day.

Girls compete in the hurdles.

The day started with the procession of athletes, the Olympic pledge, the National Anthem sung by a CMS Sixth grader, and finally the reading of the Olympic Creed. Principal Jay Marquand spoke to the students, emphasizing that it’s not who wins or loses, but the character with which the games are played. Counselor Mike Crooker asked the students to think about one commonality between the ancient and modern games. “One common theme is excellence—not being satisfied with anything but your very best,” he said.

There were many, many parent volunteers who made the games possible helping with set up and clean up, snacks and water for the participants, timing, recording, starting, supervising, and more. Though the weather was a bit cold and cloudy, the day was warm with sportsmanship, cheering and competition.

Mrs. Robinson and her home room class, Ithaca.  

Congratulations to  Mrs. Hagedorn's home room, keepers of the sixth grade olympics trophy until next May!

Kellee Hearther

Online Editorial Intern

eCoronado.com

Please contact me at calikellee@gmail.com if there's something you would love to read about.