Wantagh High School ninth graders took a short break from their studies to get some exercise and fresh air, bond with their classmates and enhance their teamwork abilities during Freshmen Field Day on Sept. 23.

The turf field inside the track was the center of the action, in which the high school’s newest students rotated through 10 stations. Each group included 15 to 20 students, which was then split into competing teams. They had to work together to solve different challenges. In the sponge relay race, each team has to transfer water from bucket to another about 50 feet away using only a large sponge. On large wooden skis, four students had to work together to successfully move forward. For the sneaker relay, students had to leave their shoes in a pile, then run one by one to put them back on and see which team finished first.

Freshmen Field Day was organized by the physical education department. Teachers Marisa Caccese and Deborah DiBiase spearheaded the effort. Upperclassmen from the Physical Education Leaders club assisted by running the different stations. 

Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone added that the teamwork skills that students used to complete the different challenges will benefit them throughout high school and beyond.