To view photos of the Spirit Day activities, visit the Photo Gallery by clicking on the following link and look under the category ‘School Events & Signings’: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
LEVITTOWN – It’s been six years since James Bak was a student at Buchanan Elementary School, but the Harry S. Truman senior still has a strong allegiance to his alma mater, an allegiance that came to the fore during the spirited competition at Truman’s third annual Spirit Day on Thursday.“I went to Buchanan for six years, so I’m definitely letting them know we’re in first place or second place right now,” said the Truman senior, a top flight wrestler who will be attending Bloomsburg. “In the end, it’s all fun.
“None of us really minds. We don’t really care. It’s all for them.”
‘Them,’ in this case, were the 625 sixth graders from nine Bristol Township elementary schools who converged in Truman’s football stadium for a high energy day of spirited competition that is sponsored by the school’s Varsity Club.
“The whole idea is to bring them all together,” Truman athletic director George Collins said. “Next year they’re going to be divided into two middle schools.
“What I try to do is provide transition between each segment in our school district, and I emphasize to the kids that in six years they’re all going to be together in the senior class right here. That’s our whole idea – sportsmanship, good competitive spirit and getting to know one another.”
Watching the excitement of the students and the 60 Varsity Club members as they participated in a variety of games, it was hard to tell exactly who was having the most fun.
“I just love seeing their reactions,” Bak said. “When they first come off the buses, they don’t know what to expect. They’re kind of scared and looking down, but once everything gets going, they start having a great time.
“Just seeing their faces – as young as they are, they still have a high level of competitiveness, and it’s so much fun. I love it.”
According to senior Brooke Edwards, the Varsity Club members who directed the teams may have been too pumped up when the youngsters arrived.
“When they were walking in after they got off the buses, we were cheering everybody on,” she said. “Some of them looked up at us and ran away. We scared them.
“Sometimes I feel like we’re more enthused than the kids are, and we have to tone it down a little bit. It picks up though, and as the day goes on, it gets a lot better.”
The Varsity Club is comprised of Truman’s brightest and best student-athletes, and Spirit Day is always a highlight of the year.
“I was part of it last year, and I absolutely loved it,” said Edwards. “I’m excited to be part of it again.
“I love just being around the little kids, helping them and entertaining them and showing them this could be them in a couple of years.”
Edwards, a member of the soccer team who will be attending Wilkes College next year, is the vice president of the Varsity Club. She admits she would have enjoyed being part of something like Spirit Day when she was in sixth grade.
“Back then, all of the elementary schools had field days of their own, so I participated in that but nothing like this,” she said. “I think this is awesome.
“They get to meet people from all the different schools that they’ll be meeting up with when they get to high school. It’s just like a pre-game.
“Everybody is cheering on every team, no matter if you’re losing or winning. It’s awesome. There’s so much energy.”
While the students from each elementary school wear like-colored t-shirts, the Varsity Club members are easily identifiable by their tie-dyed t-shirts. Jenna Spadaccino estimated it took between two and three hours to tie dye the shirts, and she insists it was worth every minute of time invested.“Just the experience and seeing the enjoyment on the kids’ faces – they get so excited,” she said. “I wish I had the opportunity to do this when I was in sixth grade.
“It’s just so much fun.”
Bianca Gatto, president of the Varsity Club, echoed those sentiments.
“Just seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces,” she said. “Sometimes we have more fun than they actually do.
“I love seeing how pumped they get and helping to pump them up. Win or lose, our team has great sportsmanship, and they’ve been cheering on the other teams as well.”
The elementary school physical education teachers who coordinated all of the events kept meticulous records and regularly announced the standings throughout the day.
“None of that really matters,” Bak said. “Win, lose or draw – none of us really cares. It’s all about them having the best time.”
And based on the laughter and non-stop cheering, this event was a success by every standard.
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