Current 5th graders at Hilltop Elementary School, Pine Bend Elementary School, Salem Hills Elementary School, and the Atheneum Gifted Magnet Program met at this year’s 5th-grade Track and Field Day. Students made connections with their future classmates while participating in some friendly competition.

At the annual event, students participate in track and field events at Simley High School’s Spartan Stadium. In addition to meeting their new classmates, students got a chance to try some of the opportunities that await them. Students were greeted by IGH SPARC (Spartan Prevention, Advocacy, and Resources Coalition) youth group members from Inver Grove Heights Middle School and Simley who handed out pom poms and SPARC T-shirts. After warm-ups, 5th graders rotated through stations including long jump, discus, jump rope, hurdles, relays, sprints, and long distance races by Simley Track and Field athletes. Students at every station were heard cheering on classmates from their school and others. The event wrapped up with a Tug of War between different school teams. 

Fifth graders had a great time getting active in different events of their choice and cheering on their classmates. After having their own track and field day, 5th-grade students will help run K-4 Fun Day events for kindergarten through 4th-grade students at their own elementary schools this spring.