What's the Deal with Olympic Day?

I'll never forget how proud my daughter was in kindergarten on her first Olympic Day. The week before she received a note from her eighth-grade team captain, welcoming her to "Team Greece." We worked to find her best blue and white outfit (to match Greece's flag). And their team won! 

But admittedly, to me it was a bit of a strange no-uniform day,  but as I was working full-time not at the school at the time, I didn't really know what her day consisted of until I got her 6-year-old perspective after the fact. One thing we definitely forgot: Wear tennis shoes!

So fast forward a number of years and children participating in Olympic Day and now I'm a pro!  Here is a rundown of what the day looks like.  

• The students in grades K-8 are divided into 10 teams; they compete in 10 events.
• Eighth-graders are the team captains. In addition to leading their teams, they choose a country, make a team flag, and create team posters that are hung in the school dining room.
• Olympic Day is a "no uniform day"; students wear athletic clothing and dress in the colors of their team’s country.
• The eighth-grade captains go from classroom to classroom on Olympic Day (beginning at 11:00 AM) to pick up their team members.
• The first events begin around 11:10 A.M.
• Each team competes in 5 events before eating lunch, then finishes the final 5 events after lunch.
• The seventh- and eighth-grade students play a kickball game following the events.
• The awards ceremony follows the kickball game and takes place in the school gym (approximate time is 2:15 to 3:00 P.M.).
• The Good Sport award is the one most coveted by the Olympians. The Good Sport ribbons are awarded to the team that shows the most cooperation and team spirit.