By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
One of the highlights of the year for Holy Family Elementary School students is the annual Field Day, where students compete in a variety of activities outdoors at the end of the year.
But with students wrapping up their year online due to COVID-19, Megan Gottschalk, Holy Family Elementary School physical education teacher, has adapted the activity to be completed at home on May 13 with fun one-minute activities using items found at home.
Students have also been asked to submit videos of the activities so others can enjoy the festivities while separated.
"It will be a lot of fun to see all the kids' videos," Gottschalk said.
Videos that are submitted will be posted to the school's Facebook page.
"I will send mine so everyone can laugh at me trying to do all of these different one-minute challenges," Gottschalk said.
The challenges will be sent, with video demonstrations to the students via their online learning platforms, and will include seven activities.
"I have seven activities planned because we normally do seven stations at school," Gottschalk said.
In the regular event, each challenge would last about 15 minutes, but they were shortened to make the event easier for students and parents as they complete the challenges at home.
"That would be way too long for the kids to try to figure that out," Gottschalk said.
The children will get a scorecard that will be submitted to tally points that will be scored during each challenge.
All of the challenges will involve things the children can find in the home, and Gottshalk said they are designed to be easy and fun.
One challenge will be a bottle race, where the children will lap baskets with a folded sock between their knees.
Another will involving trying to keep an inflated quart bag in the air for as long as possible and a towel scooter race, where students will sit on a large towel and "scoot" from one line to another.
Doing the event at home and with shorter sessions allowed preschoolers to participate this year as well.
And parents have been encouraged to also join in the activities.
"I think the kids will have a lot more fun if we can get the whole family involved," Gottschalk said.