Sports Day

Something about kids cheering for other kids just puts a smile on my face. Today was Rosslyn Academy's annual sports day - a first of its kind for our kindergartner, and us parents got to watch "teams" across the grades band together. Those Montessori schools we've been going to, prior to now, have a "big day out" at a historic organic farm, or plan major events where children line up in front of parents, sing lovely songs wearing photogenic outfits, and everyone sedately munches Whole Foods veggie platters and homemade ethnic snacks until the parents are kindly shuffled out the door.

Not so at Rosslyn! OK, our biggest school previously went only up to 4th grade and had less than 50 students. We have just experienced the entire middle and elementary schools out on the track - shouting their cheers (my vocal chords are shot -- Go Red Team!), lining up heats - Kindergarten through third grade - older kids on another field, girls then boys, siblings running all over, I would be shocked if my own kid heard a word of instruction that was directed at her (Kiddo! That person up there is talking to YOU! Pay attention!). Every few minutes a responsible adult turned around to ask, where is so-and-so?... and in short order an energetic youth was sent off on a scouting mission - always returning successful, I might add.
The littlest ones ran the 50m and 100m, and had the option to run the 400m. Well, one goes, they all go, so they all ran it, and I think shocked their PE coach out of her shoes. The school did not happen to mention in all the papers that went home that the parents should be sure to have their running shoes on: Between the starting line, the jumping and shouting, the finish line, and the zig-zag across the infield, it was quite a workout. When my kiddo saw me cheering for her toward the end of her very long lap, she swerved right off the track so she could collapse my feet. Oh ho! I swooped and grabbed her arm, dragged her back out there, and we finished together. In fact, a significant number of parents joined in the race with their flagging kiddos. How great is that?

The last "event" for our kids was play time in the pool. Perhaps a woman has not well and truly experienced motherhood until she goes into a 12 x 16 ft changing room with at least 60 girls, half of whom are dripping wet, all changing clothes, horsing around, being goofy, loud, or upset, all at the same time. I was speechless. The kiddo left her backpack in there, and I tried to send her in to bring it back out (how would we ever find it otherwise?), and she blurted "I can't go back in there!!!!" I see her point.

At any rate, hats off to the amazing staff at Rosslyn. The level of dedication, organization, patience, and pure good-heartedness that it took to carry that off was deeply impressive. Thank you.