The Connetquot High School turf field was the backdrop for Edward J. Bosti, Cherokee Street, Duffield Avenue, Edith Slocum, Idle Hour, John Pearl and Sycamore Avenue fifth-grade students who enthusiastically gathered for the Connetquot Central School District’s Coming Together Day on May 27.
Connetquot’s Director of PE, Health, Athletics and Recreation Peter Melore said, "Coming Together Day is one of the first steps of many which ensure that all Connetquot students get to know each other and begin to bond before the start of middle school in the fall. Through fun activities and play, students make new friends and begin to understand the idea that we all become one student body in the end regardless of which elementary school you attended."
Sponsored by the Athletes Helping Athletes club and the high school athletic department, this tradition is an excellent, fun-filled opportunity for students to make new acquaintances prior to moving up to Oakdale-Bohemia and Ronkonkoma middle schools this coming fall.
The students first filed into the bleachers, according to school, and wearing their color-designated t-shirts.
Before the activities, Cherokee Street physical education teacher Joe Nelson riled up the students as he announced each school.
Additionally, student-athlete and AHA club member Lily Jonas was presented the Tim Bassett Award for her extraordinary leadership qualities.
During the morning, the students participated in 10 different stations, including the cannonball brigade, crab soccer, noodle tag, tug-of-war, potato sack race, and more.
Best of all, the fifth-grade students returned to their respective schools knowing that they had made new friends and would see each other in the fall.