2014 Sports Day Pictorial
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Sports Day marks a yearly milestone for eduKenya and Kwa Watoto School as we say ‘kwaheri’ (goodbye) to the academic year. This year, on November 13, 2014, Sports Day was RAINY and MUDDY! Our student participants were delighted to have permission to soil their clothing![/caption][caption id="attachment_2134" align="aligncenter" width="508"]
The first arrivals at Stima Field for Sports Day were a group of storks. They looked like referees waiting for the competitions to begin.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2137" align="aligncenter" width="494"]
Staff encouraged students on the long, muddy trek from Kwa Watoto School to the Stima Club grounds.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2124" align="aligncenter" width="625"]
The adult team members were each assigned a specific task to ensure a seamless procession of activities throughout the day. Each team was designated by color: Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2135" align="aligncenter" width="500"]
We were fortunate to have a sheltered dais for our sound equipment and some spectators, but many spectators had to sit in open terraces.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2131" align="aligncenter" width="510"]
The first items on the event program were teams’ instruction, prayer, raising of the flag, and singing of the National Anthem led by the Kwa Watoto Scouts.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2128" align="aligncenter" width="501"]
The sporting events kicked off with football. Red and Blue teams competed together as one football team and Green and Yellow made up the other team.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2129" align="aligncenter" width="501"]
On the field, each football team comprised seven members, one player from each class, grades 1-7. Each match lasted 15 minutes, allowing for some of the students to compete in other track events that took simultaneously with the football matches.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2136" align="aligncenter" width="504"]
Grades 1 – 7 participated in multiple track events.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2133" align="aligncenter" width="514"]
Sometimes the rain temporarily interrupted the athletic events; nevertheless, every event took place![/caption][caption id="attachment_2132" align="aligncenter" width="513"]
The Preschool class participated in their own sporting events focused on speed, motor skill dexterity, balance, concentration, and following instructions. One of the races involved dressing in the full school uniform as fast as possible, and being neatly attired at the end of the race, with shirts buttoned correctly.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2127" align="aligncenter" width="517"]
Team coaches may have been as competitive as the students they coached. At one point, the score keeping became confused because of too many voices at the finish line; this led to a few debates. The disagreements, of course, were good natured and modeled appropriate competitive behavior to the children.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2138" align="aligncenter" width="523"]
Once scores were tallied at the end of the day, Team Green, under the leadership of Coach Obwora, emerged the winner. They received a trophy and some goodies to share as a team.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2123" align="aligncenter" width="528"]
Team Red earned second place.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2130" align="aligncenter" width="607"]
Welcomed guests, US executive director, Adam Gould, and international board member, Steve Gould and his wife Sherrie, participated in the events and awarded prizes.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2125" align="aligncenter" width="534"]
Students, parents, staff and guests ended the day with a celebration feast.[/caption]
A day to play in the rain and mud, compete, and cheer was exactly what the eduKenya/Kwa Watoto family needed. We celebrated athleticism and good sportsmanship. We discovered that fun activities, team goals, good company, and great food cheer the soul!