Any field day requires organization and forethought. But planning a field day for 600 kids for four hours? That seemed like a huge challenge. My nerves were on end, even though I’ve planned gym teacher days and regularly coordinate a majority of our children’s sports and fitness programs. This was different: It was the largest scale event that I’ve ever been responsible for executing. Would it be possible for me to get this to run seamlessly?

I mentally prepared myself for the worst. What if the volunteers get lost, or the bus doesn’t arrive until the kids are already at the park? What if a kid gets sick, or someone gets hurt?

And then of course there were the logistics. How are we going to get all of the water bottles, supplies, and ice to East River Park, a 20-minute walk from the school? What about lunch for the volunteers? How would the kids get to the park? What activities should we do? What if it rains?

But thanks to the help of an amazing staff at PS 20 M, my fantastic colleague Allison Kenworthy, and months of planning, my fears were for naught. The field day ended up being a huge success. In fact, it turned out to be the most relaxed project on a Wednesday morning that I’ve ever been on. It was hard to believe. Read the rest of this entry »