By Mariah Gunnison

   Athletic Field Day finally happened! Students got to enjoy a variety of fun-packed activities run by various faculty members including football, tug of war, corn hole, hippie frisbee, bedsheet volleyball and bump out. Every year Mr. Lambros, the activities director and assistant athletic director, facilitates Athletic Field Day. 

   Athletic Field Day is one of the few chances the entire school has to come together and get to know each other. Middle school and high school students dress up with their groups according to themes chosen by this year’s senior class. Themes varied from Purple to Minions to Teachers to Burger King. 

   TPA senior Dayanara Gamez said that getting to lead a team gave her an opportunity to really connect with and create a fun experience for both middle schoolers and high schoolers. “(Athletic Field Day) truly captured the essence of what it feels like to build a community within a school as small as TPA,” Dayanara added. 

   Julia Hannon, a TPA junior, attended Athletic Field Day for the first time. Julia said, “I don’t normally play sports, so I wasn’t expecting to have as much fun as I did. My favorite activity was soccer, run by Mr. Mac and Dr. Cardoso! Overall, I would say that Athletic Field Day was a lot more fun than I had anticipated.” 

   Julia also said that Athletic Field Day gave her the opportunity to talk with and get to know people (both in her grade and out) who she had never talked to before. 

   Many juniors are looking forward to the chance to run their own groups next school year. However, some juniors, like Joey O’Connor, were able to run a group alongside a senior lead.  

   This year’s winners were the Teachers, run by Joseph Cady and Luke Smaw. Mr. Lambros awarded the Athletic Field Day winners with pizza for lunch.