Testing ends, a new quarter begins: Spirit Day at Mt. Blue Middle School

FARMINGTON – There was plenty of spirit on Spirit Day at Mt. Blue Middle School Monday.

After completing three weeks of grueling standardized testing and marking the start of a new quarter, students, teachers and staff were encouraged to let loose on this day of goofy competitions and fun activities.

The gymnasium was loud and very colorful as students and staff hollered good-natured cheers, go-get-’em chants and clapped to spur their community’s competitors on. Each of the school’s six communities, or groupings by grade and location in the building, was represented by a green, orange, blue, black, yellow or red T-shirt.

Many participants chose to accessorize with hats, necklaces, face paint and more, which only added to the festive intent of the day.

The weeks of testing went well, teacher Patty Veayo said all decked out in a screaming orange outfit with rainbow-colored tights. “The students did an excellent job.”

Competition was fierce when it came to the spaghetti pasta sword match. Those who were able to end with their uncooked pasta “sword” unbroken scored points for their community. Wheelie cart races and more were held in the morning and in the afternoon, students were able to choose from their individual favorite activity, such as chess, ping-pong, painting, reading, and more.

Team spirit was alive and well during the fun competitions, particularly since this is the first year the sixth-grade students, who formerly would have been attending Cascade Brook School, joined the seventh- and eighth-grade students at the middle school due to over crowding in the lower grades of the school district.

Wearing green everything, teacher Wendy Simpson said the weeks of testing were “pretty intense” for students but now, at the start of a new quarter, it’s time “to shake it all off,” she said smiling.