Seventh grade wins Phoenix Olympics

SHARON — The Class of 2016 took home the crown at the annual Sharon Center School Phoenix Olympics on Tuesday, June 23.

The Olympics, which are held on the last day of school, include the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades competing against each other in 14 different games. At the end of each game, the first-place class receives four points, second-place three points, third-place two points and fourth-place one point. The total score for each class is added up at the end and the grade with the most points is crowned the winner and has their class year printed on a plaque that is displayed at the school.

Coming off their win the previous year, the students in the Class of 2015 were fired up to defend their crown. Before the events began, the excitement could be felt as each class got themselves in a fighting mood with team chants and high fives.

Language Arts teacher Cici Nielsen kicked off the event with an explanation of the rules for the first event, “Hanky Panky.”

One student from each class was given a box of tissues. With one hand behind his or her back, the student had to then pull out every tissue from the box as quickly as possible. With tissues flying all over the place it was eighth-grader Christina Winburn who took home first place, with the students from sixth, fifth and seventh grades finishing second, third and fourth respectively.

“Rapid Fire” was the second event. Two students from each class stood one meter behind a table and used rubber bands to shoot three cans completely off the table and onto the floor. The task proved to be a lot harder than it seemed. Rubber bands bounced around the gym, with most missing their intended targets. The seventh-graders, in the Class of 2016, took home the victory, knocking all three cans off the table. Their first-place finish was followed by the eighth-graders in the Class of 2015. Third and fourth place came down to the wire — it was the Class of 2018 taking home third, with two cans on the floor while the Class of 2017 had only one as time expired.

Up next was “Shoe Fly Shoe,” where three students stood behind a line 1 meter from a table and flung their shoes onto it, only using their legs. When all was said and done, it was the Class of 2016 taking home first place, with 2015, 2017 and 2018 taking home second, third and fourth.

The fourth event, “My Cup Bloweth Over,” featured three students from each class with four Solo cups and three balloons. Each student had to blow up his or her balloon and use the air inside to blow the four Solo cups off the table and onto the floor. The Class of 2017 proved to be the expert blowers, quickly knocking their cups off. The seventh grade, eighth grade and fifth grade finished second, third and fourth respectively.

Ten more games followed, including “My Paper Dragon,” “The Price is Right,” “Bucket Head,” “Mummy Wrap,” “Stack Attack,” “Defying Gravity,” “Balancing Act,” “Movin’ on Up,”,“Noodlin Around” and “Teachers Challenge.”

Following the completion of the Olympics, students were dismissed for summer vacation.