MIDDLEBORO — From hot-dog tag to potato sack races, popcorn toss and corn-hole, the carnival-themed field day at Memorial Early Childhood Center in Middleboro gave kindergarteners plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sunshine on Wednesday, May 29. 

As students lobbed bowling balls at blow-up bowling pins and tossed them into popcorn-tin hats, they learned essential skills such as how to take turns, treat each other with respect and be patient, according to the center’s physical education teacher, Lu Florio, who organized the game-day. 

With events like this, she said, the goal is to give students “more exposure to the skills [they learn] in kindergarten.” 

It is also to give them the building-blocks they need to play sports later on and to get them excited about movement, she added. 

The day couldn’t have come together without the help of 45 parent volunteers, who manned the activity stations, helped keep an eye on students and even dressed up in carnival food costumes to bring the day’s theme to life, said Florio.

The Parent Teacher Association also donated $1,000 to put the event on, said PTA president Treasure Gonzalez. 

Another objective of the event was to teach kindergarteners to trust public safety officials, said members of the Middleboro Fire Department. 

At one station, kids pelted balls at a target that, when hit in the bullseye, tipped a bucket of cold water onto the Middleboro police officer or firefighter occupying the seat below. 

The purpose behind getting the police and fire department involved in these types of events, said firefighter Jason Myers, is for kids “to understand that we’re here to help them, we’re friendly.” 

“It’s important for us to create that bond with the youth in town,” he said. 

Having been released from the water-bucket seat, a sopping-wet Myers added with a smile: “This is my favorite part of the job.”