Friday, Nov. 11 was a busy night at Milford High School. It was Family Fun Night, a night dedicated to elementary students and their families. The auxiliary gym, old gym, and the pool were open exclusively to these young students. Students participated in a variety of activities, including basketball, karate, and golf. Little kids were running from activity to activity, full of smiles and boundless energy. Up-beat music played over the speakers, adding to the night’s excitement.

The adult volunteers working at each station were various physical education teachers from the elementary schools.

“It’s fun getting a chance to meet the parents and see the kids outside of the school environment,” said Brian Vanderziel, a physical education teacher from Kurtz Elementary. “And this is a great way to keep the kids active outside of school.” Vanderziel was working the dance game, busting some moves with the little kids.

In the old gym, there was karate, yo-yo lessons, fencing, and basketball. Jason Hugan, a sophomore on the varsity basketball team last season, was among the high school student volunteers playing basketball with youth. “It’s a lot of fun working with the little kids, teaching them basketball,” said Hugan. Hugan, at 6-feet 8-inches, towered over the kids. “They’re all so small and full of energy,” he said with a laugh.

In the auxiliary gym, the kids had a variety of activities to try, including bowling, speed stack competitions, golf, and dancing. Physical education teachers from a variety of elementary schools were stationed at each activity, supervising and even participating with the children. Parents of the older children chatted with each other, while parents of the younger children joined in the activities with their kids. “I heard [about Family Fun Night] through my son’s elementary school gym class,” said Doreen Kettle, mother of nine year old Carsen Kettle. “I’m glad we came. It’s been a great event.”

The walking track was very busy during Family Fun Night. Mileage Club was very popular. Mileage Club was started at the elementary schools at recess to encourage the young students to be more active. During Family Fun Night, instead of running laps on the play ground, the kids ran laps upstairs on the walking track. If the kids ran (or walked) nine laps around the walking track, they got a little, colorful, plastic running figurine to add to their necklaces. There were plenty of kids participating, some running laps and others walking or doing a combination of both to earn more beads to add to their necklaces. “It was great to see the kids so active up there [on the track],” said Vanderziel. The kids strutted around, proudly showing off their full necklaces.

Other volunteers included Milford High School students. Jessica Samaha and Dylan Polcyn were the “security officers”, stationed outside the auxiliary gym. Their main job was to give directions to parents and elementary students on how to get to the old gym or the pool.

Around 7:30 p.m., the activities began to wrap up in the gyms. The “dive-in” movie was going to start in the pool. The movie, Finding Nemo was played on the wall in the competition pool, near the diving boards. The kids could float on their inflatables and watch the movie. The other pool was open and full of elementary students. The kids could use the slide, play on the alligator, go in the whirlpool, or just swim around. “The swimming was definitely my favorite part,” said Carsen Kettle.

At 9:00 p.m., when Family Fun Night ended and the pools closed, the parents and kids began to head home. The children sleepily and happily followed their parents out of the school. “There was a great turnout, and the children really seemed to enjoy themselves,” said Vanderziel. “I’d call it a very successful event.”