Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Class of 2023 celebrated its upcoming graduation with a daylong field day Friday, June 2. Students began the morning with Grand March practice led by Dean of Students Allan Crocker, followed by fun and games in the gymnasium, led by Coach Dennis Dacus.

“I say the same thing every year, but this is the best group I’ve worked with,” said Crocker.

Dacus, as MC, steered the tutu-sporting seniors through several carousing games with timed eliminations. One class favorite was the 2023 Rock, Paper, Scissors Championship tournament whereby students advanced or receded based on winning or losing two-person matchups of the well-known hand game. In the end, Meghan Leeman was the champion.

Next, students broke off into groups based on homeroom to play Pictionary. Dacus gave one player from each team the theme that had to be drawn. The first team to solve the Pictionary got a point. After 11 rounds, Tanya Hammond’s homeroom won with five points, followed by Emily Higgins’ homeroom with four and Nick Scott’s homeroom with two.

Students were then given class t-shirts donated by Boothbay Harbor Apparel and tie dye kits provided by First National Bank and made their own tie dye t-shirts in the gym. Seniors were then treated to a pizza lunch compliments of Pier One Pizza.

After lunch, the group reconvened on Sherman Field for outdoor games including cornhole, tug-of-war, and Fisherman’s Festival Cod Fish Relay. “Today is what education is all about, making bonds, making friends with kids,” said Dacus.

The tug-of-war, complete with colorful chalk sprays, quickly became a mosaic of brightly colored chalk clouds as students doused one another. After one elimination round, Team Blake was declared the winner.

Newly painted seniors concluded the day with the Cod Fish Relay. Cod furnished by Mill Cove Lobster Pound and oil slicks supplied by Larry and Mary Knapp provided countless laughs. Three teams of students took turns donning fishing gear and holding a cod fish in each hand as they ran around a baseball diamond. Team 1 jumped out to an early lead and staved off competition for the win.

“This started in 2021, trying to bring celebration to our students during tough COVID years and it’s continued now to honor our seniors and to see the joy on their faces. They spend time together as a unit and will have memories of what BRHS means to them,” said Principal Tricia Campbell.