Both middle schools in Dawson County held field days last week to celebrate the year’s end with athletics and teamwork.

Dawson County Middle School held its second annual Olympic field day Wednesday, where hundreds of students took part in athletic events in celebration of foreign culture.

Principal Mark Merges said advantages were twofold: “they get to learn about social studies, and they get to have fun in the process.”

Principal Bill Zadernak said Riverview Middle School students played sports and enjoyed activities “as a reward at the end of the year for all their hard work.

“It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ for the great year these students gave us. These kids, they can’t be beat,” Zadernak said.

Zadernak said the end-of-year athletics day is a long-standing tradition at the middle school and an important one.

“The kids and the teachers get to spend some time together outside the classroom ... they have fun and build team spirit. It’s a celebration of a good year ... and it was a good year, so they’ve got a right to celebrate,” Zadernak said.

Merges agreed.

“At the end of the year, everybody’s done their part to make it successful, and they get to really go all out and have a blast today,” Merges said.