Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

During Saratoga High School's Marathon Day, some of the students worked in teams to build houses of cards.

Saratoga High students share team-building day

By Tim Persyn

Who ever heard of high-school students spending an entire Saturday on school grounds when they weren't required to?

Well, on Feb. 3, 100 Saratoga High School students voluntarily gathered at their school to spend an entire Saturday engaged in SHS's annual Marathon Day, designed to create an increased sense of community among students.

Suze Rutherford, trainer for National Training Associates and this year's Marathon Day trainer, said the day was a time for kids "to relax from the stress they feel, to break through the social barriers of cliques and to focus on making healthy choices."

Students were divided into groups of eight and participated in ice-breaking exercises and skits. Parents and teachers volunteered for the day, while student participants included school leaders and kids who had reputations for getting into trouble.

Senior Katrina Abuabara summarized the goal of the daylong experience: "The point is to break down barriers and stereotypes and to build a sense of community," she said.