ROCHESTER — As the school year winds to an end, Rochester Memorial School cut classes for a day and traded books for basketballs.

Students and faculty broke out of their usual classroom routines to enjoy the annual Fitness Fun Day and Boosterthon Fun Run on Wednesday, June 4.

“Every location [in the school] is full of activities and fun,” said Principal Heidi Letendre.

Games of life-size Hungry Hungry Hippos, a dance party, sack races and the annual staff versus sixth graders basketball match were some of the featured events throughout the day.

“It’s a fun day full of collaboration and cooperation and working together, and the students have risen to the occasion,” said Letendre.

However, the day wasn’t just fun and games as the school aimed to meet their goal of raising $40,000 through the Boosterthon Fun Run, which took place during the Fitness Fun Day.

According to Letendre, the school had already collected over $30,000 worth of donations from all 50 states to support this year’s Fun Run. This money will benefit Parent-Teacher Organization related efforts, including organizing school assemblies, coordinating author and special guest visits and easing field trip transportation costs.

Each grade level had a designated time during the day to participate in the Fun Run, where students walked, jogged and dashed in a specified area.

In the weeks leading up to the Fun Run, students learned about self awareness and social skills. Letendre emphasized that these sessions get the students “pumped up” and motivated.”

“I think it’s a great way for the class to come together as a team and the school to come together as a whole,” she said.

Days like these where classes are able to break out of their routines and enjoy some fun in the sun become cherished memories for the students, according to Letendre.

“I know as a student myself back in the day, we all remember these big events, these big special days that we had. I think it’s just a great memory for them to end on,” she said. “Some of our sixth graders have been here since preschool, most of them since kindergarten.”

Second grader Haley Arsenault-Sousa said her favorite part of the day was enjoying the free ice cream.

As summer approaches and school winds down at Rochester Memorial,  Haley said she looks forward to “playdates and going in pools.”

“We’re very excited to end our year on this positive note,” said Letendre.