Sloatsburg awoke to blue skies Friday morning. And here’s to hoping it holds as today Sloatsburg Elementary School celebrates Olympic Day, that annual spring student rite of passage. Yesterday’s late afternoon rains crowned Sloatsburg in a double rainbow. Today, students at the elementary school will don multi-colored shirts and compete in an assortment of fun activities.

Sponsored by the Ramapo Valley Rotary, and with the support of various Sloatsburg businesses such as Hayward’s Deli, Olympic Day features a series of student competition, from foot races and a long jump to basketball shoot, fiercely fought soccer matches, and the infamous pizza box race, where students team up and race while seeing how many pizza boxes they can pick up and carry along the way. Different classes represent an assortment of countries from around the world and wear colorful t-shirts that reflect their country. At the end of competition, an overall champion is crowned.

Many parents, village officials and community leaders participate in Olympic Day by volunteering time and services. The morning and afternoon event culminates in a parent/student picnic lunch.