MAC Field Day is a unique Dobbs Ferry High School tradition celebrated every year in honor of James Mackenzie, a beloved teacher and coach who unfortunately passed away in 2006. On this day, each grade unites, picks a theme, and decorates the gym. Throughout the day, grades compete in a series of challenges for points. This year, MAC Field Day included new fun activities thanks to the hard work of our teachers and staff – especially Ms. Addona and Ms. Buschi. These activities contributed to the special tradition while also fostering friendly competition between grades!
Spirit Week had a big role in the point count. During Spirit Week, points were awarded to each grade based on students’ participation in dressing up in fun outfits for wacky categories. This year, categories included Greek life Monday, Country vs City Tuesday, Throwback 2000s Wednesday, and Sports Jersey/Jersey Shore Thursday.
The first challenge of the 2025 Mac Field Day was a talent show. This kicked the day off with the teacher band, Athletic Option, and a video showcasing several Dobbs Ferry sports teams. Afterwards, students participated in the talent show, gaining points per performance and showing off their talents. Performances included bands such as The Thursdays and Moss, but also contained solo acts such as Colin Carmody, a junior who sang Shady, from the Great Gatsby Musical.
Another way of earning points was a scavenger hunt, organized by Hands-In Club. Hands-In Club is led by Ms. Fahy and her team of dedicated student leaders. For the scavenger hunt, every good deed a student performed gained a point for their grade. Examples of deeds include writing a thank-you card, picking up trash, walking instead of driving, donating food, donating clothes, and many more generous acts.
Ms. Elsen’s Racial and Social Justice and Ms. Buschi’s Gay-Straight Alliance clubs worked together to create a Thrift Swap; students could bring in old clothes for donation and sift through other pieces. It was a great way to recycle clothes while also cleaning out your closet and donating! Clothing Modification was another new activity that included bringing in old, neglected clothes and transforming them into trendy and lively pieces. These activities made repurposing old clothes fun and less wasteful while also allowing students to freely express themselves through fashion.
Students also had the opportunity to create art projects out of single-use plastics. This was a fun and creative activity that encouraged students to recycle and produce decorative items. Visual arts were not historically a part of MAC Field Day, but this year our art teacher, Ms. Buschi, facilitated a project that allowed harmful single-use plastics to be recycled into beautiful works of art. This opened up the opportunity for students who do not enjoy sports to channel their talents elsewhere. The Youth to Youth (Y2Y) club then came out and talked to students about the dangers of using alcohol. Youth to Youth Club is run by Ms. Caputo and helps students work toward healthy habits. This was a new addition to MAC Field Day that created a safe and informative environment for students to be educated on the consequences of substances.
MAC Field Day events did not end there: there were new athletic games like flag football for girls, knockout, dodgeball, wiffleball, and even virtual Esports. Sports always comprised the core of MAC Field Day, but this year’s festivities introduced a larger variety of activities to Dobbs Ferry!
MAC Field Day is a vital part of what makes Dobbs Ferry High School so special. This year, the changes allowed every student to engage and compete, creating a fun learning experience. It facilitates new friendships while encouraging students to indulge in friendly rivalry between grades, creating a melting pot of hard work, dedication, teamwork, and fun!
