Christine CarrilloThe 11th annual Olympic Games returned...

Christine Carrillo

The 11th annual Olympic Games returned to Lincoln Elementary School

on Wednesday, pitting Trojans, Athenians and Spartans against one

another in a series of competitive games.

The games represented a piece of the Costa Mesa sixth-graders’

annual Greek Day. For many of the 95 students on Lincoln’s field

Wednesday afternoon, Greek Day marked a day of fun-filled festivities

with an ancient twist.

The students wore togas, ate grapes, played games while being were

pampered by servants -- also known as their parents.

“It’s really, really fun just experiencing what the Greeks did,”

Scott Potter, 12, said.

His fellow sixth-graders agreed.

“It’s really fun to see the competitive spirit going on through

all the classes,” 12-year-old Jillian Wertheim said. “It’s fun

because everyone’s supporting everyone else.”

Contrary to popular belief among the students, Greek Day did not

simply provide sixth-graders solace from having to toil over

classwork.

“I think it puts the topping on their studies of Ancient Rome,

Greece, China and Egypt,” said Susan Kenney, a parent volunteer for

the event. “It puts them into those times. ... It just kind of gives

them a sense of how it was.”

The event represents the culmination of the students’ yearlong

studies of ancient civilizations. It also gives them an opportunity

to test their knowledge of ancient times.

“Lincoln is a school where we have simulations all the time,” said

Judy Taylor, one of the sixth-grade teachers who wore a royal purple

toga that a former student designed. “That’s what this is. It’s a fun

time for the kids to celebrate and be kids.”

For the students participating in the Greek festivities, their

temporary travel to the ancient world should leave them with

something memorable.

With this event, “We connect the past to the present and give them

a chance to experience another culture,” said Nancy Urricariet, one

of the three sixth-grade teachers. “Hopefully, they’ll walk away

happy and having learned a whole bunch.”

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.