Sometimes when we use our mind's eye to see something in a new way, we can make a magical transformation...and that's exactly what the facilities crew at the Belleville Elementary has done! At the onset of the COVID-19 emergency school closing, Steve O'Connor, the District Facilities Director for the School District of Belleville, asked if there were any "wish list" projects that his staff could facilitate. He did not want to furlough his workers if there were needed projects that could be accomplished during the school closing.

Staff responded positively to O'Connor's initiative, and the list quickly grew as school administrators saw a rare opportunity to improve spaces for the Belleville students that are normally inaccessible during the school year. However, with funds strained during the pandemic, O'Connor and his team, including Head Custodians Gary Hageman and Michael Johnson, started to put their creative minds together to stretch resources and tick away at the long list of projects they were quickly tasked with - but one special project got them thinking way outside of the box!

Elementary School Principal Kelsey Schmit was looking for a way to create a Gaga Ball Pit for the younger students to play in during recess, but buying one was not in the budget with new Gaga Pits costing well over $3,000...well, that is, until the Facilities' staff eyed a stack of old, recycled lumber that had been reclaimed from when the Belleville Community Park's bleachers came down back in the 1990's. These boards, along with some cans of recycled paint - paired with a few new nuts, bolts and hinges - was all it took for this team to take action on an upcycle project that would soon delight Belleville's elementary school students! Steve O'Connor says, "We used less than $200.00 in materials to build this one." So, as the piles of snow from the last heavy winter storm began to recede, Belleville's Facilities team began to plan the installation of the new Gaga Ball Pit as a surprise, after designing it over the winter months in their shop.

What is Gaga Ball you might ask? "Dubbed a kinder gentler version of dodge ball, the game is played with a soft foam ball, and combines the skills of dodging, striking, running, and jumping, while trying to hit opponents with a ball below the knees." (Learn more here: https://www.gagacenter.com/nyc/about/what-is-gaga/#:~:text=Gaga%20is%20a%20fast%20paced,a%20ball%20below%20the%20knees). For players to stay in the game, it is important to keep moving to avoid being hit by the ball. However, if a player's legs come in contact with the ball, they are deemed "out" and must leave the pit until the next round of play. It is a fast-paced game and provides a great physical workout for students who are taking a break from focus in the classroom. It is also a very inclusive game allowing many players to participate without a defined number needed for a team.

Photo courtesy of Marie Perry

Belleville Head Custodians Gary Hageman (pic- tured above) and Michael Johnson worked to stretch resources and build a new Gaga Ball Pit for Belleville students.

So, as Belleville Elementary students returned to school following their spring vacation, they received an amazing gift as they discovered the 8-sided Wildcat "Blue" Gaga Ball Pit constructed and ready for play among the traditional playground equipment they were accustomed to using during recess. Since its installation just a few weeks ago, the Gaga Pit has become a favorite for students of every age. Just seeing the happy faces of elementary students starting to find some normalcy after the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic truly brings smiles to the faces of O'Connor's Facilities' team, teachers, and school administrators alike. In a time where we have all struggled, it is great to see a little "magic" happen, and the School District of Belleville's Facilities team had the right ingredients, innovation, and inspiration to make a special wish come true for their students!