One of the most exciting additions to our campus in the 2014-2015 school year came from our students. When the 8th grade class came back from their retreat at Camp Indianola, they were all abuzz about a game called Gaga Ball. So excited, in fact, that they took the initiative to bring it to Hyla. Thanks to our 8th grade class, Andrew Lovejoy, an elective, donations from ProBuild and parents, our back field is now home to our very own Gaga pit. “I can see the Gaga Pit out my window,” said Vicki. “It reminds me daily of how encouraging and responsive we are to student interests. With Gaga, our students took an idea, followed it through to completion by finding support and resources, and then taught the rest of the school how to play. I love it!”

Gaga plays like dodgeball with walls. But it’s much more than that. “It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes it work,” said PE teacher Andrew Lovejoy, “but the game is inclusive, fun, competitive, challenging, and rewarding. It appeals to a broader group of our students than just about any other game I can think of. It’s simple, the action is constant, and the rounds are short enough that when someone gets knocked out, they are only out for a couple of minutes.”

Andrew also praised the game for how it encourages conflict resolution….click here to read the full article.