St Patrick’s Primary School Kilmore has welcomed the addition of a new Gaga pit, built by Assumption College students undertaking a Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major, VCE VM.
Started by now-departed Assumption students who undertook a Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, VCAL, course and finished by current year 11 VM students, the Gaga pit was officially opened on November 28 and signalled a further strengthening of relationships between the two schools.
Gaga is a variant of dodgeball that is played in an octagonal pit, with simple rules and fast-paced action creating a game that is easy for children to pick up and enjoy.
Assumption teacher Helen Perez, who was involved with the VM program to construct the pit, said she was proud to see the year 11 students finish what the previous year 12s had started.
“When they couldn’t finish it, the year 11s graciously took it on. It’s also really important to note that they need to own their projects as part of the course,” she said.
“They need to be motivated and invested in the projects, and I’m very proud of them because not once did they baulk at the hard work required.”
The idea for the pit was first proposed by St Pats physical education teacher Nick McDermott, which was then put into motion by the VCAL students using leftover woodworking resources under the supervision of Assumption deputy principal and woodworking teacher Peter Augustin.
Students then researched the basic guidelines and dimensions of a Gaga pit, including the correct type of sand, which was sourced from Pyalong by Nature’s Edge.
Ms Perez said the project highlighted the strong relationship between the two schools.
“It’s a recognition of our unity and our journey together and it just strengthens that even more,” she said.
“They’re definitely two separate schools. We are both Marist schools, but it really does unify our relationship and our journey by working together.”
VM student Brodie Johnston said the Gaga pit would serve to strengthen connections within the schools’ communities.
“We wanted to really engage with the students, it brings people together and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.
“We as a school want to try and help out other communities around us, so putting a Gaga in felt like it would be really beneficial for St Patrick’s.
“When we said the [St Pats students] had to go back to class, one of them was begging to keep playing so they must love it.”
