Lumen Christi Primary School is a small Catholic school in Churchill, VIC. With just 90 students, what the school lacks in size it makes up for in community.
“It’s a really lovely small-school environment where everyone feels included," says Principal Sally Darby.
We love a story where everyone comes together – and that's exactly what happened when Lumen Christi PS set out to get a gaga pit for the playground.
Why Lumen Christi Chose a Gaga Pit
Active play tops the list of a lot of school playground wishlists. Educators know that getting kids moving throughout the day helps them stay active and engaged when back in the classroom. Plus, it's just great for kids physical and mental health.
Lumen Christi were looking for something new and exciting to encourage active play during recess and lunch. They'd already seen how much the kids loved playing gaga on a school camp, so the answer was fairly apparent.
“We wanted something fun that the kids could enjoy,” says Sally. “I also love that it’s inclusive—even if you’re out, you can still sit around the edges and cheer the others on.”
A Project that Brought the Community Together
Like many schools we've worked with, the gaga pit at Lumen Christi was a whole-school project. The parents and friends association became the driving force to fundraise for the purchase.
“The P&F were really supportive! They wanted to invest in something fun that would add value to the school and bring students together,” says Sally.
The major fundraising effort, a bright and bold colour run, helped the committee reach their fundraising target.
Once the funds were raised, Gaga Games handled the delivery and installation.
“The whole process was so smooth and the installation was done in a day.”
Definitely a true community effort!
Two young Lumen Christi students go head-to-head in the sand, both reaching for the bright orange gaga ball during an energetic lunchtime match.
The Game that’s Changing Playtime
Since being installed, the gaga pit has become a playground favourite, with kids lining up to have a turn. Like many schools, Lumen Christi have implemented a roster system to keep the game fair and safe. While older students and teachers supervised games in the early days, now the kids confidently manage the games themselves.
Getting the gaga pit installed has given kids an alternative option when it comes to lunchtime games. Soccer has long been popular with Lumen Christi's students, but the school wanted to offer an alternative structured game that still encouraged physical activity and social play.
““Sometimes kids need that structure in the playground. The gaga pit gives them a fun game where everyone knows what they’re meant to be doing.”
— Principal, Sally Darby
A clever adaptation students have made to the game: they'll draw a line in the sand to make the play space smaller when only a few players are left – which keeps the game exciting!
Beyond playtime, they've also found creative ways to make gaga part of the day-to-day.
“We use it for brain breaks during class time—it’s a nice, quick game that gets them moving and refocused.”
Kids are loving playing the game, while teachers find having a positive, structured activity keeps kids engaged, and parents see their kids being active throughout the day.
Principal Sally Darby sums it up best:
“It’s a lot of fun, it’s a quality product, and I can 100% justify the investment. It was a great decision for our school.”
Bringing More Schools Together Through Play
At Lumen Christi, the gaga pit has been more than just a playground upgrade—it’s strengthened the sense of community, encouraged inclusivity, and given students an exciting way to stay active.
Would your school benefit from a gaga pit? Learn more about how Gaga Games can help!
Considering Gaga Ball for your School?
Discover how easy it is to set up your own pit with Gaga Games and transform recess, lunch and PE classes into an exciting, inclusive experience!
