10-16-2023 4:15am

STUDENT'S DREAM IS

Jeff Barto Editor

ELIZA RAIDER, GRADE 5, STONELEIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Taking the lead in her community

In June 2022, Eliza Raider, then a Grade 3 student at Stoneleigh Elementary School, had summer on her mind. The rising June temperatures meant that she was only weeks away from summer camp, where she would once again play one of her favorite games: gaga ball.

However, as Eliza dreamed of summer days in the gaga pit, she wondered why she had to wait until camp to play. Why were there no gaga pits in her community?

So, Eliza decided to take matters into her own hands, submitting a formal proposal to Stoneleigh Principal Heather Hollenback:

"I have written to you because I have a suggestion about the students of this school's recess time," Eliza wrote. "There is a game that a lot of people try to play, but it never works out. It never works out because we don't have a pit."

"She came home from school one day with this written document and I had no idea what gaga was," said Eliza's mother, Jen. "It's amazing because there was this idea inside of her for a long time because when she came home with it, it was June, and she had last played gaga the summer before. So, it seems like it was stirring inside, and she had put a lot of thought and effort into it."

WHAT IS GAGA BALL?

Now, before we continue, you might be wondering, "What is gaga ball?" Don't worry, Eliza's proposal to Principal Hollenback explains the basics:

It is a game played only with hands and a ball. It starts when somebody goes to the middle of the pit and bounces the ball three times while saying, "Ga-ga-ball!" and then slaps the ball at another person's shins with their palm. The goal of the game is to get the ball to touch another person's legs and they become out. Then you restart without the person, and it keeps going until one person is left. You can defend yourself by slapping the ball to another person's shins...You can also jump over the ball, but if the ball touches your shin, it doesn't matter who slapped it, you're out.

In addition to this explanation, Eliza's proposal to her principal also included Google Earth screenshots of some potential locations for a Stoneleigh gaga pit, diagrams and construction plans, and suggestions for fundraising methods.

Eliza's proposal to Principal Hollenback (Page 1)

Eliza's proposal to Principal Hollenback (Page 2)

Eliza's proposal to Principal Hollenback

A LONG ROAD AHEAD

Unfortunately, the road to year-round gaga would not be as simple as a single letter. Principal Hollenback loved the idea but said Eliza would need to gather more information before submitting a formal proposal to the county. So, after the summer of 2022, Eliza got to work as a Grade 4 student, surveying Stoneleigh students in grades K - 5 and assisting Principal Hollenback in completing forms.

Then, after months of hard work, the project was unable to move forward at Stoneleigh. For many students, or even adults, this would be the end of the story, but Eliza went back to the drawing board.

"After BCPS I went to my neighborhood with a revised proposal," Eliza said. "I did a survey of the kids in my neighborhood...96% of respondents said they think my neighborhood should have a gaga pit. When I took it to the board, there were a lot of parents there and they said that their kids saw the survey and they were really excited about it. It was a cool experience."

After presenting her proposal to the Wiltondale Improvement Association, Eliza's proposal was approved! However, the job was not done, as the selected site needed to be cleared of trees and brush, and the ground would need to be levelled. In total, the project would cost $4,650.

ACHIEVING GAGA GREATNESS

With the proposal approved, Eliza sprung to action to keep the project moving. The Wiltondale community shared that it would contribute $2,000 to the project, so Eliza launched a fundraising effort to cover the $2,650 difference.

In a letter to the Wiltondale community, friends, family, and local businesses, Eliza once again explained her cause before presenting two fundraising opportunities:

Donating directly via Venmo or check
Businesses sponsorships for the 21st Annual Wiltondale 5k Run for Greenwood Park

By the end of summer 2023, Eliza's fundraising goal was convincingly surpassed, bringing in $4,982. Now, the project could move forward — with additional funds set aside for future Greenwood Park maintenance.

On Monday, September 11, the trees were removed from Wiltondale's Greenwood Park, and on Friday, September 15, Eliza led a small group of volunteers, consisting of friends, family neighbors, and professionals, in building the court over a four-hour period.

Eliza working with volunteers to build the Wiltondale gaga pit

LET'S GAGA GO!

On Sunday, September 24, Eliza hosted a gaga gathering for kids in the Wiltondale community, handing out playground balls to more than twenty families in attendance. Since then, Eliza has delivered 25 more balls to children who completed the community survey or contributed to donations but were unable to attend the September 24 event.

A Grade 3 student's idea in June 2022 has now become a reality. "It was a lot of work, a lot of paperwork," Eliza said. "There was a lot of redoing things and there was a lot of not giving up."

"I learned that in order to get something through to somebody, you have to gather information and use what you know already to learn more things. And to help get what you want, you have to work."

"It has been an amazing journey to go along with her," Eliza's mother said. "To watch her be the leader that she has inside of her."

"Eliza's journey is one of perseverance, determination, and is a great example of how young people can make a difference in their community if they believe and work hard to achieve their goals," said Dr. Kelli Hickey, classroom teacher at Stoneleigh Elementary.

Eliza applies finishing touches to the gaga pit

THE MORE THE MERRIER

Although Eliza's dream of playing gaga ball year-round has come true, she feels that her work isn't done. She hopes to find more opportunities to grow the game of gaga in her community, and is already eyeing up a spot for another pit near the Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library.

"There's this huge lawn, and it's not used a lot, and there's a bunch of room," she said. "It's a spot where kids go to hang out and for play dates, so if people want to go to the library, they can go to the playground afterward and play some gaga."

In the future, Eliza hopes to find a career that allows her to continue making positive changes, combining her creativity with her leadership skills. In the meantime, however, we hope Eliza will take a break from her work and enjoy some time in Baltimore County's newest gaga pit.