“One, two, three… go!”
With that, six Ada Elementary students began to race, following colorful lines that had them zig-zagging and turning in circles as they made their way to the finish line.
The squiggly-line maze, as students refer to it, is one of about 15 painted courses added this past summer to the school’s playground.
“We were looking for ways to promote kindness and teach play,” Principal Melanie Hoeksema said.
Funded by the school’s PTO, the painted courses are part of the school’s Kindness for ALL initiative. The word ALL represents three former Ada Elementary community members who died: Audrey Jandernoa, whose family created the Red Glasses Movement; Luke VanSprange, whose family formed the program Live Like Lucas; and Luke Ballstad, the son of a former Ada principal who often left notes of encouragement to the staff and helped with school activities.
Designed by Jason King of Rocket Ship Playgrounds, the painted courses include familiar outdoor games such as hopscotch and four square, along with several mazes, a planetary walk, an alphabet game, a dance circle, and a challenge course.
Read more online with School News Network and how this unique gift by the school’s PTO is helping all students grow and learn.
