Holley students make Gaga Ball pits for park at Firemen’s Field

Photos and information from Holley Central School

HOLLEY – Students in the Holley High School Geometry in Construction class tackled a project that is a bit different from the sheds, barns and tiny homes built by the class in previous years.

This year, they partnered with the Village of Holley to build two Gaga Ball pits for the Holley Fireman’s Field.

Gaga Ball is a variation of dodgeball where players stand inside a hexagonal pit and try hitting each other with a ball. If a player gets hit below the waist or knees, they’re out of the game and the last person standing wins.

The class is co-taught by geometry teacher Russ Albright, who retires at the end of this school year, and technology teacher Dylan Sharpe.

“I really wanted to do something for the Holley community, so I reached out to Holley Mayor Mark Bower,” Albright said. “He asked if Gaga Ball pits were something we could do. Once I figured out what they were and saw the direct connection to geometry, I realized this would be a perfect project for my final year.”

Geometry teacher Russ Albright assists students in making a Gaga Ball pit.

The Village and Holley Joint Youth Recreation purchased the materials for the class to build the two pits. Students worked on the project outside of their classroom at the high school. They will be installed by the Village at a later date.

“It has been a really fun build,” Albright said. “I have built houses, additions, replaced windows and doors and all other aspects of building and remodeling, but I have never done anything like this. Students really got into it when Mr. Sharpe and I told them what this year’s project was going to be.”

Holley was the first in the region to offer this class in the 2016-17 school year and laid the groundwork for many surrounding schools to implement programs of their own. Throughout the years, the classes have built two 16 X 20 tiny homes for Second Wind Cottages, a non-profit in Newfane, and four barns and two sheds for Homesteads for Hope, a non-profit in Spencerport.

Technology teacher Dylan Sharpe, left, worked with students on the project at the Firemen’s Field.