GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Wilson School Teachers and Admin got to it last week as they attacked the campus with brightly colored paint.

After the installation of the new portable classrooms, additional installation of and the re-fresh of the existing blacktops, the original games painted years before on the asphalt had been wiped away. Vice Principal Mike Huyck was able to unearth some of the old stencils, like hopscotch, that the school had in storage and investigate some other games that would be a fun addition to the school’s campus. He polled the teaching staff about what they would like to see for their students and with the voluntary help of Mrs. Maddison Carr and under the direction of Principal Rodriguez, designed the new layout. Principal Rodriguez chalked the hard work up to VP Huyck, literally, saying, “We gave him a stick and a string of chalk” and “he went out there, measured everything,” fitting all the new games and designs into the allotted space.

The paint hit the asphalt last Tuesday and all involved were confident that the project would be completed by the end of the week. Originally, “It was going to be a community thing,” says Vice Principal Huyck. “We were going to have the Fire Department come out and clean the asphalt. And then we’re going to come out that Saturday of spring break with a group and have them help us get it done. It all went south when they said shelter in place…” With classrooms and playgrounds cleared of students, thanks to Covid19, the staff at Wilson took the opportunity to tackle the project themselves.

The project includes multiple new games, 5 tether ball courts, 8 four-square courts, 6 hopscotch games, color-coded line-up dots for the buses, a giant map of the United States, and a tri-cycle riding path for the mod/severe special ed students and younger students.  The asphalt will now allow for more students to engage in healthy and fun activities than before.

Principal Jesse Rodriguez hopes that the new additions will help with some behavior issues that happen out on the grassy play area during recess – the time that the majority of the incidents occur. “It gives them more opportunity to actually play organized games with rules. That, we believe, would make a difference. Not only in the way things look, in the climate and all, but actually them playing something rather than them tackling each other!” he says with a chuckle. Principal Rodriguez is also hopeful that the color-coded dot line-ups for the busses will help curb students’ rowdiness and diminish any discipline issues there – another hot spot.

The brightly colored new games not only beautify the campus but will give students something to look forward to when they return from shelter in place. “We hope that the children will love the new paint on the playground,” says Mrs. M, and Wilson staff can’t wait for their students to see the finished product.