Dear Maggie —

My daughter keeps challenging me to a game of GaGa Ball at recess and claims Emma’s mom plays GaGa with them every Tuesday at morning recess.  First of all, I don’t even know what that is.  (Just call me her Papa – Paparazzi!?!)  Secondly, I keep telling her that I can’t just show up at school to swing around on the playground at recess with her whenever I want, but she insists that some kids’ parents do.  Have things gotten so laid back that parents can casually saunter onto the blacktop to hang out at recess these days?!  What in the monkey bars is going on over there, can you please let me know if I’m missing something – which I’m almost positive I am?

— Curious George

Dear Curious —

I am here to clear up this misunderstanding, or two!  The first being that GaGa ball has NOTHING to do with Lady GaGa; because that’s what I thought – talk about being disappointed! Second, while there is quite a bit of monkeying around at recess, parents are not allowed to just show up and hang out whenever they want.  However, I’m pretty sure what your daughter is talking about is parents volunteering for recess duty.  This is a great service opportunity where parents can sign up to do a shift to monitor recess.  I actually LOVE recess duty!  It’s the closest you’ll ever get to being a fly on the wall – being able to watch your kids play at recess is like being a spectator at the zoo.  It’s so very sweet to be able to witness all the kids play together, watch Sr Mary Jo be the all-time umpire for kickball (watching her call a strike is a real thrill!), see Mr. Shorter throw Super Bowl worthy touchdown passes, watch as Mr. Jesse competes in a push-up contest with an 8th grade girl, and get a hug from nearly every single preschooler on campus!  If sports aren’t really your thing, you might get lucky enough to get roped into learning the entire choreography to Taylor Swift’s Era’s tour or the latest TikTok dance like Ms. Heffernan and Ms. Kirner did last year (I, of course, already knew it! 💁🏻‍♀️)**

If this sounds like your cup of tea, it’s super easy to sign up here, the shifts can be short so pop on over during a quick break from work!  Krista Kutz has bravely taken on the task of organizing the Recess Volunteers, and she has outlined the rules quite succinctly here saying: “The SMOS playground rules are universal and sometimes require gentle reminders: Treat each other (and self) with kindness and respect, treat our playground with kindness and respect, treat all of nature with kindness and respect. There will always be a SMOS staff person outside with you, if any questions come up.  As a recess duty volunteer last year, I can say that it’s truly a lot of fun and a refreshing break in the day!”  If you have any questions please reach out to Krista Kutz and she can either get your questions answered or point you in the right direction!  (Send her an email, though, cause you’re not gonna reach her telephone! 😉)

Well Curious, I’m anxious to see a head to head soccer match between you and Mr. Shorter so I expect to see you out there soon showing off your skills.  If not that, at least go beat the snot out of some some 5th grade young Lady at GaGa!  😜

— Maggie

**Each of these things listed have been personally witnessed by current recess duty volunteers.