Thomas Johnson Elementary Middle School (TJEMS) has added a new playground for its Pre-K students. The playground, which was installed last week, was built on a sports court at the eastern end of the school’s yard. The school also recently installed a gaga ball pit .
The playground was paid for and installed by Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) through a grant. BCPS identified schools that do not have the proper playground equipment for Pre-K students.
The playground has slides and different structural elements to climb on. A soft surface was installed under the playground.
There are now a total of three playgrounds at the school. The school already had playgrounds for upper elementary and lower elementary students.
The school also has two basketball courts, a multipurpose asphalt space, and a green space with soccer goals.
In recent weeks, the gaga ball pit was installed in a grassy area in the schoolyard. Gaga ball, which has risen in popularity in recent years, is a dodgeball-style game played inside of a round, fenced-in area. The Gaga ball pit was paid for with funds raised by the TJEMS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
For outdoor activities, the PTO has raised money in recent years to buy soccer goals, different types of balls, and jump ropes for students.
PTO President Noelle Wahl told SouthBMore.com they are always looking to improve the experience for all of the different levels of students at the school.
The PTO also helped fund the transformation of a former computer lab into a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) lab inside of the school.
On Saturday, TJEMS hosted its Fall Fest which is the “biggest fundraiser of the year.”
