An idea that was launched in 2020 became a virtual reality today at the Crim Primary School.
The Lu Interactive Playground was introduced and demonstrated by the company representative at Crim on Thursday, October 23.
The attentive audience in the school’s gymnasium that day included the spearhead of the program, Crim Principal Kelliann Ten Kate, the school’s Physical Education Teachers, Mark Staudt, Bryan Hedgecock, and Mike Mealey, along with Dave Guglietti, the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Supervisor of Health and Physical Education, Kevin Stianchi, the BRCARES Coordinator, Dawn Sprinitis, the Crim BRCARES Manager, a few of the BRCARES aftercare leads, and Jennifer Scuderi, the Adaptive Health and Physical Education Teacher.
This day finally arrived due to the dedicated and devoted process produced by Principal Ten Kate, who first introduced this virtual program to the Crim Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) in 2020.
According to Principal Ten Kate, in September of 2023, the Crim PTO coordinated and was the host to a demonstration of the Lu Interactive Playground at Crim’s Back To School Social event. There, students had the opportunity to explore the system’s engaging applications.
Principal Ten Kate went on to report about the path that she embarked on.
“With a focus on promoting wellness, encouraging healthy choices, supporting interactive and multidisciplinary activities for all student levels, and reducing behavioral incidents through purposeful play, I reached out to BR CAREs and the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Business Office in the spring of 2025 with a proposal to fund the system for Crim.”
BR CAREs is the school district’s before and after school recreation and enrichment program.
Principal Ten Kate continued with the background.
“Thanks to the generous funding from BR CAREs and the electrical work completed by the district’s Facilities Department, Crim was able to purchase and install the Play Lu system in September of 2025. Training for a cross-section of building staff, district representatives and BR CAREs personnel took place this October 23.”
Principal Ten Kate announced that a “ribbon-cutting ceremony and a student assembly will be held in early November.”
“During these events, students will learn about the system's features, capabilities and care, and have the opportunity to demonstrate its many interactive applications,” she said.
Mr. Guglietti was impressed by how valuable this virtual program can be for students.
"The Lui Interactive Playground is a great way for students to enhance their physical activity time, as well as to experience cross-curricular-based information, like math and language. It is a great addition and is designed to reach a wide variety of learners.” Mr Guglietti said.
According to Mr. Stianchi, this program may be expanded to the John F. Kennedy Primary School in the near future.
Principal Ten Kate, who was the guiding force behind this program, shared her gratitude.
“Thanks to the hard work of Kevin Stianchi and the BR CAREs team, the school district’s Business Office and Facilities Department and the Crim PTO and Physical Education staff, Crim students now have access to a comprehensive, interactive audiovisual experience that inspires movement, learning, and fun.”
“It is movement reimagined.”