As a student of Kilmer, having lived through the recent restrictions on our school's policies, I deeply feel the importance of social interactions and outdoor activities on our intellectual and emotional growth. It is crucial for the school to implement an outdoor lunch with the mandatory option to go on the field. 

Back in the day, our lunch breaks used to be fun-filled, with many of us stepping onto the field to loosen up, breathe fresh air, re-energize ourselves, and socialize. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics states that taking a break in between studies not only helps in reducing stress but also increases productivity and concentration (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2018).

However, things changed drastically when the school decided to tighten up the rules, depriving us of our rights to enjoy the outdoors. We feel confined within the patio, where once, we roamed the field.

Considering the amount of time we spend in school, the need for a space to unwind, relax, and interact among peers should not be overlooked. It is not merely a matter of fun. It's a matter of promoting Green School Yards Initiative, which shows that access to nature improves students' mental health and academic performance (US National Wildlife Federation).

The benefits of outdoor lunches and field activity make it an issue that should be given immediate attention. Today, we, the students of Kilmer, as well as our parents and teachers, ask for your support to bring back our long-lost outdoor recess. We hope that the administration will remember the vitality of outdoor activity and socializing time in a student's school-life experience and engage in changes that strictly need to occur to restore this balance.

Please join us in our plea to reinstate mandatory field access at Kilmer. Sign the petition!