Antelope Elementary School, located within our community, currently provides only two recess sessions daily for all grades. Students either have the opportunity to partake in a morning or afternoon recess in addition to their lunch recess. While beneficial, these limited breaks can restrict the time our children need to refresh and recharge amidst a busy school day. Recess plays a critical role in a child's physical, social, and cognitive development. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, recess offers children the chance to engage in unstructured play, which is essential for their growth. It enhances brain function through increased physical activity and gives room for children to express themselves, develop social connections, and improve their mental health. Along with improving the students confidence and social skills, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies the behavioral aspect of extended recess. By increasing recess time it significantly improves student behavior, reduces classroom disruptions, and boosts attention.

Given these benefits, introducing an additional recess break can contribute significantly to our children's overall well-being. Our proposal is to revise the current academic schedule of Antelope Elementary School to allow for three recess periods, ensuring that every child can participate in a morning, lunch, and afternoon recess. This adjustment can be made without compromising academic learning time by slightly decreasing the duration of each period, integrating short active breaks between lessons, or examining other innovative scheduling solutions.

We urge the school administration, teachers, and the Antelope community to come together to support this vital change. By doing so, we will create a more balanced school day that promotes a healthier, more supportive learning environment for our children. Let us ensure that our students have the chance to enjoy these important, revitalizing breaks.

Please join us in championing the introduction of a third recess at Antelope Elementary School by signing this petition. Together, we can advocate for a change that caters to the holistic development of our children and improves their daily school experience. Your support can help bring this much-needed change to fruition.