Our elementary school students need their 20 minute blocked recess time reinstated this school year. Having (2) ten minute mask breaks is not adequate to their social-emotional well being. 

Our Board of Education members and the Superintendent need to be held responsible to ensure our children's social-emotional, physical and mental health needs are being met.

Two 10 minute breaks are not the same as a blocked 20 minute recess, this is not a positive setup for children in grades K-5. Our students needs are not being met. 

Recess is state mandated. The mandate states, "All elementary school students shall have at least 20 minutes a day of supervised recess, preferably outdoors, during which schools should encourage moderate to vigorous physical activity."

• In a survey of almost 2,000 principals nationwide, more than 8 out of 10 principals reported that recess has a positive impact on academic achievement. Two-thirds of principals reported that students listen better after recess and are more focused in class, and virtually all principals believed that recess has a positive impact on children’s social development (96 %) and general well-being (97 %). Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2010). The state of play: Gallup survey of principals on school recess.

 • In a study of 11,000 third-graders (8-9 years-old), comparing those who had little or no daily recess with those that had more than 15 minutes of recess per day, teachers reported that children who have at least 15 minutes of recess behaved better in the classroom. Source: Barros, R. M., Silver, E. J., & St

Please take a moment to have your concerns heard and sign the petition. 

As a reminder, there is a BOE meeting scheduled for September 14, 2021. Please be sure to pre-register to be heard.