More recess & lunch, 10 more min/day recommended, please SHARE

Dr. Salim has posted an update on the proposal that will be recommended to the School Committee on Tuesday, February 5th 2019.

My quick takeaway: The district hears us! 10 more min. per day for recess and lunch!

"A longer recess & lunch period -- 50 minutes per day (increased from 40 minutes per day) -- for all students, with two recesses for all Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, with recess then lunch scheduled back-to-back when feasible." 

Currently the wellness policy stipulates 20 min for recess and 20 for lunch (40 minutes). So 50 minutes is an improvement.

And two 20-min recesses for JK/K is also an improvement.

I feel this does not go far enough, especially in the context of a longer day. (I would welcome 10 more minutes in the current 6 hr day, but in a longer day, this represents a net loss in terms of free play/outdoor time/human time for kids - of 35 minutes! Not inconsequential in these days of little sunlight, Jan/Feb...) Still, it is heartening that the district is listening. I also know we are fortunate in Cambridge to have such knowledgeable and responsive teachers/staff/administrators who have ALL students best interests at heart.

Please check out the District's full recommendation: https://www.cpsd.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3042869&pageId=68828260

The next steps in the public participation process are: 

February 5, 2019:  first reading by School Committee
March 5, 2019: Public comment on the proposal 5.

*** I would encourage anyone who has signed this petition to please SHARE it among your friends in the Cambridge Public Schools community. Our family is new to CPS, so don't have many contacts. And if you already signed, please share WHY in the comments. Please share personally via text, email, social media, this increases participation.