New Fairfield Middle School currently provides students with a 20-minute lunch period and a 10 minutes of outdoor recess. We believe this is insufficient for students to comfortably eat a nutritious meal, socialize with their peers, and engage in physical activity before returning to the classroom.

Research consistently demonstrates that recess is far more than just a break in the school day. It plays a vital role in students’ physical health, social and emotional well-being, and academic success. As Professor Andrew Pellegrini wrote:

“Some claim that recess is a waste of valuable time that could be more profitably used for instruction, but there is no theory or empirical evidence to support this point of view. There is, however, abundant and clear evidence that recess has beneficial effects on children’s social competence and academic performance.”

Students who have adequate time to eat, move, and recharge are better prepared to focus, participate in class, and learn effectively.

To better understand how neighboring districts approach this issue, I contacted the principal of Ridgefield Middle School, who shared that their school schedules a 43-minute block for lunch and recess. Ridgefield continues to provide an excellent education while allowing students significantly more time to meet their basic physical and social needs. We believe New Fairfield Middle School can do the same.

I also shared a possible scheduling solution with Karen Gruetzner, NFMS principal. One option would be to reduce each academic block by five minutes. Based on the schedule presented during the district Zoom meeting, this would shorten each instructional block from 50 minutes to 45 minutes, creating a combined 50-minute lunch and recess period. While this is only one possible solution, no alternative proposal has been presented by the middle school administration despite the concerns expressed. 

Our goal is not to reduce educational quality but to create a schedule that better supports the overall well-being of our students. We believe that providing sufficient time for lunch and recess is an investment in children’s health, behavior, and academic achievement.

We respectfully ask the New Fairfield Middle School administration and the Board of Education to work collaboratively with parents, teachers, and staff to identify a solution that allows students adequate time to eat, socialize, and be physically active during the school day.

Please sign this petition if you believe our children deserve more time for lunch and recess.

Supporting Research and Resources:

Why Recess Should Be a Staple in Your Child’s Middle School

https://www.fessenden.org/blog/why-recess-should-be-a-staple-in-your-childs-middle-school

American Academy of Pediatrics: Why School Recess Matters for Kids of All Ages

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/why-school-recess-matters-for-kids-of-all-ages-AAP-policy-explained.aspx

National Institutes of Health: Research on the Benefits of School Recess

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10319329/

Journal of Educational Research: Effects of Recess on Academic Performance

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220679809597584

Journal of School Health: Recess and Student Well-Being

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/josh.13065