Too Many Snow Days Shouldn't Equal Too Little Recess.

Don't take away recess!

Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools administrators recently received backlash from parents for their plan to shorten recess to make up for instructional minutes lost due to snow days.

It seems that after reviewing a variety of plans to capture lost minutes from snow days they decided that cutting recess by 15 minutes and lengthening the school day by 5 minutes was the best solution for making up the 20 hour deficit they are now facing.  But the recess time is not coming from the lunch schedule because teacher contracts require a 30 minutes uninterrupted lunch break.

School officials said recess is currently between 20 to 30 minutes daily.   That means students are left with a 5-15 minute recess.  A 5 minute recess is not feasible and would not even allow time for a break to use the restroom and get a drink in most schools. Let's face it, who has a 30 minute morning recess?  I'm not aware of anyone, unless it is the previously discussed lunch time. Read on for a better solution.....

10 Recess Games for Getting Kids REALLY Active

As childhood obesity rates continue to climb public heath agencies and researchers are looking at the value of recess in terms of children's energy expenditure.  In other words, "Is having fun enough when it comes to recess games ?"

To find out the answer to the question, researchers from Children's Hospital Boston's Clinical Research Program and UMass Amherst are collecting data that could help teachers turn idle recess time into a high octane, fat-burning extravaganza.

Check the Thrive blog for a listing of the most "active" games as identified by their research. Download AKIDS Games Guide with rules, diagrams, equipment needed and directions on how to play each game.

Organizations: National Gardening Association & Jamba Juice

 

Purpose: Provides youth garden programs with gardening supplies, curriculum, and funding for soil amendments and plants to help create engaging nutrition and gardening experiences.

 

Applications due : March 10, 2014

 

Amount: $500-$1500

 

within a 50 mile radius of a Jamba Juice store.

 

Website: http://grants.kidsgardening.org   

 

Grant materials and templates. 

 

Use a snow day to train your staff.  Call us at 951-245-6970 to take advantage of the Snow Day Special.

Train your entire staff