Recesses, Roads and Trees!

Staggered Recesses

Due to the restricted space on our hardtop due to the presence of a construction equipment pen and the wet conditions of our field, we have decided to move to staggered recess time. We have chosen to do this because students are finding the restricted space increasingly crowded. In addition some students have experienced minor injuries as a result of collisions on this smaller space.

     The following staggered model that we have chosen is based on feedback from other schools who have noted that younger primary students often eat more and function better in class when they reverse their activity and eating times: 

     AM Recess:

     Primary students (up to and including grade 4) are going outside for 15 mins at recess and then come in for the second 15 mins to have their snack.

    Junior students (Ms. Kuczynski's class and grade 5 and up)  are in for the first 15 minutes and then they go out for the second 15 mins.

    At lunch the same pattern happens:  

  Primary students are outside first and then come in to eat after 30 mins outside on the hardtop. 

    Juniors eat and then go outside for the last 30 mins of lunch.

	Primary to Grade 4	Ms. K and Grade 5 and up (J/I)
AM Recess (10:10-10:40)
10:10-10 25 (15 mins)	Outside on hardtop	Inside eating snack
10:25-10:40 (15 mins)	Inside eating snack	Outside on hardtop
Lunch Time  (12:20-1:20)
12:20-12:50 (30 mins)	Outside on hardtop	Inside eating lunch
12:50-1:20 (30 mins)	Inside eating lunch	Outside on hardtop

  Today we tried this model for our lunchtime and we had a great deal of positive feedback from our students and staff about the increased space and safety that this rethinking of our recess has provided them. Tomorrow we will be rolling this new recess routine at AM recess as well as lunch. This will continue until we are able to fully utilize our field once it has dried out. 

We do ask that parents encourage their primary students to eat more of their food at first recess (as they have dedicated time) so that the slightly later lunch time will not result in them feeling hungry.

     Roadway construction

    Now that the weather is improving, the roadway along the outside of our field will start to be constructed this week. At this point the plan is for the trucks to enter the road  from the first 2 spots in the north parking lot. This will preserve more spots in both the upper and lower lots.  Large locking gates surrounding the road will be going up to protect our students from the construction machinery and traffic.

 Tree removal

After much study it has been determined by the city and the engineers that all six trees in the Kindergarten pen next to the newly renovated Kindergarten rooms will have to be removed.

  Four are damaged due to beetle infestation and two will likely not survive the construction

The board will be replacing the trees with 8 like sized trees after the construction has been completed which will be placed in a more organic configuration throughout the Kindergarten play area. They will be a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees. Ms. Kimmel's tree will NOT be affected by the construction.