The administration confirmed today that the transition policy has been revised to guarantee twenty minutes of active recess. We will monitor the implementation of this schedule through the end of the term to ensure these changes remain in effect.
December 2, 2016
Final supporters
Parents/Caregivers: Please add your name if you’d like to see a more balanced recess policy at Renaissance! We are all in favor of safety and of course students need to get to class on time. However, the children are currently lining up multiple times while transitioning from lunch to recess. They are required to remain quiet while in line and are penalized as a group for the actions of a few. Students are reporting that this sometimes reduces their recess time to only 11 to 13 minutes. The Renaissance school day is super long, from 8:20am to 4:05pm. Our kids need their recess!
Principal Wilson, Superintendent Bolandi, and the School Board: As parents, community members and taxpayers of Montclair, we respectfully call on the Superintendent and Board of Education to commit to, enforce, and monitor a recess policy that is healthy for the physical and emotional development of our kids. Recess must never be taken away as a punishment, or even threatened to do so. Recess isn’t a privilege; it is a healthy part of middle school students’ physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Movement, play, and socialization help children self-regulate, which leads to better-behaved, more engaged students who can more readily focus on and retain information from their lessons.
Here are the changes we would like to see:
- Allow for at least 20 minutes of real recess time (not including time spent lining up and waiting to be released). With our long school day, this is critical.
- Do not allow recess to be taken away as a punishment, or even threaten to do so. Do not punish the group for the actions of a few.
- Lessen the amount of time the kids spend standing in line.
- Allow the kids to talk if they have to be lined up- this is critical to their social and emotional growth.
- Additional options for indoor recess. Currently on offer are two movie rooms (where they must be silent) and one quiet room for doing homework. Parents are trying to find balance with regard to screen time. Let's instead offer a space where kids can play easy set-up games, listen to music, hang out, talk, and move around a bit.
If you support these changes, please sign your name below.
Updates
November 20, 2016
I have submitted a formal request for a meeting with Principal Wilson to review the current recess transition protocols. We are compiling specific accounts of lost playtime to present as primary evidence during this session.
November 20, 2016
The administration has acknowledged the momentum behind this proposal and requested a formal meeting to discuss current transition policies. I am drafting a brief for the school board that outlines the specific adjustments needed to guarantee twenty minutes of daily recess. Please monitor your email for a summary of the outcomes from that meeting.
Reached 100 supporters
November 20, 2016
35 Comments
I am disappointed the indoor recess game room option was replaced with movies. That is not what recess is for. I do not want my child sitting pasively in front of a screen.
For Renaissance students, there has to be a better solution than limiting their recess time especially since their day is so long and structured to begin with. Everyone agrees that safety is an important factor to their well being. We must figure out a way to let them be socialize, move around and self regulate in their already limited recess time.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that recess is a crucial and necessary component of a child’s development and, as such, it should not be withheld for punitive or academic reasons." see full article here http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/183
We pay high taxes in Montclair and what motivates most of us to live here are the schools. Recess is a vital part of a school day for our child and it must be not be taken away for any reason. 20 minutes is a healthy and necessary break. Indoor recess must have other options besides sitting in silence.
Most important part of the day that allows for children's ability to pay attention and absorb lessons for the rest of the day. Recess is being taken away as a punishment, even for children who are not misbehaving during "lineup."
I fully support this petition. As a new parent to the area it's very concerning to learn of this issue. Please implement these changes ASAP.
Recess is as critical to the school day as any academic class. Children need to regroup and recharge to learn well.
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The administration confirmed today that the transition policy has been revised to guarantee twenty minutes of active recess. We will monitor the implementation of this schedule through the end of the term to ensure these changes remain in effect.
December 2, 2016
Final supporters
Parents/Caregivers: Please add your name if you’d like to see a more balanced recess policy at Renaissance! We are all in favor of safety and of course students need to get to class on time. However, the children are currently lining up multiple times while transitioning from lunch to recess. They are required to remain quiet while in line and are penalized as a group for the actions of a few. Students are reporting that this sometimes reduces their recess time to only 11 to 13 minutes. The Renaissance school day is super long, from 8:20am to 4:05pm. Our kids need their recess!
Principal Wilson, Superintendent Bolandi, and the School Board: As parents, community members and taxpayers of Montclair, we respectfully call on the Superintendent and Board of Education to commit to, enforce, and monitor a recess policy that is healthy for the physical and emotional development of our kids. Recess must never be taken away as a punishment, or even threatened to do so. Recess isn’t a privilege; it is a healthy part of middle school students’ physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Movement, play, and socialization help children self-regulate, which leads to better-behaved, more engaged students who can more readily focus on and retain information from their lessons.
Here are the changes we would like to see:
- Allow for at least 20 minutes of real recess time (not including time spent lining up and waiting to be released). With our long school day, this is critical.
- Do not allow recess to be taken away as a punishment, or even threaten to do so. Do not punish the group for the actions of a few.
- Lessen the amount of time the kids spend standing in line.
- Allow the kids to talk if they have to be lined up- this is critical to their social and emotional growth.
- Additional options for indoor recess. Currently on offer are two movie rooms (where they must be silent) and one quiet room for doing homework. Parents are trying to find balance with regard to screen time. Let's instead offer a space where kids can play easy set-up games, listen to music, hang out, talk, and move around a bit.
If you support these changes, please sign your name below.
Updates
November 20, 2016
I have submitted a formal request for a meeting with Principal Wilson to review the current recess transition protocols. We are compiling specific accounts of lost playtime to present as primary evidence during this session.
November 20, 2016
The administration has acknowledged the momentum behind this proposal and requested a formal meeting to discuss current transition policies. I am drafting a brief for the school board that outlines the specific adjustments needed to guarantee twenty minutes of daily recess. Please monitor your email for a summary of the outcomes from that meeting.
Reached 100 supporters
November 20, 2016
35 Comments
I grew up in a school environment where we had 15 min recess after each 45 min class. I can't imagine how the principal expects kids to be able to behave by missing their only recess of the day. I mean seriously? And yes they also need time to eat their lunch.
I am disappointed the indoor recess game room option was replaced with movies. That is not what recess is for. I do not want my child sitting pasively in front of a screen.
For Renaissance students, there has to be a better solution than limiting their recess time especially since their day is so long and structured to begin with. Everyone agrees that safety is an important factor to their well being. We must figure out a way to let them be socialize, move around and self regulate in their already limited recess time.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that recess is a crucial and necessary component of a child’s development and, as such, it should not be withheld for punitive or academic reasons." see full article here http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/183
We pay high taxes in Montclair and what motivates most of us to live here are the schools. Recess is a vital part of a school day for our child and it must be not be taken away for any reason. 20 minutes is a healthy and necessary break. Indoor recess must have other options besides sitting in silence.
Most important part of the day that allows for children's ability to pay attention and absorb lessons for the rest of the day. Recess is being taken away as a punishment, even for children who are not misbehaving during "lineup."
I fully support this petition. As a new parent to the area it's very concerning to learn of this issue. Please implement these changes ASAP.
Recess is as critical to the school day as any academic class. Children need to regroup and recharge to learn well.
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I grew up in a school environment where we had 15 min recess after each 45 min class. I can't imagine how the principal expects kids to be able to behave by missing their only recess of the day. I mean seriously? And yes they also need time to eat their lunch.