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A Better Recess for Renaissance!

35 Comments

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Wendy Jones-Epstein
9 years ago

I agree with all of the above.

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Laura Hoffman
9 years ago

Kids already have less recess time than they need. I do not support a policy of asking them to stand in a line quietly in order to go outside. Further, relinguishing recess time as a form of punishment is against district policy.

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Jodi Aishton
9 years ago Featured

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.

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Elizabeth Ruebman
9 years ago

Middle schoolers are still children. They need to move, play, and interact. I will not be sending my 5th grader to Renaissance if this school continues to shave time off of recess in order to make kids stand in inappropriate silence.

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Maritza Guzman
9 years ago

Sounds proposal for our children's physical and emotional health.

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Michele Kavesh
9 years ago

I concur with this petition wholeheartedly

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Martin Brumbach
9 years ago Featured

"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

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Christa Rapoport
9 years ago

We do understand the safety concerns. It is also essential that the kids arrive to their post-lunch class on time. Many of the practices complained of having existed for years. Now that the parent population is aware of the limited and restricted play time, however, we request changes be made as soon as possible. Play and downtime are critically important to the mental health of our middle school children.

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Jahn Tracy
9 years ago

Allow children the option of outdoor recess during winter months. Consider restructuring the daily schedule to allow for an additional 10 minutes of recess time to offset the health and safety concerns of Principal Wilson.

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Michael Barr
9 years ago

We originally moved to this town fourteen years ago knowing we had made a great decision for our children. Fourteen years later has left us feeling cheated by the system once again. It should be a no brainer that our kids receive proper breaks in between such a demanding school schedule. Mental health for our younger generation should be a priority!

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Aviva Patz
9 years ago

The lining-up quietly thing not only inappropriate for this age group and entirely unreasonable and unnecessary, but it SETS KIDS UP TO GET IN TROUBLE, which I hope you'll agree is not in anyone's best interests—not the kids, certainly, but also not the teachers, who compromise their relationship with students when they have to play the role of police. And for what? It's just not a priority. It's not a Renaissance priority and it's not a Montclair priority. Please end this ludicrous, troublesome practice immediately and treat our kids with the respect they deserve—and that will engender respect for authority in return.

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Jahn Tracy
9 years ago Featured

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.

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Lori Chiappa
9 years ago

We need to do better for our kids. This lack of down time and physical movement is completely unacceptable.

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Nicole Rubin
9 years ago Featured

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."

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yana rodin
9 years ago

Our kids physical and emotional health requires breaks in their long school day. Recess for 10-13 yr old kids should not be a privilege, but a healthy part of their day.