The Ware Middle School administration confirmed the schedule adjustment to increase recess time for students in grades 4 through 6 effective next semester. I have met with the principal to review the implementation plan and we will monitor the transition to ensure the new policy is fully honored.
May 21, 2016
Final supporters
Ware currently allows 10 minutes of recess in grades 4-6. The average recess time at neighboring schools is 21.5 minutes, with the higher ranking schools providing 25 and 30 minute recess periods. Reducing recess time to improve test scores is not the answer and WILL backfire. Bring back a healthy school day schedule for our children - Sign this petition to appeal to Ware Middle School administration to make a change!
Updates
March 1, 2016
The administration has acknowledged the volume of this response and agreed to a formal meeting to discuss current scheduling. We are now finalizing a proposal that uses the benchmarking data from neighboring districts to argue for an immediate policy adjustment.
Reached 100 supporters
March 1, 2016
59 Comments
I work at a local elementary school with 6th graders, we get 15 minutes of recess, that is still not enough! We stretch it to 20 minutes most days and cut eating time down by 5 minutes. What a difference it makes when kids get that time to socially interact with each other. Kids need recess!!
My sisters kids attend the schools in Ware. I don't understand why recess is so short in your area. They barely have time to figure out teams for games or to play anything at all. Please give the kids a break. Playing is learning too!
30 minutes would be better. Recess is vital to all forms of learning. Anyone who has sat in an office for ten hours at a time, knows how much they would enjoy a break to run around, let their brain refresh and be able to focus better after the break. Cheers!
I believe all young kids 4th, 5th & 6th graders need an appropriate amount of recess time to unwind...it helps them remain focused. It's a long time to expect kids this young to remain on task...some are just incapable to do so. You need to remember, they're just kids.
I've been saying this for YEARS! WMS's recess policy is SO far out of line with current research; in fact schild around the country are ADDING recess time and finding better overall student achievement! Thank you to whoever put this together--and I'd love to know what the next step is for making this happen!
Children need time to work off energy so they can be more consistent in paying attention and being still when in class.
Kids need to play!!!
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The Ware Middle School administration confirmed the schedule adjustment to increase recess time for students in grades 4 through 6 effective next semester. I have met with the principal to review the implementation plan and we will monitor the transition to ensure the new policy is fully honored.
May 21, 2016
Final supporters
Ware currently allows 10 minutes of recess in grades 4-6. The average recess time at neighboring schools is 21.5 minutes, with the higher ranking schools providing 25 and 30 minute recess periods. Reducing recess time to improve test scores is not the answer and WILL backfire. Bring back a healthy school day schedule for our children - Sign this petition to appeal to Ware Middle School administration to make a change!
Updates
March 1, 2016
The administration has acknowledged the volume of this response and agreed to a formal meeting to discuss current scheduling. We are now finalizing a proposal that uses the benchmarking data from neighboring districts to argue for an immediate policy adjustment.
Reached 100 supporters
March 1, 2016
59 Comments
The state of Massachusetts mandates thirty minutes for every six hours of work at every workplace. The fact that these kids don't have this is a tragedy.
I work at a local elementary school with 6th graders, we get 15 minutes of recess, that is still not enough! We stretch it to 20 minutes most days and cut eating time down by 5 minutes. What a difference it makes when kids get that time to socially interact with each other. Kids need recess!!
My sisters kids attend the schools in Ware. I don't understand why recess is so short in your area. They barely have time to figure out teams for games or to play anything at all. Please give the kids a break. Playing is learning too!
30 minutes would be better. Recess is vital to all forms of learning. Anyone who has sat in an office for ten hours at a time, knows how much they would enjoy a break to run around, let their brain refresh and be able to focus better after the break. Cheers!
I believe all young kids 4th, 5th & 6th graders need an appropriate amount of recess time to unwind...it helps them remain focused. It's a long time to expect kids this young to remain on task...some are just incapable to do so. You need to remember, they're just kids.
I've been saying this for YEARS! WMS's recess policy is SO far out of line with current research; in fact schild around the country are ADDING recess time and finding better overall student achievement! Thank you to whoever put this together--and I'd love to know what the next step is for making this happen!
Children need time to work off energy so they can be more consistent in paying attention and being still when in class.
Kids need to play!!!
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The state of Massachusetts mandates thirty minutes for every six hours of work at every workplace. The fact that these kids don't have this is a tragedy.