Students at Canyon Vista Middle School (CVMS), as recently as Fall 2019, would play wall ball or throw a football in the morning between the time of arrival and school doors opening. This was a time where all the students could play and engage socially.
In late 2019, as we understand, after a student fell down, a new rule came about - no playing ball or games outside before school.
It is well-known, well-studied, and well-documented that games, sport, and unstructured play increase Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), as well as cross-peer group friendships and relationships.
Likewise, it is proven that physical activity of any kind stimulates brain function, improving grades and academic performance.
- Movement and exercise allows youth to expend energy. Middle schoolers have little time to move throughout the day. This impacts focus and brain development as much as physical development.
- Sport interactions break up cliques and open up opportunity for more social interactions, supporting the various elements of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
- There is nowhere off campus and/or in the vicinity where the kids can play, leaving the school campus as the most logical, and safest, location for unstructured play.
As parents, we recognize that accidents happen, but the few isolated incidents should not impact the general well-being and important social and physical activities of all of the students. We, as parents, request the school once again allow the students to respectfully throw sports balls such as tennis or footballs, and play other related games in an unstructured manner before school.
Related resources and articles include, but are not limited to:
Study Shows Exercise Before School Improves Attentiveness in Class (more than breakfast...), Active For Life and Science Nordic, March 14, 2014 https://activeforlife.com/exercise-before-school-i...
7 Science-backed Ways Exercise Improves Students Grades, Reader's Digest https://www.readersdigest.ca/health/fitness/studen...
Why Exercise May Do A Teenage Mind Good, NPR Morning Edition, January 7, 2013 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/01/...
Study Finds That Children Who Exercise Get Better Grades in School, Medical Daily, June 19, 2014 https://www.medicaldaily.com/new-study-finds-child...
Four Ways to Use Athletics to Promote SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) and Character Development, Edutopia, George Lucas Foundation, June 13, 2016 https://www.edutopia.org/blog/4-ways-use-athletics...
Teens get as much physical activity as 60-year-olds, study shows, Medical News Today, Johns Hopkins Study https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317975.p...
Opinion piece about one mom's experience with more recess in Norway http://www.startribune.com/in-norway-it-s-a-less-s...
Updates
February 14, 2020
Reaching this point has been a long and draining process. It is exhausting to fight for something so basic yet necessary for our children because I know how much they need this space. Still I am not stopping because seeing this level of momentum proves we are fighting for the right thing.
14 Comments
There should be nothing wrong with playing ball. Stop overthinking things and letting a few ruin fun for everyone!!
My son loves to play soccer and football. He is at school usually 15 min before classes start. It would healthy for him to get some movement playing with a ball with his friends.
Are we wanting our kids to become robots?Why take away the one thing that makes the be kids?
We always had free time to play after lunch when I was in middle school. Kids need brain breaks. I support the effort here to allow free play time in the morning but also urge CVMS to set aside 30 minutes of unstructured free time outside daily after lunch to refresh their minds.
Yes! Please bring this back! Our kids should be encouraged to engage in free play as often as possible. Let kids be kids again.
Please let children play in the football fields.
Kids should be able to play under adult supervision.
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Students at Canyon Vista Middle School (CVMS), as recently as Fall 2019, would play wall ball or throw a football in the morning between the time of arrival and school doors opening. This was a time where all the students could play and engage socially.
In late 2019, as we understand, after a student fell down, a new rule came about - no playing ball or games outside before school.
It is well-known, well-studied, and well-documented that games, sport, and unstructured play increase Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), as well as cross-peer group friendships and relationships.
Likewise, it is proven that physical activity of any kind stimulates brain function, improving grades and academic performance.
- Movement and exercise allows youth to expend energy. Middle schoolers have little time to move throughout the day. This impacts focus and brain development as much as physical development.
- Sport interactions break up cliques and open up opportunity for more social interactions, supporting the various elements of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
- There is nowhere off campus and/or in the vicinity where the kids can play, leaving the school campus as the most logical, and safest, location for unstructured play.
As parents, we recognize that accidents happen, but the few isolated incidents should not impact the general well-being and important social and physical activities of all of the students. We, as parents, request the school once again allow the students to respectfully throw sports balls such as tennis or footballs, and play other related games in an unstructured manner before school.
Related resources and articles include, but are not limited to:
Study Shows Exercise Before School Improves Attentiveness in Class (more than breakfast...), Active For Life and Science Nordic, March 14, 2014 https://activeforlife.com/exercise-before-school-i...
7 Science-backed Ways Exercise Improves Students Grades, Reader's Digest https://www.readersdigest.ca/health/fitness/studen...
Why Exercise May Do A Teenage Mind Good, NPR Morning Edition, January 7, 2013 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/01/...
Study Finds That Children Who Exercise Get Better Grades in School, Medical Daily, June 19, 2014 https://www.medicaldaily.com/new-study-finds-child...
Four Ways to Use Athletics to Promote SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) and Character Development, Edutopia, George Lucas Foundation, June 13, 2016 https://www.edutopia.org/blog/4-ways-use-athletics...
Teens get as much physical activity as 60-year-olds, study shows, Medical News Today, Johns Hopkins Study https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317975.p...
Opinion piece about one mom's experience with more recess in Norway http://www.startribune.com/in-norway-it-s-a-less-s...
Updates
February 14, 2020
Reaching this point has been a long and draining process. It is exhausting to fight for something so basic yet necessary for our children because I know how much they need this space. Still I am not stopping because seeing this level of momentum proves we are fighting for the right thing.
14 Comments
We are hoping for a reasonable solution or compromise that can enable our son's before-school play time while also promoting the kids' safety. Thank you!
There should be nothing wrong with playing ball. Stop overthinking things and letting a few ruin fun for everyone!!
My son loves to play soccer and football. He is at school usually 15 min before classes start. It would healthy for him to get some movement playing with a ball with his friends.
Are we wanting our kids to become robots?Why take away the one thing that makes the be kids?
We always had free time to play after lunch when I was in middle school. Kids need brain breaks. I support the effort here to allow free play time in the morning but also urge CVMS to set aside 30 minutes of unstructured free time outside daily after lunch to refresh their minds.
Yes! Please bring this back! Our kids should be encouraged to engage in free play as often as possible. Let kids be kids again.
Please let children play in the football fields.
Kids should be able to play under adult supervision.
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We are hoping for a reasonable solution or compromise that can enable our son's before-school play time while also promoting the kids' safety. Thank you!