Stressing the importance of recess, the Rochester School Committee on May 5 asked Rochester Memorial School Principal Derek Medeiros to run down the school’s policy on recess – how much and how often.
As long as the temperature doesn’t dip below 20 degrees with the wind chill factor, recess is held outside, he said. But come snow, rain, or shine, all students participate in at least 20 minutes of recess daily, whether it is indoors or outdoors.
The school focuses on the importance of movement and provides students with opportunities to engage in sports and activities such as four square and ball.
When recess is held indoors during inclement weather, there is sometimes less movement; however, teachers strive to make the most of it for the kids.
“We utilize the gym, which is nice,” said Medeiros. In classrooms, sometimes teachers coordinate movement activities and games to get students up and out of their seats. Other times, students will head to the library or the art room or music room to practice their instruments in the free time given. “We love the kids to be outside and get that fresh air,” Medeiros said. “There’s a lot of things that go on. For us, it’s a mandatory thing for us to make sure that it’s at least 20 minutes long.”
“Twenty minutes doesn’t seem like a very long time,” said School Committee member Robin Rounseville.
Medeiros said students do get other short breaks throughout the day that incorporate physical movement as part of the school’s responsive classroom policy. During these movement breaks, Medeiros said sometimes interactive cartoon games from websites might be projected onto a screen for kids to follow.
“It can be anything from calisthenics to a dance routine … you might see on a daily basis,” said Medeiros. School administration received instruction on incorporating movement into the day during training sessions over the summer, Medeiros told the committee. “You’ll see teachers actually taking these breaks outside. There’s a lot of interaction with learning outside.”
Other outdoor activities include educational trips to the wetlands behind the school and a garden where students can weed, water, and help grow vegetables.
“So there’s a lot of movement at RMS,” said Medeiros. “We’re not a stand and deliver type of school.”
School Committee member Meagan Bennett expressed concern over the practice of taking recess away for a child as disciplinary punishment and requested, “If at some time we could have that discussion, because I have very strong feelings around that.”
Medeiros said the staff usually tries to find other ways to address disciplinary consequences, such as after school time or visiting the office.
“These kids need a break,” said Medeiros. “That’s not an appropriate consequence for something that goes on in the classroom.” However, he added, “That’s been a traditional consequence…. Tradition is oftentimes tough to break.”
Chairman Tina Rood said, “We have a very small recess time and kids need that.”
In other matters, the school conducted an air quality assessment, with results showing that the quality of the air at Rochester Memorial School is within the normal range or even better. According to Medeiros, the writer of the report stated, “I have not seen a better quality result ever.”
The next meeting of the Rochester School Committee is scheduled for June 2 at 6:30 pm at Rochester Memorial School.
By Jean Perry