How much time for recess in Wake Kindergartens? Outdoors? (Cary: chapel, elementary schools)

[muse1110]

My child will be starting Kinder in Cary soon. Since it will be hot, hot, hot in July (and onwards), how much outdoor time do the schools typically give? Do they take care with issues like heat exhaustion, dehydration?

I don't know if this has already been addressed for Yr Round Schools...going to school when it's amoung the hottest months of the year. Does too hot count for inclement weather?

Thanks!

[lamishra]

I My KG student goes outside for about 1/2 an hour for recess and occasionally they go outside twice, time and weather permitting.
I believe they do consider things like heat. Most schools also have gyms where the kids can play if the weather is unaccomodating.
You might also consider putting sunscreen on your children in the mornings since they will be at school all day in the middle of the summer.

They WILL close schools if the AC goes out and it's too hot.

[muse1110]

Thanks for the sun cream reminder. Nothing in the materials from the school has mentioned anything about sun cream, hats, appropriate clothing.

I guess I'm shocked about just 30 minutes for recess. My son is coming from a school where he got 1.5 hours in the school day. The thought was that kids need a lot of physical activity, and concerns about childhood obesity.

But thank you, regardless, for your post.

[lamishra]

well, they also have PE classes too. If the weather is nice and the kids get their work done, they do go out more often, but I don't think they get 1.5 hours of recess time.
I think the teachers will probably discuss thing like sunscreen with you. Just make it a habit of putting it on them. It's more a personal choice I guess. Some kids get burned more easily that others and some kids are more heat sensitive than others.

[alice_61]

I believe NC board of ed just passed a law requiring 30 minutes of recess per day and prohibiting teachers from taking away recess as a punishment, which I have heard was occuring at some of the Chapel Hill elementary schools. I don't think NC has a PE requirement for a certain number of hours like other states do.

[lamishra]

At both of my kids schools, instead of "taking away recess" as a form of punishment, they make the kids walk around the track for a certain number of laps or amount of time (depending on the infraction I guess). So they're still outside, but not playing with their friends. I think it's usually just for like 3 laps around the track or something, not the whole recess time.
I think that is a better alternative. than taking away recess. At least they are still outside burning off some energy.