LunchBreakAndSecondRecessForElementarySchoolStudents:

Grades1Thru4

The District believes that it is essential that elementaryaged students have a

minimum of 20 minutes of seated lunchtime to eat their food during lunch.
Having a minimum of 20 minutes of seated lunchtime provides students with
sufficienttimetoconsumetheirmealwhilestillallowingstudentstimetoenjoy
socializationwiththeirfellowstudents.

Inaddition,theDistrictbelievesthatitisessentialthatahealthydailyroutinefor
our elementaryaged students includes recess. Research shows that students
who are provided with a daily recess are more focused, ontask, and able to
concentrate on educational material than those who are not afforded a
recessperiod.Cognitivefunctionimproveswhenachildhastheopportunity
for physical exercise and active play. Playwhether vigorousorsedentary
can provide intense skill learning. Physical activity is known to lessen the
symptoms of mild attention deficit disorder, and is associated with much lower
incidencesofchildhoodobesity.Recessisalsoessentialforprovidingstudents

withalessstructuredperiodoftimeinwhichtoengageinsocialinteractions
and develop interpersonal relationships with peers. It is often during this
timethatchildrenimprovetheirleadershipandconflictresolutionskills.

Because of the numerous benefits of unstructured play time, the District shall
requirethatelementaryagedstudentsparticipateinaminimumof20minutesof
recess consisting of play and physical activity each school day either directly
beforeordirectlyaftertheirlunchperiod.Therecessperiodshallbescheduled
outofdoors,exceptinthecaseofextremeweatherconditions,inasafeoutdoor
naturalareawithplayequipmentdesignatedforthatpurpose.Recessshallbein
addition to physical education class time and not be a substitute for physical
education.

School staff shall not withhold participation in recess from students or cancel
recess to make up for missed instructional time. Because of the importance of
recess, students shall not be excused from outdoor recess without a written
medicalreasonfromaphysician.

Since the District believes it is important that students have both a 20minute
seated lunchtime and a 20minute outdoor recess, the lunch periods for all
elementaryschoolswillbeaminimumof45minutes.Theadditional5minutes
accounts for incidental time spent walking to the cafeteria, waiting in line to
obtainahotlunch,andtimespentwalkingtoandfromtheoutdoorplayarea.

Also,sincetheDistrictbelievesthatchildrenwhohaverecessbehavebetterand
are likely to learn more, a second recess break shall be provided to all
elementaryaged students during each school day in order to help improve
learning, social development, and the health of elementaryaged students. This
additionalrecessshallbeaminimumoffifteenminutesduringeachschoolday.

Recess shall be supervised but shall largely consist of unstructured play time.
Scheduling shall be conducted at the school and classroom level. Withholding
recess and/or other forms of physical activity as punishment or in lieu of
completing other academic work is discouraged. Occasional loss of recess may
occur,butrepeatedlossovertimeisnotacceptable.

CROSSREF.:

6:50(SchoolWellness)