This is a question that the children ask us often. Mrs. Seaman has the unenviable task of determining if it is appropriate for the children to go outdoors for arrival and recess or not. Our goal is to get the children outdoors EVERY day as long as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
When it is raining hard, it is an easy call that the children need to have indoor recess. However, the snow, ice, and cold temperatures often make the call more challenging. Typically, our maintenance staff are able to get the ice and snow cleared off the blacktop. The standard for temperature that has been used for years in MERSD has been 20 degree windchill. If the windchill is 20 degrees or higher, the children go outdoors. If it is 19 degrees or lower, the children have indoor recess.
The school council will be re-examining the temperature guidelines to decide if we should change the threshold for indoor/outdoor recess. If you have thoughts, ideas, etc. please feel free to communicate that to your school council representatives. As the father of an active second-grade boy, I know very well how important it is for them to get outdoors as much as possible...let's hope for a January/February thaw!
