Outdoor Recess a Challenge in Winter
The harsh winter weather poses a real challenge for Huntington School District elementary grade level principals and teachers who want to provide physical activity opportunities to students during their daily 20 minute recess period.
The youngsters don’t have any less energy in the winter just because it’s cold outside. Being cooped up indoors, both at school and at home creates even more of a need for movement opportunities. Let’s face it: Kids have lots of energy.
District physical education teachers are responding by talking less and letting the kids move more. Long-winded lessons are being shortened to a minimum and students are on the go for almost the entire 40 minute physical education class. Students come to the gym three times a week for a total of 120 minutes and teachers want to make every one of them count.
Principals are anxious to give students a chance to go outdoors whenever weather conditions permit. When a respective principal takes to the airwaves over the public address system to announce there will be outdoor recess that day, the youngsters typically cheer. When the verdict is for indoor recess a collective moan can be heard emanating from classrooms.
Students are regularly reminded to bring winter jackets to school, along with hats and gloves. When athletic fields are muddy, children can still play on blacktop areas as well as on many pieces of playground equipment.
Georgia D. McCarthy, district director of physical education, said that teachers have ramped up fitness and aerobic activities this year in general and place even more importance on them in the winter when students often forced to spend recess in their classrooms.
Winter can sometimes be harsh on Long Island, but school officials are aware that it’s still a time when students have to be active. Mrs. McCarthy said that elementary principals “are making every possible effort” to get their students outdoors, even during the winter. School Board members have been equally interested in making sure the youngsters are provided with midday recreational opportunities as frequently as possible.
The Huntington School District has been on a wellness crusade in recent years, including breakfast and lunch menu redesigns, a policy that discourages consumption of junk food in classrooms, efforts to promote healthy food choices, increased physical fitness activities in physical education classes and even the installation of a large blacktop play area at Jack Abrams Intermediate School.
Of course, when it snows, is icy or when temperatures plummet to biting levels, students are kept indoors and sent to classrooms for recess where they are supervised by aides. While indoors, the youngsters usually play board games, utilize educational software on computers, read, draw or sit and chat with friends.
“All of us want happy and healthy students
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office