Student Handbook - General School Guidance
Delayed School Opening / Early Dismissal / School Cancelations
The School Administration will exercise one of the following options when weather conditions dictate a change in the normal opening of the school day:
Cancellation of school
Delay of one hour in the opening of school
Delay of two hours in the opening of school If a delay is in effect, a.m. preschool will be cancelled; p.m. preschool will be held.
Policy Statement and Procedural Guidelines for Recess
Quality education requires a healthy learning environment that provides students (K-6) with minimally a total of 30 minutes of recess over the course of the day.
The 30 minutes can be divided into shorter breaks and shall include a break at lunch. Recess is designed for the purpose of engaging students in developmentally appropriate activity which promotes learning, social development, and physical health. Structured/unstructured recess shall rarely be taken away from students as a form of punishment/consequences. Neither shall severe exercise be used as a form of punishment/consequences for students. This time shall not be a substitute for physical education.
The School Principal is responsible for communicating, applying, maintaining, and evaluating the Recess Policy. The School Principal shall review the Recess Policy with the members of the School Site Council annually and submit results of that review to the Deputy Superintendent in May of each year.
Procedural Guidelines
Recess shall occur outside, weather permitting, or unless circumstances dictate otherwise for a limited period. Students shall be supervised by adults, staff members, caregivers, or school learning community volunteers. The school principal shall insure that adults receive appropriate training to support students and intended outcomes. The school principal shall insure that students are provided with developmentally appropriate equipment. Public spaces in proximity to the school, such as parks and public playgrounds may be appropriate substitutions for play space at the school.
The School Committee shall equitably support budgetary requirements needed for recess equipment for all elementary schools. This allocation will be in addition to the per pupil allocation provided to each school. Each school principal shall have autonomy to expend allocations to support the needs of students for recess.