Recess
Safety, inclusion, fair-play and fun, while getting fresh air and a break from the classroom, is the goal of recess. Recess is a time for students to play with friends and be physically active. We encourage students to play with their friends and include others to join them. Students are to be inclusive in their play, excluding others is not an accepted practice at our school.
Students are expected to encourage (and allow) others to play with them (e.g., in their organized games at recess), they are not to exclude others*.
Sometimes, we find that some students might not play by the rules, or there is a disagreement.
If a student is not playing by the rules of the game, then they should be given a chance after given an explanation about how to “play properly”. If the same student then continues to not play by the rules, this particular student may be asked to leave the game. If there’s a disagreement, students can “re-play” the point/play, use their words to solve the disagreement, choose to play a different game (or with others) or seek the help of a staff member to resolve the situation.
*Please note, we have a long standing “plus or minus one grade” rule during recess. Students may only play games/sports with students in the same grade or one grade older or one grade younger. This is a rule based on the safety for students. Of course, students of any grade can speak with students of any grade at our school during recess (this rule applies to physical games/sports etc).
Hard (official) baseballs, softballs (the large ‘hard’ baseball-like balls), hockey sticks, and baseball bats are NOT permitted during recess for safety reasons. Teachers may permit the use of these items during PE and DPA periods, but they are not allowed to be used at our school at recess or before/after school.
Students are reminded they must stay in the supervised areas of the school yard during recess. Access to the inside of the building during recess is only with the permission of a supervising teacher/staff.
Playscape/Jungle Gym Rules
Students in Grades 1-3 may use the playscape during the morning/am recess, and students in grades 4-8 may use the playscape during the pm recess. Students in grade 1-8 may use the playscape at lunch.
Slides are for going down…not up.
Wait for supervision before using the playscape.
Do not use the playscape when there is no supervision.
Treat each other with care and respect.
Students in grades 1-8 are not allowed in the Kindergarten Play Area.
Outside Winter Rules
Snow throwing or kicking (including snowballs or ice) is not allowed on the school property at any time. Students must be properly dressed for playing in the snow (hat, coat, snowpants, gloves and boots). Due to new regulations in the TDSB and OPHEA, sliding down hills on the school property, during school time is not allowed.
Lunch
We encourage students to go home for lunch (if possible). For those who remain at school, they will be supervised while they eat and during lunch recess. Students who go home for lunch are asked to return close to the 12:53pm bell.
During the first week of school, teachers will record which students stay, and which go home for lunch. If your child stays for lunch, then they will continue to for the rest of the year (and vice versa for students who go home for lunch). If there is a change to this routine, please send a written & signed note to your child’s teacher in the morning indicating the change.
Students will eat from 11:55am to 12:10pm. While most students will eat in the gym, some classes eat in their classrooms (due to limits in space of our gym), this routine will be explained by the classroom teachers. Students who need a few more minutes to finish their meal will be able to continue to eat as others prepare to go out for recess. Students will then be dismissed orderly for recess from 12:10pm to 12:53pm.
Kindergarten students eat in their classroom. Students in portables eat their lunch in their portable. Students in rooms 5, 6, 11 and 12 also eat in their classroom. All other students eat at tables in the gym.
Having lunch at school is a privilege and students are expected to follow the lunchroom rules:
- Students are to remain in their seats until they have finished their lunch.
- They will wait to be dismissed by a lunchroom supervisor or teacher
- Students are to place all recyclable materials in the appropriate recycling bins and then return any other food/materials to their lunch bag to be taken home at the end of the day.
- Students will place their lunchbag/box in their class lunch bins or on the hooks outside the gym then walk to the exit and wait for a lunch supervisor before going outside.
- Pupils should try to bring a litterless lunch so that there is nothing to throw out and everything will go home to be re-used.
- Students are to pick up their lunch boxes from the hooks outside the gym on their way to their classroom at 12:25 p.m.
- No child is allowed to leave the school at lunchtime without parent permission.
- Remember we have many students with allergies. Do not bring nuts or nut products to school.
