Middle School Outside Time

[Anonymous]

DS is in 5th grade at a local private school (K-5) so will be returning to APS next fall at DHMS.

We were talking to a neighbor whose kids were in DHMS before the pandemic, and mentioned how there was very little outside time during the day. There is no recess, and basically the only chance to get outside was if you ate your lunch fast and then went outside as part of your 20 minute lunch break. On gym days, which is not every day, they would sometimes go outside but other times just stay in the gym?

Can anyone report on what it is like now that the school is more established as well as the benefits of outside time in line with the pandemic?

His current school has TWO recesses, and he is an active energetic boy, so having time to get some fresh air and move around really helps his academic focus -- and I wanted to know what we should plan for at DHMS next year.

[Anonymous]

Having had kids both in public and private school during middle grade years, I can say that public school kids never get enough outside time with fresh air…even now with the pandemic, which was the perfect opportunity to rethink the entire flow of a school day. The only way to change this will be an organized effort and pressure from parents. It’s such a shame kids are cooped up all day in warehouses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having had kids both in public and private school during middle grade years, I can say that public school kids never get enough outside time with fresh air…even now with the pandemic, which was the perfect opportunity to rethink the entire flow of a school day. The only way to change this will be an organized effort and pressure from parents. It’s such a shame kids are cooped up all day in warehouses.

Is this still the case? What is the anathema to letting the kids get outside? Why not just have lunch outside even post-pandemic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having had kids both in public and private school during middle grade years, I can say that public school kids never get enough outside time with fresh air…even now with the pandemic, which was the perfect opportunity to rethink the entire flow of a school day. The only way to change this will be an organized effort and pressure from parents. It’s such a shame kids are cooped up all day in warehouses.

Is this still the case? What is the anathema to letting the kids get outside? Why not just have lunch outside even post-pandemic?

I think Arlington is doing better than say Alexandria, where the middle school kids are not permitted to eat outside. They claim it’s logistically too complicated due to the possibility of inclement weather and poor air quality outdoors. I kid you not! I just think generally the American school system doesn’t let students move around and get outside enough.

[Anonymous]

My APS middle schooler eats lunch outside every day and it's effectively lunch/recess. They play soccer, etc.

[Anonymous]

Swanson let's the kids eat and play outside the entire lunch period. My DS said its a bit chaotic on the field but loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swanson let's the kids eat and play outside the entire lunch period. My DS said its a bit chaotic on the field but loves it.

+1. This is middle school, there isn’t recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson let's the kids eat and play outside the entire lunch period. My DS said its a bit chaotic on the field but loves it.

+1. This is middle school, there isn’t recess.

Even adults benefit from time in the outdoors. Call at recess, free time, outside lunch, etc. But it provides a tremendous benefit for kids and I hope more pubic schools continue adopting it long after the pandemic is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swanson let's the kids eat and play outside the entire lunch period. My DS said its a bit chaotic on the field but loves it.

That is great. Is DHMS doing the same?

[Anonymous]

Everyone needs an outside break during the work day whether it's work at an office or the work of being at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson let's the kids eat and play outside the entire lunch period. My DS said its a bit chaotic on the field but loves it.

That is great. Is DHMS doing the same?

Yes. My son has eaten lunch outside every day this year.

[Anonymous]

No APS middle school has recess. So yes, the only way to get outdoor time is to eat lunch fast. I think that's one of the hardest parts of the MS adjustment. It helps if they can walk to school in the morning or bike to get some exercise, or some kids get to school early and hang out outdoors with friends before school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is in 5th grade at a local private school (K-5) so will be returning to APS next fall at DHMS.

We were talking to a neighbor whose kids were in DHMS before the pandemic, and mentioned how there was very little outside time during the day. There is no recess, and basically the only chance to get outside was if you ate your lunch fast and then went outside as part of your 20 minute lunch break. On gym days, which is not every day, they would sometimes go outside but other times just stay in the gym?

Can anyone report on what it is like now that the school is more established as well as the benefits of outside time in line with the pandemic?

His current school has TWO recesses, and he is an active energetic boy, so having time to get some fresh air and move around really helps his academic focus -- and I wanted to know what we should plan for at DHMS next year.

Even if your child stayed in private school there wouldn't be as much recess/outdoor time in middle school. The kids do move from class to class, which gives movement breaks through the day. My son walks to school which helps provide extra activity and outdoor time too. It's one of those things that I was concerned about, but it is totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is in 5th grade at a local private school (K-5) so will be returning to APS next fall at DHMS.

We were talking to a neighbor whose kids were in DHMS before the pandemic, and mentioned how there was very little outside time during the day. There is no recess, and basically the only chance to get outside was if you ate your lunch fast and then went outside as part of your 20 minute lunch break. On gym days, which is not every day, they would sometimes go outside but other times just stay in the gym?

Can anyone report on what it is like now that the school is more established as well as the benefits of outside time in line with the pandemic?

His current school has TWO recesses, and he is an active energetic boy, so having time to get some fresh air and move around really helps his academic focus -- and I wanted to know what we should plan for at DHMS next year.

Even if your child stayed in private school there wouldn't be as much recess/outdoor time in middle school. The kids do move from class to class, which gives movement breaks through the day. My son walks to school which helps provide extra activity and outdoor time too. It's one of those things that I was concerned about, but it is totally fine.

Our DD has a private which has 20 minutes outside time everyday as well as outdoor PE 3x week. This isn’t common?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is in 5th grade at a local private school (K-5) so will be returning to APS next fall at DHMS.

We were talking to a neighbor whose kids were in DHMS before the pandemic, and mentioned how there was very little outside time during the day. There is no recess, and basically the only chance to get outside was if you ate your lunch fast and then went outside as part of your 20 minute lunch break. On gym days, which is not every day, they would sometimes go outside but other times just stay in the gym?

Can anyone report on what it is like now that the school is more established as well as the benefits of outside time in line with the pandemic?

His current school has TWO recesses, and he is an active energetic boy, so having time to get some fresh air and move around really helps his academic focus -- and I wanted to know what we should plan for at DHMS next year.

Even if your child stayed in private school there wouldn't be as much recess/outdoor time in middle school. The kids do move from class to class, which gives movement breaks through the day. My son walks to school which helps provide extra activity and outdoor time too. It's one of those things that I was concerned about, but it is totally fine.

Our DD has a private which has 20 minutes outside time everyday as well as outdoor PE 3x week. This isn’t common?

My daughter’s private school is the same. She’s in middle school.