OP, what is "PA"? Do you mean Paraeducator (PE)? Or something else?

Anonymous wrote:It's not raining. Not sure why they'd be inside today.

My kids were outside yesterday (two different schools).

My child was inside yesterday and today, yes it did rain. Not sure why yesterday. Unbelievable!

It's not raining. Not sure why they'd be inside today.

My kids were outside yesterday (two different schools).

OP here. The blacktop is asphalt. No reason it couldn't have been shoveled. I was actually volunteering yesterday morning and besides some small puddles of standing water, one of the blacktops was completely snow-free. I couldn't see from outside the K window if the other one was or not. I just assumed they would go outside yesterday so when I asked at dinner how was getting outside, it was met with the indoor movie comment. I emailed the teacher asking if there are any other options (gym, coning off a section of front parking lot, staying on the one black-top only) and I could tell her comment to me was "I am totally annoyed they aren't going outside but the PA's and principal decide and let us know."

I am going to email the principal today. They have a separate K playground right outside of the classrooms. It was perfectly fine yesterday. I understand rain, lots of snow, and below 30 degrees but it seems like there has been many days 35-40 degrees they are inside too. Very frustrating!

My kindergartener had regular outdoor recess yesterday despite the snow still hanging around (it helps that the playground has mulch so there wasn't as much of a mud factor). Having them watch movies during indoor recess would really bug me. My son's class has had indoor recess for weeks now due to weather, but the teacher set up a bunch of stations with different fun activities around the room, so the kids could get a little movement, some variety in activity, social time, etc. Making them all sit quietly to watch a movie sounds like a disaster for the rest of the day, and isn't what they need at all.

I learned this morning my kids' school had "parking lot recess", which they say is better than "blacktop recess." Turns out mine don't like "blacktop recess" for some unknown reason but allegedly "you can do more stuff" during parking lot recess.

I do not try to get into the minds of 9- and 10-year olds.

OP, I'd be curious why the blacktop wasn't shoveled. Are there restrictions on "you can't shovel because it could potentially hurt the surface?" Or was it due to poor planning. Not that I'd actually ASK the school directly (and become "THAT parent...") but I'd still be curious.

My kindergartener was outside yesterday - I figured it was 50/50.

Ours was blacktop and playground yesterday.

Today will be inside due to rain

Ours was outside, but 'blacktop' only

Anonymous wrote:It was 50 degrees and my child's ES was still inside watching movies for recess. When I asked why they couldn't at least do blacktop only, it was met with "it wasn't shoveled."

Are any other schools consistently inside? I have a K student and it just seems excessive to be inside all day long! It almost seems like the PA's want indoor recess.

Believe me, on a beautiful day like yesterday, no one wanted indoor recess! Everyone was saying that the kids needed to get out. After the snow days and the month of indoor recess we've already had, the students are so wiggly and distractable. The fact was though, our playground blacktop was part snow, part ice, and part mud, not at all usable for play. And I know the building services were working hard clearing sidewalks, salting, clearing snow from mechanical equipment. This has been a hard and snowy winter, and building services staff have worked diligently to keep our schools clear of snow and safe. The kids will be outside this week. We should thank our building services teams for all their hard work during this tough winter.

too much mud?

Odd. Our school always shovels/snowblows the blacktop. Yesterday was outside recess, without issue. It was 50 degrees outside!

My mcps 1st grader went outside yesterday, but said they played out in front of the school instead. No clue what they could have done besides walk/run without balls rolling into the street, but I am SO glad they got fresh air.

It was 50 degrees and my child's ES was still inside watching movies for recess. When I asked why they couldn't at least do blacktop only, it was met with "it wasn't shoveled."

Are any other schools consistently inside? I have a K student and it just seems excessive to be inside all day long! It almost seems like the PA's want indoor recess.