Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why they would cancel outdoor recess today. It happened until the snow started, it's not sticking to the blacktop, it's not slick or dangerous, but once the snow started falling, no one else is allowed outside. They don't do recess outside when it's cold, when it's snowing, it's ridiculous, kid's NEED to play and run around. If they aren't bundled up enough then the principal can send a letter "It's cold tomorrow! bring mittens!" there are a million gloves and jackets at the lost/found.

BTW they allow the school admin to make the call for outdoor vs indoor recess so if it's sticking in Urbana, that doesn't affect my ES in Bethesda where it isn't.

Anonymous wrote:Blame the parents who are quick to complain about leaving poor Lilly and Johnny in the snow for less than hour.

Teachers prefer indoor too because it means they’re not out in the cold monitoring the playground.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, this one is a school by school decision - some admin teams have kids out in all weather, and some call for indoor much more often. I think it’s fair to ask what cutoff they’re using.

Former lunch/recess aide

This. Our cutoff is 38 and we look at the real feel as well if it's on the cusp. With that said, you can't make everyone happy. Some kids love indoor recess, some hate it. Some parents complain about going outside if it's cold, some parents think playing outside is crucial to development regardless of temperature.

FWIW, we stayed in today, temp was 37 at recess time and real feel was 25. We had one parent preemptively voice her concern about cold temperatures today when she dropped off and we had one parent send in a sweatshirt instead of a coat. Maybe I've got another parent complaining about me on dcum...oh well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blame the parents who are quick to complain about leaving poor Lilly and Johnny in the snow for less than hour.

Teachers prefer indoor too because it means they’re not out in the cold monitoring the playground.

When did MCPS teachers start to supervise recess?

Anonymous wrote:I found it very disappointing that my kids at Bethesda Elementary had indoor recess every time it rained or was too cold, years ago (they're in college and high school now). The school claimed it was because some kids had no coats... and yet, in the lost and found, there were always a ton of coats. And we weren't rich at the time, and I could buy children's winter coats inexpensively in thrift stores of the area.

The school did not seem to realize that what prompts kids not to bring coats is that the heating is set too high in winter (and the A/C is too cold in summer, such that my daughter had to bring a cardigan to school). Even now, at BCC, my daughter just wears a hoodie to school in the winter, because she doesn't want to lug a huge winter jacket up multiple flights of stairs with her very heavy backpack, in the warmth of the building.

Fresh air and running about is really important for children, and it breaks up the stuffy winter days to ensure their brains get a little reset. I'm sure everyone would bring a coat if they knew recess would be outdoors...

Anonymous wrote:Blame the parents who are quick to complain about leaving poor Lilly and Johnny in the snow for less than hour.

Teachers prefer indoor too because it means they’re not out in the cold monitoring the playground.