Hello Adams Community, 

I hope you are all aware of the ongoing discussion surrounding SPS's elimination of the third recess, and the process of applying for a district waiver to reinstate it. 

As part of the waiver application, community feedback is needed in addition to input from teachers and staff. Calliope Orr (2nd grade teacher) has created an online survey to gather this feedback. 

Survey Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/NCK57DuWGD 

The turnaround time is short: responses must be compiled by Wednesday, October 14, by 8pm. Please take a few minutes (it is short, only three questions!) to complete the survey and share your feedback.

*Please note: Survey responses are confidential unless respondents choose to provide their names and email addresses.

The teachers have outlined a proposed schedule that allows for an additional 15 minute recess four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday). This schedule is in alignment both with Adams’ C-SIP (Continuous School Improvement Plan) and with feedback already received from families. If you would like to read the draft proposal of rationale, please contact Calliope Orr (ckeldridge@seattleschools.org), the staff lead on this project. 

The staff has carefully considered where they can reallocate time from current curriculum blocks to fit in a third recess. Because ELA, Math, and Specialists (PE, Music, and Art) must remain at their current instructional time, the proposal is to reduce instructional time from Social Studies and SEL.

Proposed Schedule

• 10 minutes from Social Studies 4 days a week.

• 5 minutes from Social Emotional Learning 4 days a week.

Part of the rationale for adding a third recess: 
“Additional recess directly supports Adams Elementary’s C-SIP priorities in social-emotional learning and meeting students’ behavioral and emotional needs while preserving instructional time.

The Adams’ C-SIP states that our school staff recognizes unstructured play as essential to children’s cognitive, social, physical, and emotional well-being. Restoring a third recess would put that principle into practice.

Additionally, research supports these uses of recess. The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies recess as supporting concentration and stress regulation as well as social-emotional skills including cooperation, communication, conflict resolution, perseverance, and self-regulation. It recommends that recess occur often enough and long enough for students to reduce stress and regain focus before returning to classroom instruction.”

Thanks all! 
Kerry Lynd, PTA President