Afternoon recess will return to Warsaw Community Schools during the 2012-13 school year.
At the February and April school board meetings, Madison Elementary School parent Dana Koors asked the board to reinstate the second recess.
Monday, during the school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz announced the elementary principals have decided to provide an afternoon recess for all students in kindergarten to second grade. At the discretion of each teacher, students in third through sixth grade will be provided an additional afternoon recess time.
“The policy of the school administration is that third through sixth-grade afternoon recess is at the discretion of each teacher?” board member Deb Wiggins asked.
“Correct,” replied Hintz. “I believe by and large the vast majority of students will be given that additional recess at each grade level.”
However, he said, some days teachers may not give the afternoon recess if something else is going on, like IREAD-3 testing for third-graders. Instead, maybe the teachers will give students a short stretch break.
Wiggins then clarified that if a parent has an issue with the recess, they are to go to the teacher first and then the building principal. Hintz said that also is correct. If the parent is not satisfied with the principal’s response, then they approach the superintendent.
Board Secretary Dan Metzger said he thought giving the teachers discretion was wise, but he could see some issues come up if one teacher at a grade level gives more recesses than other teachers at the same grade level. Hintz conceded there could be some issues come up, but he hopes that the teachers would discuss those during collaboration time.
“I’m confident they can work those issues out with the teacher and then the principal. If not, then to me,” Hintz said.
During the April meeting, Koors also requested school board members’ contact information. It is now posted on the school corporation’s website.
The information includes the home address, phone number and WCS e-mail address for each board member.
The website is at www.waraw.k12.in.us To find the board members’ contact information, go under the tab “information” to “school board contacts.”
Hintz also gave the monthly enrollment report. The school corporation has an enrollment of 6,962 students, which represents a decrease of 24 students from last month. However, Hintz reported, the school corporation’s total enrollment is up 177 students from the same time last year.
He also reported commencement for the Warsaw Community High School Class of 2012 is at 7 p.m. in the Tiger Den June 8.
There is no school for WCS on Memorial Day, May 28. The last student day is May 30, with the last teacher day being May 31.
A parent night for more information on the Washington Elementary Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Principal Tom Ray will be the speaker.
