THIS IS AN UPDATED MEMO. PLEASE NOTE CHANGES IN RED.
Dear Jordan Hills,
As everyone knows, in the winter, it is a bit chilly outside. With the colder weather, we have more concerns about students being safe while outdoors. In order to determine a safe temperature for students to have outdoor recess, we spent some time gathering information in order to make an informed decision regarding guidelines for recess.
One the morning of December 8, 2016, students were polled regarding their preferences about going outside versus staying inside when the weather is cold. 518 students were polled (everyone except kindergarten), and here are the results:
202 students like to go outside...even if it is cold
316 students would prefer to stay inside in cold weather
Here is the data broken down by grades:
1st grade: 30 students voted outside / 52 students voted inside
2nd grade: 61 students voted outside / 57 students voted inside
3rd grade: 20 students voted outside / 68 students voted inside
4th grade: 34 students voted outside / 44 students voted inside
5th grade: 39 students voted outside / 70 students voted inside
6th grade: 48 students voted outside / 46 students voted inside
Teachers were also polled and asked what temperature they felt was appropriate for students to be outside. Here are the results:
26 or above = 10 votes
25 degrees = 7 votes
24 degrees = 6 votes
20 degrees or below = 5 votes
The topic was discussed in a School Community Council meeting and members they felt it should be a decision made by the administration and would be okay with 24 or 26 degrees.
With all the information that was gathered, the final decision is:
It will be an inside day if theFEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE IS25 DEGREES OR BELOW (based on an average of votes).
Weather Bug at the Hayden Peak Elementary location will be used in making a determination about the FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE.
The decision will made usingTINA'S COMPUTER (in the office)/NO CELL PHONESOR LAPTOP COMPUTERS. Tina’s computer is hardwired and all other devises use radar, which varies.
For lunch recess,Tina will check her computer and make an announcement at 11:05. If the lunch aides feel that the temperature has dropped while they are outside, they will ask Tina to check the computer again. If the temperature has dropped, an outside day may be changed to an inside day. Once an inside day is called, we will not go back out except in extreme conditions (the sun comes out and it is significantly warmer, it has stopped raining, etc..).
Recess aides should check with Tina before going to recess on days when it is questionable. A call to the office can be made from any classroom or using a walkie-talkie.
If it is raining, snowing, hailing, or the weather conditions are extreme in other circumstance, the students will stay inside.
We encourage all students to dress appropriately for the weather.
Michelle Lovell, Principal