OUR COMMUNITY
New Program on the Playground Partnership between Hillel Day School and Playworks redefines recess
A Playworks indoor recess due to the cold.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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Even on weeks when Schulte is off site, t Hillel Day School, a partnerthe work continues. “She works with a ship with Playworks is redefinrecess team or group of teachers to train ing recess. them so that when she’s not present, Playworks, a national nonprofit with they’re able to continue the program and a Michigan chapter, works with schools keep learning,” Bunn says. “The goal is like Hillel to design play opportunities that our program will be totally sustainduring recess, lunch and/or after school. able without a Playworks staff member.” The goal: to teach kids skills for life, such as leadership and conflict resolution, WHAT A PLAYWORKS while making physical and mental health RECESS LOOKS LIKE a priority. So, what exactly is a Playworks program? After a successful partnership at Farber It depends on each particular school or Hebrew Day School, Playworks extended classroom. In Hillel’s case, COVID-19 its program to Hillel, which launched the protocols keep kids within their own beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. classrooms so that they’re playing, learn“The program that we have there is ing and interacting with the same group called ‘TeamUp,’” Playworks Michigan throughout the school day. director Whitney Bunn explains. “That’s “The way that a recess typically where a Playworks coach acts as a conworks at a Playworks school is that sultant and goes into the school one week Students engage in fun activities indoors when the weather [kids] will head outside and line up every month for the entire school year, prevents outside play. and we’ll go through a quick 30-secand they’re facilitating recess.” ond intro of what’s going on the playWhile at Hillel, Playworks’ coach ground today,” Bunn says. Each recess includes different stations Allison Schulte, the school’s liaison with the nonprofit, works in partand games set up for kids where they’re encouraged to play freely nership with both Hillel and Playworks staff to help ensure the school without any structure. has a playful and positive environment where play and having fun “We believe there should be a lot of options and opportunities on the become an important part of the agenda.
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FEBRUARY 10 • 2022
