Project PRIDE — Peaceful Playground
The Peaceful Playground program uses many different problem-solving activities to resolve disputes between students. Our goal is to help them make the right choices while playing a game. Some of the choices are: walk away and play something new, talk it out, or a negotiating technique like "rock, paper, scissors, shoot". The goal of the program is to keep the students busy and active while having fun. Peaceful Playground includes a rule book of specific games for students to play at recess with standardized rules throughout the building, and grids and lines to mark games (see map below).
Mrs. Ward, the PE Teacher, Mrs. Conway, the Guidance Counselor, and Mrs. K, the Playground Counselor, work together to train the playground assistants. The goal of the training is to assist students in problem resolution and consistency with encouraging empowered bystanders and knowing when to tell. Mrs. K and the playground assistants help students resolve problems on the playground and in the cafeteria. She helps students practice the social skills learned in the classroom or in friendship groups with the Guidance Counselor. The playground counselor also attends Principal's Student Advisory Council meetings and shares students' ideas or concerns about the playground with the playground assistants.
Peaceful Playground stresses:
- All children are allowed to play the games, no exclusions.
- Fair play and good sportsmanship is stressed.
- Children are taught to solve their own problems.
Loomis School Playground Rules
- Show respect for others' rights and possessions.
- Play only on the designated play area an do not leave the playground with out permission.
- Stop and look at the adults when the whistle blows.
- Line up immediately when the whistle is blown at the end of your recess period.
- Re-enter the building ONLY with permission and a pass.
- DO NOT talk to STRANGERS! REPORT seeing any strangers to the adults on the playground.
- Use all equipment properly and safely.
- Slides are for going down
- Jumping off equipment (swings, slides, jungle gyms, bars) is not permitted.
- Travel one way on the equipment.
- Nothing but your head should be above the bars.
- Walk around moving swings, not in front of them.
- Hands must be used while on the equipment (stunts without hands are not allowed).
- Keep your hands to yourself. Think before you act!
- Excessive physical contact will not be permitted on school property.
- Pushing, shoving, tackling, fighting, kicking, punching, slapping, smacking, pinching, elbowing, hitting, kneeing, etc.
- Avoid snow, ice, puddles and mud.
- Tag games with rules are permitted, but chasing is not good!
- Obey other rules given by the playground aides for a safe recess. Failure to do so will result in the restriction or elimination of activities.
Loomis School Playground Map
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