COLD WEATHER AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Here is information from Safety and Security beginning with Forestville's guideline:
If the wind chill is 25 degrees or below or it is cold with light precipitation, teachers are advised to keep their students inside for recess.
Staff members are advised to check www.weather.com or any number of local weather channels for weather reporting in the morning.
How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors?
From the Office of Safety & Security
During typical winter days, commonsense requires us to look beyond a specific temperature and consider factors such as wind chill, whether the ground is frozen or the sun is shining, how well the children are prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats), what activity the children are participating in, and the length of time to be spent outside. Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgment after considering the information provided in this fact sheet. Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).
Principal’s should limit outdoor activities during National Weather Service (NWS) issued Wind Chill Advisories and Wind Chill Warnings. During a NWS Wind Chill Advisory, principals should limit to no more than fifteen (15) minutes) for any outdoor activity.
During a NWS Wind Chill Warning, principals should not allow any outdoor activity. Outdoor activity includes; general and physical education classes, recess, and scheduled fire drills. This does not include not include students walking to and from school, students waiting at bus stops, student patrols or staff related outdoor duties before, during, or after the school day. All staff and students shall exit the building during an activation of the fire alarm system.
More information can be found on the Office of Safety and Security fact sheet.