Recess Policy at School?

I teach at a private K-8 school in Mpls and the kids stay in when it's raining or when the wind chill is -10 or lower. When they stay in, one class gets to go to the gym (rotating who goes) and the rest of the kids go to their classrooms. There is a recess supervisor in every room, or he/she might walk between 2 classes. They can play board games, Legos, etc. I don't think the school notifies parents when they stay in. Like someone else said, assume they will go out and dress them for the weather. Welcome to MN!

Many daycares or preschools who serve younger children usually have the cut off at 20 degrees. If it is colder, they will stay inside and play (MN tends to be more prepared for this since it happens often), but I would not have my child in a place where TV was the alternative to outside time.

I have no idea what the policy is, but when I was in school (a long time ago...LOL). If it was too cold out (I think the windchill had to be a certain temp) we would either go into the gym and free play or we stayed in the lunch room with games or teachers would have activities for us.

If I remember correctly our teachers give out notes to our parents about the weather situation (what we would be doing if it were raining or snowing or way too cold out). Just make sure your kids are always prepared for ANY and ALL weather when they get on the bus to go to school. The weather here can be very unpredictable so be prepared for anything.

I would have to disagree very highly with how your schools are handling their recess. Kids need to be supervised and putting in a movie doesnt resolve anything.

I teach in a Minneapolis public school. When it is too cold (or raining,etc.) and we can't go outside, the kids get to bring a game to the lunchroom with them. They eat, clean up, and then play Memory, checkers, or draw/color. It doesn't happen as much as you'd think it would in MN. The district policy is that the kids/supervisors go outside every day unless the windchill/temperature is below 0. I teach K and we stay inside if the temp/windchill is 10 or less. Movies are only allowed if their content relates to current studies - like an animated story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar after studying the author Eric Carle.
Welcome to MN!

Well this might be a shock to you..

They go outside almost always. It has to be raining, or close to below zero before they will keep them in. They have to wear snowpants, boots, gloves, coat, hat everyday to school it does become annoying but they need it.

If they stay in which is rare. In kindergarten they would have "choice time" play with whatever they want in the classroom.

In older grades I believe they use the gym to move around or do something fun in the classroom.

At our school we don't have recess monitors, the teacher's monitor recess so they are always supervised whether they're outside or inside.

The only break I know of for our first grade teacher is lunch, and when my daughter has art,gym, music those type of classes.

Also be prepared it takes ALOT to get the school's to cancel for snowdays. Last year my daughter's school was being stubborn and wouldn't close so by 2pm that day they let out early and I had to walk up with a sled to get her home, my car couldn't make it the snow was to deep. The school buses were fine but we're considered "walker's" so I it was walk or drive my car.