Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), Playworks New England and the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition (RIHSC) have added Warwick Neck Elementary School in Warwick to their roster of schools participating in the statewide #RecessRocksinRI initiative. This is the first school in Warwick to be included in #RecessRocksinRI, which promotes safe, fun and healthy play at school.  

“BCBSRI is proud to say that - with the addition of this school - #RecessRocksinRI has now reached about one-third of all Rhode Island public elementary schools,” Carolyn Belisle, managing director of community relations at BCBSRI said in a statement. “The continued expansion of #RecessRocksinRI encourages more students to develop long-term wellness habits for staying active, healthy, and inclusive, contributing to a healthier Rhode Island for years to come.” 

Warwick Neck Elementary School was selected as part of an application process coordinated through RIHSC. The school will receive recess implementation training, which is a specialized professional development program designed to help schools create a high-functioning recess and increase daily physical activity. 

Warwick Neck Principal Patricia Cousineau said she learned of the program from the RI Department of Education newsletter and attended a workshop last fall. She then applied for the program and Warwick Neck was one of 18 schools statewide to be selected. It was awarded a $7,500 grant.

Since then Cousineau and a team of six have been attended two day of training and implemented changes such as a game of the week and videos during school recess.

Counsineau said there’s more to be accomplished and she would love to see “all the lunch ladies” participate.

Her goal is “to make recess like a filed day every day.”

“Playworks New England is proud to partner with BCBSRI and RIHSC to implement this project,” said Jonathan Gay, executive director of Playworks New England. “As a team, we want to ensure that students are given the opportunity to remain physically active during the school day. The best way to do this every day for every student is through recess.”

Since 2015, BCBSRI funding has supported Playworks’ effort to offer Rhode Island elementary schools recess implementation training. As a result, while children are playing, they are also reaping critical physical, mental and emotional health benefits. Instilling healthy habits early in life is a proven way to fight childhood obesity, and #RecessRocksinRI is a proven way to instill healthy habits.

 The robust training offered to schools teaches them how to facilitate recess games while managing an entire playground, incorporate inclusive activities and opportunities throughout the school day, implement group management and conflict resolution strategies, and design activities to get students off the sidelines and engaged in healthy active play.

The #RecessRocksinRI initiative has now reached 55 schools across the state, serving 21,502 students. This latest expansion of #RecessRocksinRI, made possible through a $125,000 grant from BCBSRI, furthers the partnership’s efforts to change school culture and improve the health of children by leveraging safe, fun and healthy play at school every day. Staff members at participating schools are provided with resources to offer a variety of different activities at recess for students. These activities include, but are not limited to, tag, soccer, dodgeball, basketball, football, dance zones and running clubs. 

The benefits of #RecessRocksinRI may seem obvious, but they are also tangible. A survey of school staff found improvements in the overall school climate and increased:

• Student participation in academic activities
• Cooperation among students during class
• Number of students engaged in physically active play at recess
• Student use of conflict resolution strategies

The survey also found a decrease in bullying incidents, playground conflicts, classroom disruptions and disciplinary incidents. 

BCBSRI’s expansion of #RecessRocksinRI continues to reinforce the company’s ongoing efforts to combat the issue of childhood obesity, and BCBSRI’s commitment to achieving its vision of “healthy weight for the next generation.” Since 2014, BCBSRI has focused the majority of its philanthropy on wellness initiatives in local communities, with a focus on healthy eating and physical activity for children and families.