At Town School for Boys, SEL is embedded in all parts of the community. Town is an urban school, and that comes with some challenges regarding space. A couple years ago, some community members recognized recess as a schoolwide system with some untapped potential, and they set forth to re-invigorate recess by aligning it with SEL and their “Tiger Values”. This ensures that recess is more than just a break from academics.  Through the dedicated effort of the community over the past couple years, recess at Town is an authentically joyful time where students practice the school’s core values: respect, curiosity, belonging, integrity, and joy. 

IFSEL & Town School for Boys

The transformation didn’t happen overnight. It began as a collaboration between school leadership and teachers, and grew from truly listening to the boys. IFSEL was privileged to support Town School through the early part of the process. We observed recess and worked with the committee, facilitating conversations and the re-imagining the use of space and equipment. IFSEL also led professional learning with the lower school faculty and staff. The Recess Guide Book that grew out of this collaboration is a living document that is referred to and revisited often.

I had the opportunity to meet with Peggy Laurent and Leah Richardson over a year after IFSEL’s work with Town to check in and see how things were going. We thought other schools would benefit from hearing about the process they went through and the Recess Guide that grew out of it.

Reflections from Town School Educators

“We knew from the start it had to be a living, breathing document,” explains Leah Richardson, Town’s Lower School SEL Specialist.  “We revisit it, survey faculty, refine it—and then we live it.”

Recent changes included condensing the guide into a four-page core document with a one-page summary, restructuring equipment systems, and continuing to offer training for adults which has increased their confidence leading positive play and facilitating conflict resolution. All this is possible because there is a strong foundation of shared SEL language and skills throughout the school. 

One notable result of the intentional focus on recess, according to Peggy Laurent, Towns’ Lower School Division Head, is fewer injuries, fewer student complaints—and more meaningful play. Each time I’ve checked in with Peggy over the past year and a half, she has noted a much lower number of referrals and visits to her office. “I don’t have kids coming to my office about recess issues anymore. They know how to play respectfully and resolve conflict. In fact, the boys know the values—not just memorize them, but live them. They can tell you what each value means, and when they’ve crossed a line.”

Beyond Recess - A Whole Community Approach to SEL

The Recess initiative extends beyond the playground. In the Lower School, teachers stay in the class when Leah leads SEL lessons. Aftercare staff participate in training and decision-making. The aftercare staff have an important voice and perspective because they see the boys in a different context, and there is a good sense of continuity across the day because they are often out on the playground and also subbing in classrooms.

Older students model behavior and sometimes lead assemblies at Town. Peggy tells a story about a group of eighth graders who came to her and asked to speak to second graders. When asked, ‘What advice would you give to your lower school self?’ They were full of so many good ideas that it sparked several mentoring projects between older and younger boys. A fifth grader who once helped co-create the recess values now referees games, recognizing when teams aren’t fair and stepping in with maturity. “He was observant and responsive,” a teacher noted. “That’s ownership.”

And parents are noticing too. “They’ll say, ‘I wish we had this when I was here.’” This is the kind of legacy Town School for Boys is building: one rooted in kindness, reflection, and inclusion. As one teacher put it, “This isn’t just about recess. It’s about what kind of community we want to be.”

Top Tips for Reimagining Recess at your school:

1. See Recess as an extension of the SEL classroom where students get to practice and refine their SEL tools. 
2. Focus on building a shared language for SEL - for students, teachers, parents, administration, and recess supervisors. 
3. Align your SEL values, with your taught SEL curriculum, and your approach to recess - especially around conflict resolution. 
4. Provide ongoing professional development and opportunities for reflection for all those involved in Recess. 

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