WES to participate in “Screen Free Week”

Post date: Apr 23, 2018 3:39:24 PM

Wells Elementary School students and their families are being encouraged to shut off all electronic “screens” which means avoiding television, game systems, tablets, phone apps, computers, etc. for just one week beginning April 30th. The goal of this is for them to discover or rediscover other family and individual activities to participate in.

Screen Free Week is a national effort with origins dating back to the mid 1990’s. “From April 30-May 6, 2018, children, families, entire schools, and communities will rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen,” reads a statement from screenfreeweek.org. “Plan to unplug from digital entertainment and spend all that free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends!”

This event is facilitated at WES by Kim Richard and Marty Cryer. Both school staff members are encouraging not only their students, but their families and other community members to join the effort to avoid television and other electronic device screens for a week or more.

To help make this effort a success, many activities are planned at the school including “Read Alouds” (teachers reading with students), a visit from a 5-2-1-0 representative on April 30th and a “Tough Warrior Fun Run” for families of students on Sunday, May 6th. The 5-2-1-0 program seeks to improve the lifestyle and health of students and their families by encouraging good nutrition, exercise and limiting recreational screen time to “2” hours or less daily.