Spotlight on School Success |
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Playworks Transforms Recess into Valuable
Connectedness, Skill-Building Time
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Kids need more than solid academic instruction to grow into successful adults.
Social-emotional “life skills” are critical for success in learning, relationships and work. Research shows an 11% gain in academic achievement when social-emotional supports are present. Children with strong life skills are more likely to graduate high school, complete a college degree, and obtain stable employment. Employers also point to life skills as highly-desirable.
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Playworks is just one investment by the Every Child Thrives network, intended to help children thrive in health, learning and life. Every Child Thrives is a community-led network of changemakers focused on strong families and thriving communities in Dodge and Jefferson Counties.
Playworks helps schools create recess environments that promote leadership, student-led conflict resolution, and other soft skills, creating a safe place where every child can join in. The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, currently supports Playworks at these area schools: Lake Mills Middle School, Lake Mills Elementary, and within the Watertown Unified School District, Douglas, Ixonia and Jefferson East Elementary Schools. Over the past six years, additional schools receiving support for Playworks also include: Jefferson Middle School, Dodgeland Middle and Elementary Schools, and (in Watertown) Schurz, Webster and Lincoln Elementary Schools.
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Teresa Jensen has been monitoring recess for 17 years, either volunteering, substituting or working at Douglas Elementary in Watertown. “I don’t like change,” laughs Jensen. “So when Playworks first came I was a little resistant. The kids’ whole day is structured, so I felt they should just be able to play outside!”
“But,” she continues, “it didn’t take long to see that the kids liked it. They were more engaged. There were fewer discipline referrals. I myself enjoy it more. Often in schools, educators would do anything to get out of monitoring recess… but I’m the opposite now. It’s like the positive part of my day when I have a chance to interact with all the kids.”
“A negative recess isn’t just negative for the kids,” says PJ Dever, Executive Director of Playworks Wisconsin. “It’s a stressful experience for the adults too. Most educators identify the recess period as important, but difficult to get right.”
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2022-23 school year data from the six sites underscores Playworks’ success in creating a safe recess environment where every child can join in. 1,950 students participated in Playworks in Dodge and Jefferson Counties. 97% of staff at participating schools reported a decrease in bullying due to the program.
What that figure can’t really show–because it’s tough to measure–is the magic that happens when schools adopt this intentional approach to recess. Outcomes like student connectedness, confidence, purpose and leadership.
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Free training: BIOLOGY of TRAUMA |
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This session is designed to help participants effectively navigate adversity by exploring the biological and behavioral effects of traumatic experiences.
To download the flyer, click the image.
To register (required), scan the QR code or visit this link.
Facilitated by Ricky Ferrari Traner, PHSW, MPA, CTICP
With 15+ years of professional experience and training as a leader in the field of human services, Ricky holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Welfare, and a Graduate Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He currently manages the Prevention & Early Intervention Section within the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Children & Families.
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Small Business Support at the Collective |
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Call Ronald Chisolm to schedule an appointment: 262-472-7039
SBDC is a nationally accredited statewide network supporting entrepreneurs and business owners through no-cost, confidential consulting and business education.
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Apply today: Health Equity Grants
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Health Equity Grants support equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) projects or initiatives focused on removing obstacles to health for populations not well served under current systems and policies. The Foundation recognizes the dignity and value of every person, envisioning thriving communities where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Proposals must directly support the communities served by the school districts of Dodgeland, Hustisford, Ixonia, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Waterloo and Watertown.
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We empower community change leaders with the tools they need to build strong families and thriving communities, helping local organizations learn, grow, collaborate, and move their missions further. |
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The Foundation provides resources, tools and support to changemakers who work toward measurable improvement in community health. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $42.7 million in its three strategic, child-focused priorities: Strong Families, Kindergarten Readiness and School Success. |
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Mental Health and Wellbeing:
COMET Program Offered this Spring
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COMET™ is a short, two-hour program offered by UW – Madison Division of Extension educators for the agricultural and rural communities in Wisconsin. There are upcoming trainings in March, April and May.
The program can be offered in-person as a standalone workshop, attached to a larger conference, or on a virtual platform. The maximum number of participants for any of these formats is 30. This program was developed by the High Plains Research Network Community Advisory Council specifically for rural communities.
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Early Care Scholarships and Classes with Support for Spanish-Language Students |
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Earn your credentials.
Earn an associate's degree.
Earn a bachelor's degree.
That's the pathway that Madison College and the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation are partnering to provide if you're a resident of Dodge or Jefferson County who is interested in a career in early education. Whether you take just enough courses to earn your childcare credentials, or follow the path further, is up to you.
What's provided:
- Scholarship support for tuition
- Extra classroom support for Spanish-language students beginning this Spring
To learn more, attend our Info Session February 29th from 5:30 to 7:30.
(Click on the flyer to download)
- Family friendly
- Free dinner (for you and your children) included
- Meet your instructors
- Sign up for scholarships
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Foundation-Supported Partners
Creating Community
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Watertown Family Connections hosted a Family Fun Day that featured hot cocoa and churros... it attracted nearly 70 attendees. Great work continuing to create supportive events and environments for parents and kids!
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Rock River Community Clinic wrote off over $1 million in combined medical ($490,044) and dental ($887,902) patient expenses in 2023, providing the safety net that uninsured and underinsured patients--most of whom are employed--desperately need. You're amazing!
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Community Action Coalition participated in the 2024 Point-in-Time Survey of Homeless People. Thank you for ensuring that all individuals in our community count... and are counted.
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What We're Reading (click on the links to access)
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Green Bay Press-Gazette article that summarizes the very serious status of youth mental health in Wisconsin
This toolkit includes sections on understanding the child care funding landscape, supporting early learning, and building bipartisan solutions, and more
This article from the New York Times explores a new study by researchers at Stanford and Harvard, on how elementary and middle-school students are recovering from pandemic learning losses
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920.390.4000
672 Johnson Street, Suite 300, Watertown WI 53094
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