At Chief Whitecap School in Saskatoon, recess brings more than a thousand kids spilling out onto the playground, and school yard, at once. Kids heading for the swings, the field, the games already underway. In the middle of it all are some students hanging back, at the edges, unsure where they fit.
With nearly 1,100 students from Kindergarten through Grade 8, recess had become one of the more chaotic times of the day, for staff and students alike. Many younger students struggled to find a game, a group, or simply someone to play with, and teachers couldn’t be everywhere at once. Supporting students through moments like these is also part of a bigger goal for the school division. Saskatoon Public Schools’ strategic plan names student well-being as a key priority, and Chief Whitecap’s teacher champions saw recess as one place to put that commitment into action.
Teacher champions at the school proposed something new: a Recess Leader program, open to all grade 4 students, starting with a Recess Leader Application process. Initially, staff weren’t sure how many students would apply. Instead, more than 40 applications came in, including one student who wrote simply that they wanted to be a recess leader because, “I want to be sure everyone has someone to play with.” After four training sessions on leadership, inclusion, and new games, the recess leaders, trained through Ever Active’s Everybody Plays program, pulled on their vests, grabbed their equipment, and headed out to support kids across the younger grades.
The change showed up fast in their own words. One leader shared that being a part of this helped them “feel like they could be themselves, make new friends, and help others feel like they belonged.” Another said it helped them “feel like they could make people feel seen.” From Saskatoon to communities across the country, Ever Active works to ensure every child discovers the benefits of play and belonging.
