Children need an opportunity to get exercise and free play time outdoors, however, weather conditions sometimes warrant that indoor recesses, lunch periods and pre-entry periods be considered necessary for student and staff safety.

Conditions warranting indoor recesses

(a) Rain, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, extreme winds and extreme cold.

(b) Cold weather: When temperature and/or windchill factor indicates -28C or lower children will remain indoors due to risk of frostnip and frostbite.
When temperature and/or windchill factor indicates –20 to –28C, recesses may be shortened to 10 minutes and lunch recess be 20 minutes depending on local conditions. Children should be monitored closely for signs of frostnip, frostbite or difficulty breathing.
 
(c) Humidity, Heat and Smog Alerts: The City of Toronto issues heat alerts and heat emergencies based on the daily forecast from May to September. Alerts are posted on the Web site www.toronto.ca/health or by calling (416) 338-7600. Staff and students should be vigilant about their level of activity and should take frequent breaks for water in order to remain adequately hydrated.