THE DALLES — Google has awarded a grant of $50,000 to the North Wasco County School District, which will fund the district’s Playworks program within its three elementary schools. The program currently serves more than 1,200 students offering structured, meaningful playtime to teach lessons in sportsmanship, collaboration, communication, and creative expression while promoting student health and well-being, said a Google press release. The funds will be used to train North Wasco County staff and purchase play equipment.
“Studies show that structured playtime, like recess, has positive effects on students’ mental, emotional and physical health,” said the press release. “Not only is recess shown to be responsible for up to 70% of a child’s weekly physical activity, it also has a direct correlation with better performance in the classroom and more positive social relationships.”
“This program is all about creating healthier, more confident students through social-emotional learning opportunities, and this grant from Google will bring the training and resources we need to make it a success,” said North Wasco School District Superintendent Carolyn Bernal. “We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact on our students both in the classroom and on the playground.”
The program has been shown to improve social-emotional learning among elementary students including an increase in inclusiveness, anti-bullying and the use of positive language.
“All kids should have access to the benefits of positive play,” said Kate Franko, Google’s regional head of data center public affairs. “The skills students will learn through this program are just as important as the skills they’ll learn in the classroom, and we’re happy to help make this available for North Wasco schools.”
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