Schools are adapting to the current issues the world is facing. One of these adaptations happens during every student’s favorite time of the school day: lunch and recess.

While filming at Westgate Elementary, we saw how students safely ate lunch with their peers and played at recess.

Lunch is a largely social time for kids and schools don’t want to take that away. Safety measures included special places for students to stand socially distanced. 

Some students make a game of it by hopping from one spot to the next when it’s time to move forward.

To protect the cafeteria staff as well as the students, Westgate introduced plastic shields to the food pick up window. 

Once students get their food, they are able to enter the cafeteria and joining their friends at their assigned spot. Plastic shields surround each spot so kids can safely socialize with their friends.

What happens when they are finished with lunch and ready to play outside at recess? The maintenance staff sanitizes each seating area and shield. It doesn’t take them long with their new sanitizing tool!

Every student needs time to relax and hang out with their friends, especially sitting inside with a mask all day. At Westgate, students are required to keep their masks on while playing on the playground to protect themselves and other students.

Students who need an extra mask break have a special place to hang out. The school created distanced spots for students to sit or stand on and take their masks off. The spots are at least six feet apart but still allow for students to socialize.

If they feel they’ve had enough of a break and are ready to get out and play, they put on their mask and head out the playground!

Check out our film series, Standing Up to Covid, to see other changes that have been implemented in Nebraska’s public schools.