Press Release:

Award-winning recess program coming to four Seattle-area elementary schools - Treeswing bringing structure to recess with innovative program, Playworks 360.

Treeswing, a local non-profit organization focused on helping children develop lifelong healthy habits through innovative programs and partnerships, is bringing Playworks Recess 360 to four elementary schools in the Puget Sound area. Playworks Recess 360 is a year-long school based program designed to energize the recess yard in a structured and inclusive way that will engage all students.

Recess 360 addresses many schools’ concerns that the chaos of recess results in fights, bullying and many children choosing not to participate. Play is essential to the physical, emotional and social development of every child and is also the single most effective strategy for increasing physical activity (and combating obesity) among children.

“Playworks Recess 360 will not only help rescue recess, but research has shown that it also helps promote a better learning environment throughout the school day,” said Carolyn Kramer, Executive Director of Treeswing. “The program has provided safe and healthy play to more than 200 low-income schools in 11 major cities nationwide and we are excited to bring it to the Puget Sound area.” Playworks has been hailed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as one of America’s best investments in healthy kids and healthy schools.

During the course of the academic year, Playworks staff provides a series of content specific workshops followed by technical assistance. This two-pronged approach strengthens the operational and technical capacity of all training participants while providing recess coaches with ongoing individualized support to enable successful integration of the strategies and techniques introduced through training.

The four participating schools are Roxhill and Dunlap Elementary Schools in Seattle Public Schools and White Center Heights and Beverly Park Elementary Schools in Highline Public Schools.

Treeswing will be raising funds for these 4 schools throughout the summer and fall with the hope to expand the program in King County School Districts in the coming years.

Whole Foods Market at Roosevelt Square (1026 NE 64th Street) store will be hosting a Playworks Recess 360 Kickoff event on Thursday, June 23 at 3 p.m. Please bring the whole family to participate in fun interactive activities! The following week on Wednesday, June 29, all area Whole Foods Markets will donate 5 percent of their daily profits to Treeswing to benefit Playworks Recess 360 and other programs benefiting schools.

Visit www.treeswing.org or www.playworks.org or contact Carly Kaufman at 206-436-5092 or info@treeswing.org for more information.