OVERVIEW
We need you! Bells Mill relies on parents to support paid staff personnel during every lunch and recess shift.
If you can help at lunch/recess with supervising the children, please sign up using the online form. We encourage parents to sign up for a regular shift, be it once a month or once a week. If you cannot make a regular commitment we welcome last minute volunteers.
VOLUNTEER: Sign up here to help out during recess.
HOW LUNCH/RECESS WORKS & SCHEDULE
Students have 30-minute lunch periods and 30-minute recess periods each day except for early dismissal days. Students will have recess outdoors unless it is raining or the temperature is below 32 degrees F. Students should dress appropriately for the weather and respond promptly to directions given by recess aides, teachers, or other staff members. All students are expected to go outside on “outdoor recess” days.
**NOTE: this year, students will be eating lunch AFTER recess.**
Recess Schedule
11:45 – 12:15 Grades K, 4 and Autism classes
12:15 – 12:45 Grades 3, 5 and Autism classes
12:45 – 1:15 Grades 1, 2 and Autism classesLunch Schedule
12:15 – 12:45 Grades K, 4 and Autism classes
12:45 – 1:15 Grades 3, 5 and Autism classes
1:15 – 1:45 Grades 1, 2 and Autism classes
Q&A FOR LUNCH/RECESS VOLUNTEERS
Q. Who can I contact on the PTA with questions or concerns about Lunch/Recess at
Bells Mill?
You may contact Lisa Mathews, the Chair of the Cafeteria and Recess Volunteer Committee, at lcmathews@verizon.net.
Q. Why are parent volunteers needed? Don’t school employees supervise children
during lunch/recess?
MCPS teachers belong to a union and, under the union rules, are not required to provide
coverage for lunch and recess. The school does employ several staff members to supervise students during lunch and recess. However, in addition to these staff members, the school also needs many parent volunteers to provide additional adult supervision in order to make the lunch/recess period a safe and positive experience.
Q. Do I have to make a regular volunteer commitment? My schedule only allows me to
volunteer on an occasional basis.
We encourage volunteers to make a regular commitment, whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. This helps us to better manage the schedule to ensure every lunch period is
adequately covered. However, if you can’t make a regular commitment, ad hoc volunteers (and even last-minute volunteers) are also needed to help fill in gaps in the schedule.
Q. How do I volunteer?
The easiest ways to volunteer are either to go to our SignUp Genius, or to email Lisa Mathews at lcmathews@verizon.net, and inquire about signing up for open time slots.
Q. Where can I find information on the procedures for lunch/recess at Bells Mill?
Please refer to the Recess Handbook.
Lunch & Recess Resources
- MCPS Lunch Menus
- Donations Needed: Please donate your gently used board games, coloring books, sidewalk chalk, basketballs, soccer balls, jump ropes and hoola hoops to Bells Mill for the children to use during recess. Just bring your donations, throughout the year, to the front office, marked PTA. We appreciate it!
- Where Your Money Goes: The Bells Mill PTA spends at least $2,000 each year on indoor and outdoor equipment and games for our students.
- VOLUNTEER – Sign up here to help out during recess: