POCATELLO – A Pocatello elementary school is piloting a program that aims to put students in charge of how they play.

At the beginning of this year, Ellis Elementary School launched a once-a-week after-school play club, which essentially provides kids with an hour-long, unstructured recess. The club takes place on Mondays, which are an early release day for Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, and is open to third, fourth and fifth graders, and is supervised by two staff members and two parents.

“The idea is to give the kids loosely structured opportunities to play. The adults that are there … are more lifeguards, just helping the kids stay safe. … We try to let the kids come up with what they’re doing and let them be the creative ones,” said Janelle Romriell, a parent of a child atten

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