CUSD 200 Uses Outdoor Tents To Help Students 'Show Your Smile'

WHEATON, IL — Community Unit School District 200 wants to give elementary school children a chance to show their smiles between in-person classes. The district has installed outdoor "show your smile" tents to give children a brief break to socially distance without their protective face masks.

CUSD 200 Superintendent Dr. Jeff Schuler told Patch, "For a lot of our students and staff it’s going to be a new experience being inside for a longer period of time with the mask on.”

Schuler added that the "show your smile" breaks are set to be about five or 10 minutes long. Students will also be able to play games during the break time to make it an "active experience," according to Schuler.

Schuler said, "[I]t’s important to give students and staff that opportunity especially as they’re getting used to having face coverings.”

Students will be given a lanyard to hold their face mask when they take it off, Schuler added.

"For our elementary students that are attending school in person we wanted to create an opportunity for them to have at least one opportunity to take their mask off outside," Schuler said.

He added, "Tents are an opportunity to make sure the ‘show your smile’ break is always available for students."