Durham Public Schools Channel 4 visits Hope Valley Elementary School to highlight the impact Playworks Durham is having on all 678 students. Through inclusion, positive play and physical activity, Playworks is reducing bullying, decreasing transition time from recess to learning and supporting a stronger and healthier school climate. In addition to Hope Valley Elementary, Playworks Durham is serving 14 other elementary schools throughout the county.
Partners in Education: Durham Public Schools and Playworks
March 24, 2023
Empowered youth to community leaders ›
The importance of youth leadership programming in elementary schools Childhood is spent brimming with fascinations of the future – ideas of what infinite potential can amount to, ambitions of fulfilling some innate passion, and the mystery of what the years ahead hold. Some will take on leadership roles, becoming agents in their community. How can…
January 10, 2023
Understanding the Complex Simplicities of Play ›
Play is a behavior that is natural and has existed for thousands of years and across species. It combines a set of made-up rules or norms and a willingness to explore. Researchers, scientists, and doctors have studied the effects of play on kids–and adults–and understand that this natural behavior has tremendous benefits. As the American…
July 28, 2022
A year of social and emotional learning ›
“You can’t do SEL, trauma, or equity work without each other,” Jennette Claassen, Head of Evaluation, Playworks. As Playworks continued to progress on our equity journey, we explored a critical question: what are the intersections between play, social and emotional learning, physical activity, and trauma? A working group focused on this question decided, among other…