NEW BERLIN – Staff from Afton, Marathon, Whitney Point and Unadilla Valley School systems attended a seminar at UV Tuesday to address concerns with activity periods in school.

“Recess should not be used as a reward or punishment,” said Playworks Trainer Deb Sugerman. “We’re striving to improve behavior as well as focus on promoting social situations among the students.”

The seminar was sponsored by the Healthy Schools New York and the state Department of Health, which are working with schools to increase the quality and quantity of activity in the students’ day, as well as focus on healthy eating habits, said coordinator Jennifer Hillman.