The school year may be winding down, but the heat is ramping up—with a heat blast last week, and temperatures heading into the upper 20s later this week.
As those summery highs start to take effect in the southeast, the Hanover and Seine River school divisions are sharing how they keep their students and staff cool.
Assessing heat conditions
Summer heat is not as black and white as winter cold, with numerous factors influencing condition assessments.
Marlin Adrian, assistant superintendent with the Hanover School Division (HSD), says that beyond temperature, the humidex and UV index are essential considerations—with wind and cloud coverage also playing a role.
"The sun can be beating down, but the wind can be providing relief," he offers as an example.
At the Seine River School Division (SRSD), superintendent Colin Campbell adds an additional factors to weigh when assessing heat.
"Obviously, we want to be as proactive as we can, but we also know that sometimes projections of what the weather is going to be aren't always accurate, or they don't always come to fruition," he says.
To keep everyone on the same page, Campbell says the SRSD communicates internally to monitor school activities that may need to be adjusted.
Responding to the heat
Due to the many factors School Divisions need to pay attention to, Adrian says the HSD's response is typically gradual.
"It's not, 'We shut everything down,'" he says. "We shorten activities, we encourage more breaks in activities, encourage students and teachers to access shade and drink lots of water. We remind them to wear loose or lightweight clothes, and sunscreen."
Campbell says it's a similar response in the SRSD.
"In plus 35-degree weather, especially if there's a humidex on top of that, a lot of our outdoor athletics activities...get postponed," he says, adding field trips may also need to be modified.
In addition to shortened recesses, Campbell says students may also be given the option to head indoors and cool off.
"We're trying to make sure...we've done everything we can to try and still carry out activities, but are doing it in a safe manner," he says.
Schools are encouraged to use fans, cooler spaces within their buildings, open windows, and other heat-mitigation strategies.
As he wraps up his first year with the SRSD, he says he's also touring schools to gauge their air conditioning needs.
Maintenance plans are already being discussed for some buildings, he notes.
Messaging to families and staff
As summer settles over the region, Adrian and Campbell encourage kids to come to school with a hat, water bottle, and wearing weather-appropriate clothing.
"Be aware of signs if they are feeling heat stress or heat exhaustion. If they're feeling tired or weak, exceptionally hot, let an adult know and we can step in," Adrian says. "Adults in the building are there to support and provide assistance in these situations."
Campbell says he is incredibly grateful for school staff that ensure students are safe in all conditions.
"They all have the best interest for our students, and I understand it's sometimes not comfortable for staff to work in an environment where it's really hot. But they make sure they are still looking out for number one, which is the students," he says.