With the ongoing heat in Saint Lucia, schools around the country are working to help students stay hydrated, comfortable and safe during the school day.
At Saint Mary’s College, Principal Neal Fontenelle said students are now allowed to drink water during class if they need to.
Previously, students had to buy water before school or during breaks. Now, due to the heat, the school is making water more accessible.
“If a student wants to have a drink of water, we allow them to go during class time,” Fontenelle said.
He said the college’s good ventilation, large windows, fans, and nearby trees help keep students cool. Some teachers are also holding classes under the trees.
The school is monitoring the situation and making sure the canteen always has enough water.
Fontenelle said they may consider lighter uniforms if the heat continues, but he believes most Saint Lucian uniforms are already fairly light. He noted that Saint Mary’s uses white cotton and polyester shirts and now always uses Dri-Fit PE uniforms.
“That works really well,” he said.
Fontenelle said installing air conditioning everywhere would be difficult because of the cost and energy required. He also noted that some students might not feel comfortable in air-conditioned rooms for long periods.
“I can’t see a school or government footing the bill for having an entire school air-conditioned,” he said, adding that schools have other infrastructure priorities.
At Aux Lyons Combined School, Grade Two teacher Ms Pierre created a “hydration corner” so students can drink water whenever they need to, not just during scheduled breaks.
The school is also encouraging students to drink plenty of water and to tell teachers immediately if they feel dizzy, have headaches, feel sick, feel weak, are very tired, or faint.
Valerie St Helene-Henry, Principal of Ave Maria Girls’ Primary, said the heat is already affecting some students.
She explained that the impact depends on the type of school, its location, the time of day and how well it is ventilated.
She said she has heard about students fainting, feeling more thirsty, sweating a lot and feeling tired. These issues can make it harder for students to concentrate and for teachers to teach.
St Helene-Henry said schools are adding more water breaks, asking students to bring water bottles, and sometimes shortening PE sessions from 40 minutes to 30 minutes.
Regarding uniforms, she said changes could be considered if the heat gets worse, such as using lightweight, breathable fabrics and lighter colours.
However, she added that any changes should keep the school’s identity and involve discussions with parents and other stakeholders.
