Schools cope with record-breaking heat in 2nd-last week of P.E.I. classes

Teachers, students and staff at Prince Edward Island schools are doing their best to cope with high temperatures as record-breaking heat grips the Island. 

The humidex made it feel like the low 40s on Wednesday in parts of the province and Thursday is expected to be just as hot and muggy.  

The Public Schools Branch said it has sent information to teachers reminding them about ways to keep children safe when the weather is hot, including making sure they drink lots of water, minimizing outdoor activity in the heat, and protecting them from the sun.

The French-language school agency, La Commission scolaire de langue française, sent an email to parents and guardians Tuesday with similar tips. 

But as schools remain open, with a bit over a week to go before the last day of classes, some are having a hard time. 

Ashley Drake has nonverbal twins who attend Parkdale Elementary School in Charlottetown. 

She said they can't tell her when the heat is bothering them — so on a hot day like Wednesday, she picks them up from school early.

"I honestly am really confused as to why any schools don't have air conditioning, even in part of the school, if not all of the school," said Drake. "[My kids] were really struggling here today." 

At Parkdale, the Public Schools Branch delivered large fans to the school and afternoon recess was cancelled due to the heat. 

The PSB has a heat-stress action plan for schools when temperatures rise and that plan is in effect now, said Elise Azar, a school safety consultant with the agency. 

"We do feel comfortable with holding schools and classes at this point in time," she said, thanks to tactics like "being aware of your first-aid responders, making sure that schools are aware of where the cooler areas are and kind of rotating through those areas." 

Looking down the road, PSB officials said new schools being built on P.E.I. will have air conditioning, and some schools already have it in parts of their buildings.  

Some students are fans of the hot weather, including five-year-old Jerome Santosh, who said despite getting sweaty, it's still "better than the winter."

He added: "School is fun. I don't feel like it should be cancelled."

Faisa Hassan, 11, finds the heat frustrating and said it's hard to concentrate while still having to do school work.

"It's really exhausting and I'm getting really tired of it," Hassan said. 

The vice principal at Parkdale, Faber MacDonald, said teachers and students have been staying inside much more than usual this week. 

"We're doing our best to mitigate the weather, with closing our blinds, turning the fans on and changing recesses," he said. 

MacDonald said he hasn't heard from any parents concerned about school being open during the hot weather. 

Teaching is challenging, though. 

"Right now I'm teaching poetry and it's a little harder to teach... and learn new concepts when the kids are hot."