Principal Renee Branham said the school relies on shaded playgrounds, shortened outdoor time and the gym as a backup plan.

“If it was really hot, like this afternoon, if they had to go out, only spend half the time out there and then come back for free play in the gym. And that gives them a cool place to play,” Branham said.

Some teachers are also taking students outside earlier in the morning, before temperatures climb in the afternoon. The school system has handed out thermometers so staff can check how hot playground equipment gets before students climb on it.

Water breaks and monitoring students

Water breaks are built into the school day. Water bottles go outside with every class, and refill stations keep them full.

Mitzelfeld said she checks the heat index on her phone throughout the day while watching her students.

“We are also monitoring like them as a whole, like, are they getting too red in their faces and cutting their time short and maybe splitting it. So it’s to teacher discretion, but we are definitely checking it throughout the day and watching the heat index,” Mitzelfeld said.

Teachers say knowing their students is a key safeguard.

“That’s why it’s so important that first like week or two to like observe their behavior, observe how they are, observe how they’re feeling and then like better be able to monitor them throughout the day,” Mitzelfeld said.

When recess moves indoors

Branham said once temperatures push past 85 to 88 degrees, or on humid days, the decision to keep students inside is often made before they step outside.

“We take that in humid days for sure. Today’s really humid,” Branham said.

 

Mitzelfeld said her rule of thumb is that recess moves indoors once temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher, or the heat index nears 100.

Even when students do go outside, teachers are cutting recess short and moving students to shade or the gym. Tennessee law requires 40 minutes of recess a day for elementary students.

Message to parents

Both educators said their message to parents is to send children in light clothing and closed-toe shoes, along with a labeled water bottle every day.

“We take care of our kids like they’re our own, and we don’t want our kids to get overheated,” Branham said.

Staff at Norris Elementary say no student has needed medical attention for a heat-related illness so far this school year. School staff also said they can only hold students from walking home after school if there is lightning.