PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Not only are teachers and staff ready to welcome your kids back to school, but so is Mother Nature. This time, it's in the form of excessive heat.
Administrators in the Deer Valley School District want parents to know that whether it's the extreme heat or a severe thunderstorm, they do have a plan in place.
"When we've got the excessive heat warning, we're going to let our staff know first thing in the morning through an email. We've also got morning announcements that go out to not only our staff but all of our kids on campus, so we'll remind them to keep their activity level low, stay inside, follow the direction of their teachers," said Dr. Mark Oesterle, principal at Constitution Elementary.
And as much as kids still want to be outside and play, schools won't risk safety.
"There's plenty that we can do inside a classroom or inside of the gym or media center that doesn't involve just putting a movie on. We can still keep kids active but in a nice air conditioned building," said Oesterle.
The younger kids especially don't understand the dangers of extreme heat and dehydration. Teachers hope that parents at home will assist in the process.
"A lot of times, kids will just take that one sip out of the drinking fountain and think they're staying hydrated," added Oesterle.
Students at this and other Deer Valley School District schools are encouraged to bring additional bottles of water to keep at their desk for consumption throughout the day.
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