BALLWIN, Mo. – The first full week of school is complete for many area students and the weather was fantastic. The nice weather is having a bigger impact on our students than many may realize.
Winds of knowledge are navigated daily at Westridge Elementary School in Ballwin.
“The start of this year has been absolutely amazing. That past few years, we’ve either had rain or just severe weather, as far as temperatures where we’ve had inside recess. Our children have just been absolutely miserable because they can’t get outside and they can’t truly experience each other,” fifth grade teacher Molly Clince said.
Temperature highs in the 70s and 80s have been unbelievable for her students. It’s helped them reengage with each other, their teachers, and their academics, bringing the best start to school in a long time, she added.
“This is my 16th year in the classroom. This is easily one of the easiest years back because everybody’s in a great frame of mind. It makes is so much nicer when you can go home. You can have a full day of school but then go home and play outside. Enjoy the rest of your day instead of being cooped up all day at school and then again in the evening. Just to be able to enjoy some of that outside time is just a breath of fresh air,” Clince said.
Clince’s classroom has a fully working air conditioner for the first time in four years. Fans helped keep the room cool in years past.
Fifth grade student James Nelson remembers the hot start a year ago and how much better it is this time around.
“It was like 90 degrees,” he said.
Classmate Aubrey Sheehan approves.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
More productivity in the classroom leads to extra play outdoors, both before and after the final bell rings.
“During the day, we’ll work through all that stuff but at the end of the day, if we’ve got our stuff done and all that stuff, we get to go out for extra recess,” Aubrey said.
“It’s very cool. When I get home, I usually go outside and ride my skateboard,” James added.
