Record-breaking Heat Wave Hits Samo Classrooms

Emi Yamashiro-Hergert, Staff Writer

The most recent heat wave hit the Samo community hard when air conditioning broke down in several buildings across campus. Though the AC has since been fixed, the issue of rising temperatures still remains. 

The wave broke thousands of records across the West. It lasted 12 days in California, with average temperatures peaking on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Santa Monica sweltered through weather in the upper 80s and 90s, but residents found respite when the heat broke on Saturday, Sept. 10. Blythe Domingue (’25) worries about the way weather will affect academic performance.

"We can't do as well in school when it's that hot," Domingue said.     

According to an email issued by District Superintendent Ben Drati, air conditioning broke down in the Innovation and Discovery buildings. Similar issues have affected Samo buildings in the past; for example, an article from 2017 describes how students were released from school early on Oct. 24 and 25 during a heat wave that reached 101℉. The heat prompted Samo to install AC units in many buildings, as the intense classroom temperatures were a main reason for early release. In anticipation of Sept. 9 this year, the expected peak in Santa Monica temperatures, Drati's email suggested the school day might be shortened if AC difficulties were not resolved. However, though the difficulties continued to disturb classroom climates, students attended school for the full day. Art teacher Amy Bouse expresses her concern about the situation.

"It's hard to understand how a community with so many resources could not be able to provide a comfortable working environment for youth and staff at this school," Bouse said.

Teachers all around campus experienced disruptions to their teaching and learning. Some classrooms, especially those in the affected areas, were advised to relocate to different areas of Samo. However, classes in subjects such as science or art were especially challenged by relocations. Biology teacher Katrina Reyes, whose classroom is in the Innovation Building, was not able to move her class due to the lab materials her lessons required. Bouse, whose classes took place in the similarly affected Business Building, had to exchange her painting curriculum for drawing lessons following a temporary relocation to the library. 

"We've learned through COVID and isolation that things don't always go the way we wish them to go," Bouse said. "I feel that students were still patient and did good work."

Still, the heat provoked irritation among members of the Samo community. Students found it difficult to focus, and heat-sensitive students often had to sit out during classes or go to the nurse's office because of the harsh temperatures they faced in classrooms. The likelihood of classes held under these conditions and of early dismissal days increases in the longer, hotter and more frequent heat waves to come. Buildings will become more dependent on central heating in the winter and AC during extreme heat conditions. Kara Best (’24) voices her annoyance about this kind of learning environment.

"There was a lot of frustration toward the school, not just frustration at the heat but frustration for how the facilities failed us," Best said. "Nobody really thought about the art classes and nobody thought about the extracurriculars that were affected."

Despite the effects of the heat wave on their practices, the Samo girls’ cross country team has achieved success at meets during the pre-season. Their runs were shortened and made easier to help runners deal with heat-caused fatigue, and the usual sixth-period practices were sometimes replaced with optional runs as early as 5:00 AM. Maeko Gross (’25), a member of the girls’ varsity cross country team, recalls those early-morning runs.

"We're dedicated, for sure," Gross. "But to run before the heat made it worth it."

Extreme heat, or heat that is well above normal conditions, is the direct result of climate change. Average temperatures are expected to rise 4.4°—5.8°F by 2050, exacting disastrous loss of health, diversity and life on both humans and the environment. New legislation signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom aims to combat the climate crisis by protecting vulnerable individuals and communities, studying and raising awareness about environmental issues and creating an advance warning and ranking system for heat waves that will classify them in a model based on hurricane or wildfire alerts. Reyes reflects on these new laws.

"I think it will take a while to see the benefits, but in the long run, the legislation will help California residents," Reyes said. "We're seeing a lot of the impacts [of climate change], just in our day-to-day lives."