Cold front no problem for Penlyne Castle students - Mountain community used to chilly weather

While many Jamaican children start their school day battling the heat, students at Penlyne Castle Primary School arrived wrapped in jackets, sweaters and knitted tams, bracing against temperatures more common to mountain regions than the tropics.

When THE STAR visited the community yesterday, the temperature hovered around 17 degrees Celsius, slightly warmer than the area's usual 15 degrees, yet still cold enough for students to remain bundled in warm clothing over their uniforms as classes got under way.

"In terms of the environment, primarily cool, excessively cool, we have to be indoor pretty quickly," is how one teacher describes the conditions children contend with daily in the mountain community, one of the highest elevated areas in Jamaica. While much of the island is currently experiencing cooler temperatures due to a cold front affecting the country, residents of Penlyne Castle are accustomed to living in the cold year-round.

Despite the chill, the educator said the community remains a peaceful place for families raising children.

"But apart from that, the people are generally friendly. There is no serious crime being committed in the area, it is definitely a good area to live in," he said.

For students at Penlyne Castle Primary, the cold has shaped both routine and appearance, prompting flexibility in how they dress for school.

"The students are definitely accustomed to it but this is how we dress here at this school. We have no restrictions, they are allowed to wear tams and jackets to keep them warm," the teacher said.

During THE STAR's visit, students were seen moving between classrooms in sweaters and jackets layered over their uniforms, a practical response to the persistent low temperatures. Still, the cold does not bring daily school life to a halt.

"We have physical education on Fridays outside just the same," the teacher said.

The school's small size also influences how students experience learning in the hills, with close interaction among the approximately 36 students and the staff.

Beyond the weather, limited access to basic resources presents ongoing challenges for the school and surrounding community.

"Water and some other little things can be of concern," the teacher told THE STAR.

As a result, the school depends on a rainwater harvesting system, storing water in tanks to meet daily needs when supply from pipes is inconsistent. The educator noted that the cold intensifies at this time of year, particularly during February, when the temperature drops further and remains low for extended periods.

The surrounding community is largely agricultural, with the main crop being coffee. While cold temperatures alone rarely disrupt school operations, but other weather issues can create additional challenges.

"The cold weather does not affect the operations at school unless it's heavy rains and the roads are impassable. In that case, help comes [in the form of] helicopter from the authorities, because the community is completely cut off," the teacher noted.

Still, residents have learnt to adapt, stretching limited resources and adjusting to life in the hills.

"In this area you just have to know how to make things stretch. Just the basic stuff that is important."

For those who call Penlyne Castle home, including the children who pull on jackets before heading to class, the cold is simply part of everyday life.

"This weather is better because when yuh hot, weh yah go take off again? When you're cold you can always put on more layers," the teacher reasoned.