There was shock and excitement at Manzanilla Secondary this morning when students spotted a snake in the Assembly Hall's ceiling.
Despite the unexpected visitor, assembly was held in the hall and classes continues as usual.
In a telephone interview shortly before midday, Health and Safety officer Marcell Thomas confirmed they were still awaiting the arrival of the authorities to remove the boa constrictor also called macajuel.
The snake has since retreated into the ceiling, but Thomas estimates it could be about 10 feet or longer and about six inches in width.
Given the bushy and isolated location of the school, he said they usually find snakes in the school, but this was the biggest so far. He said a few students noticed the snake in the ceiling when they arrived just after 7 am. The front half of its body was showing.
Last year an 18-inch-long snake had slithered onto the compound.
80 per cent of the students are from within the area, he said snakes were a common sight for them, so no one panicked.
"It's in the ceiling so seeing it is a great amount of excitement but the thing about it is that we had our assembly in the hall so when was 8 o'clock and time for assembly they would stay far away from that area. Some of them said they did not want to go. It's really just excitement."
He believes the snake had been lurking in the ceiling for quite a while feasting on pigeons. However, he said earlier this year they removed the pigeons.
During assembly, he said the students were advised about the type of snake and what they should do and not do.
Meanwhile, he contacted two wildlife groups and spoke to a game warden who assured him someone would come to remove the snake.