Buff Bay High School shelves plan for face-to-face classes

The management of the  Buff Bay High School in West Portland has been forced to shelve plans for the reopening of face-to-face classes.  

President of the Buff Bay High School Parents Teachers Association, George Brown, says word has come from the Principal, Sandra Buchanan, that the school should not be allowed to be reopen tomorrow.

Brown says this development is linked to a reported spike in COVID-19 cases in  a section of Portland.

“We have been advised by the Ministry of Health that the school should be opened on Monday - but they have been told that due to the rise of COVID cases, the school has been advised to remain closed.”

Meanwhile, the President of the Buff Bay High School PTA George Brown says stakeholders are concerned about a number of challenges facing the school and the wider community.

According to the PTA president   community members continue to observe safety precautions.

He added that the executive of the  PTA  will be seeking a meeting with the school's administration to formulate a strategy for the resumption of school as well as the issue of students experiencing problems with online learning.

The Ministry of Health's latest COVID-19 Clinical Management Survey revealed that  Portland has an overall case count of 377.

On the other hand,  it is the reverse for a section of the population at Hampton School for Girls in St. Elizabeth.

After being closed to face-to-face classes for  approximately 10 months, the school will resume classes in that fashion beginning tomorrow.

This was disclosed by Hampton's Principal, Marvell Charlton Brown, who stated that the school has put in place the necessary Covid 19 protocols to facilitate the resumption of classes. 

However, the resumption of face-to-face classes will be for Grades 10 to 13 only. 

Students from Grade 7 to 9 will continue with online classes.

The Hampton School principal also stated that boarding accommodation will be available for the seniors.

Charlton Brown added that just under  fifty per cent of the student population, including those who have to travel daily, will be accommodated in face-to-face classes.Approximately a third of the 300 senior boarders will be accommodated at the school during this period.

Hampton, which is one of two secondary schools providing boarding in St Elizabeth, has a student population of 1,234 and an academic staff of 74.