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It's a double setback for one of Jamaica's oldest all-girls institution, Westwood High School.
School officials are once again grappling with significant damage to property and heritage, first from Hurricane Beryl and now from Hurricane Melissa.
The institution sits in a Stewart Town, Trelawny with 143 years of history - 143 years that were almost wiped by preying winds and rainfall that devoured western Jamaica.
Westwood is one of four female boarding schools across the island.
Principal Karen Francis paints a grim picture of the damage sustained by the over-century older institution from the last two hurricanes.
"We had losses last year in Hurricane Beryl, and some of those rooms and classrooms that were refurbished have now been damaged again. The auditorium is mangled. Our quad classrooms have lost their roof. The staff room has lost its roof as well. It's devastating to say the least."
The repair bill is uncertain at this time but is expected to be hefty.
Ms. Francis said while the rebuilding process comes with major uncertainties, the school's management is moving to resume classes while providing assistance to those in need.
The hat-donning ladies of the west will potentially revert to online learning, harking back to the days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We have students doing examinations. I'm not sure how long it will take us in terms of re-roofing the classrooms. However, if we can get students to be online, I know some have internet challenges. I've had offers from schools in Kingston to assist students, especially those from the West. So we will be mobilising a plan to assist them there," said the principal.
Meanwhile, House Mother Minnette Mills contended that this method comes with significant drawbacks.
"Online has messed up so many of them and some of them are struggling because they got so caught up with all that is happening online. The pop-ups, the things that we don't really want them to get involved in, they see it every day," she lamented.
There are added fears that important ceremonies could be missed.
"I met up with a student who said, 'Miss, I did not get to graduate from primary school because of COVID and look now, just as I'm getting ready to graduate from high school, the same predicament. This place cannot be ready for graduation in six months.' And it broke my heart and I'm still breaking because every time I look I'm brought to tears," said the house mother.
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