Students and parents approach a welcoming balloon-decorated arch at Ocho Rios Primary School for the start of the school year, Monday
Several schools in St Ann opened their doors with high spirits and, in one case, even a special welcome for students and their parents Monday morning.
Of all the schools putting out a special welcome, Ocho Rios Primary was outstanding literally rolling out a carpet from the gate to a decorated stand with a balloon-welcoming arch near the front gate, Ocho Rios, St Ann.
Principal Suzette Bryan Wilson and her teachers were on hand at the gate checking that all entering wore their masks and offered sanitization as their charges entered the school. Mrs Wilson said the school and its more than one thousand one hundred students will be observing COVID-19 protocols.
Students at Steer Town Academy were also in for a special welcome as several parents formed a line along the walkway into the building, offering free hand rags, pencils, pens, and masks. Aaron Brown was handing out masks and said he had dipped into his pockets to provide them because he had a child at the school and wanted the best for the students.
At St Ann’s Bay Primary Principal Trevor Cole and his staff were out early for the start of the first shift at 7 a.m. The school had improvements to the physical plant and had used the holidays to prepare for the start, Monday. However it is still having to operate on two shifts because of lack of space.” We have had a good start to the school year,” Mr Cole said. He said several secondary level high schools were doing orientation as part of their phased resumption for this the first full start of face to face to commence the Year, in two years.
Franklin McKnight
