Principal of the Princess Margaret Secondary School, Jonathan Corbin (right) handing out face shields and hand sanitizers to members of staff prior to the start of classes.
Smooth start to first day at Princess Margaret
The start of the new school term yesterday was without hiccups for staff and students of the Princess Margaret Secondary School.
The return of pupils to face to face classes at the Six Roads, St. Philip educational institution comes months after classes were suspended island wide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike the traditional start of the Michaelmas term, only half of the school’s full students’ roll was present on the day. Also, in keeping with health and safety protocols being followed, prior to being allowed onto the compound, students’ temperatures had to be checked and hands sanitized. Around the school, there were signs reminding individuals of the rules to be followed.
Principal, Jonathan Corbin stated that the school has been divided into two groups where 444 pupils will attend face-to-face classes daily. He outlined some of the changes made in keeping with the COVID-19 guidelines.
“The structure for the term under the COVID conditions is similar to that of previous terms in that the timetable structure is the same. What we have done is we have only half of each class per day which gives us about half of the school at a time. The hours are the same except that the departure on evenings is staggered by five minutes between groups.”
He added that full assembly has been suspended, however , prayers will be conducted for students in their classrooms.
On the day, orientation was held for half of the first form year group. They were accompanied by their parents. Corbin told media the school is prepared for the week ahead. He said he will be constantly reminding students of the measures to be obeyed as he noticed some were not always observing these.
“Most of this week will be spend drilling into the heads of the students safety and what they are supposed to do and the importance of following the protocols. It is new territory for them they are accustomed to a particular mode of behaviour and already I have observed that they are going to need constant reminders and this is what we will have to do.” (MG)