Majority of Grand Cayman schools now open

Parents escorting children home at Cayman Prep and
High School, Smith Road, George Town

Wednesday,  December 1, 2004

Across the Island schools are re-opening and normality is resuming once again, with children back in uniform, engaging in academic work and play. Some schools opened in different buildings, having resettled into new locations, while others have been fortunate enough to be in their former buildings. 

The general picture emerging is that schools closed for the weeks following the passing of Ivan, but many managed to reopen shortly after, with others following behind, partly due to inspection requirements and the state of buildings. 

Schools had to meet certain regulatory standards prior to reopening, as they were inspected by the Department of Environmental Health, which included fire and safety issues.

Following Ivan, a number of children went abroad, scattering as far afield as the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Africa and others went to the Sister Islands. Some of these children have since returned but there is still a percentage that is yet to return. 

This picture is reflected across the education spectrum, with public, private and voluntary aided sectors all affected by the storm.

Joy Basdeo, Permanent Secretary for Education, explained that the Education Department has been trying hard to assist schools to reopen. 
She said: “We are trying to get our schools up and running. We had initially set an opening date of 1 November but had to move this, as not all schools were ready, especially as we wanted to make absolutely sure that issues like health and safety were taken care of. We want schools to reopen but correctly, when they are ready.” 

Due to the limitation on space, a few schools are operating a ‘shift” system by offering alternate days for pupils to attend, or half days, in order to accommodate all the children. This arrangement is necessary due to the wide spread damage that resulted to buildings. The available classroom space has thus contracted and so schools are working with this reality. 

Mrs Basdeo said: “We are working towards getting everyone back to full education and have ordered more temporary classrooms (TC), from Florida. We expect them to arrive before the New Year, when all children will then be accommodated. We were already using ten TC units before the hurricane and they withstood the force of Ivan well, leaving no or little damage. We have received some assistance from the Ritz Carlton and the United Church who are supporting us with our programme to get the communal, after- school learning centres operating smoothly. The centres provide an invaluable service as children can go there in their spare time to study, do homework, and use computers. The centres will provide an enrichment programme on the curriculum.”

At Cayman International School, located in Government Sound off West Bay Road, things are progressing well, with the majority of children having resettled into the school. 

Mr Greg Hedger, Principal, said: “Around 60% of children have returned. We expect some back in the New Year and some to come during the interval from now until the end of term. We had some flooding and roof damage but these have since been repaired. Children are not yet in uniform as we have recently instructed a provider, but children should begin to wear uniform around February.” 

Mr John Morrison, Principal of First Baptist Christian School (FBCS), located in Crewe Road, explained that the school is operating well and signs are that all works will be completed by the end of the year.

He said: “We are doing well, with enlistment taking place weekly, as parents return and children from other schools enlist, such as those children from the Grace Christian Academy, which has not reopened. We have 60 to 65 percent of pupils back already, but expect the remainder to follow in the New Year. Some of our children went to Cayman Brac and are still there but we expect them to return. We are operating from our gym presently but by Christmas the majority of works should be completed except for some specialty items like the pews and flooring in the church.” 

Asked about the wonderful organ and acoustics at the church before Ivan, Mr Morrison informed: “The organ underwent a post Ivan inspection and fortunately there doesn’t appear to be any water damage. Church service has been taking place in the gym but as of January the works should be completed so services will resume as normal.” 

St Ignatius Preparatory School, in Walkers Road, has been up and running now for several weeks, since 4 October. Two thirds of the children have returned but others are expected to follow after the Christmas break. 

Jennifer Paul-O’Donnell, Principal, explained that: “We have most of our children back, with others coming in daily, but some are still abroad. We are in communication with them, and they do want to return. We expect them back in January. Living conditions are not yet ready, so families are unable to return. Some staff are still homeless and we are trying to accommodate them. We are working to ensure children are served. There will be many interesting stories told when our children return from all over the world. As we have children who went to England, France, Italy, USA, Australia, Israel, Ireland, Malaysia, plus others. We are thankful that our teachers are back and things seem normal at school enabling the children to resettle quickly.” 

Cayman Prep and High School suffered when water damaged the offices and the kitchen at the Junior School in Smith Road. The teachers are back and the majority of children, with the remainder returning after the Christmas Break. 

Mr Brian Wilson, Vice Principal for the Junior school explained: “The children have resettled nicely, and are back into the routine of academic life. Lessons are all the same as pre Ivan; the service we provide has not been diluted in any way. We have enhanced it through the effort that staff put in, to ensure that the children receive the full education package. With the longer school day, teachers are able to include more into the day, thus enabling students to catch up on material not covered due to the interruption brought on by the hurricane. We have some children still abroad but by the beginning of the new term we expect our numbers at the Prep to be back to 100 percent, 390 children. We are again offering hot meals, but children will have only one choice per day. This may be widened in the new year.”

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