Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Some students of Watsonton Primary School in Lionel Town, Clarendon, at the start of the new academic year, yesterday, wait to go into their new classrooms, while overlooking the roofless administrative block that was damaged by Hurricane Dean, on August 19. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

A week after the original date for the start of the new school year, most schools across the parish of Clarendon opened their doors yesterday to eager students and the realities of extensive damage caused by Hurricane Dean, which passed south of the island on August 19.

There was a level of confusion at some schools in the districts of Portland Cottage, Lionel Town, Rocky Point and Mitchell Town - areas most affected by the Category Four hurricane. At least one school was forced to close its doors early yesterday because of an absence of electricity and piped water.

At Watsonton Primary School, in Lionel Town, The Gleaner news team turned up to see frantic parents and students assembled on the compound, as teachers hastily tried to direct the students to the sections of the building with the least damage.

The entire administrative department was still without a roof and several classrooms on the grade six blocks were also devastated. According to school officials, the institution will be forced to implement a shift system, starting tomorrow, to accommodate the students.

Helen Williams, principal of the school, told The Gleaner that classes for grades one, two and four will start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 noon, while students of grades three, five and six will come in at noon and leave at 5:00 p.m. Mrs. Williams said tha students would only be able to use just one block for classes tomorrow, she expects everything to go smoothly.

"We have gotten an assurance from the Ministry of Education that the repairs on the roof will commence as early as tomorrow, so we expect that things will be back to normal in a few weeks," she said.

One parent of a grade three student was, however, quite upset as she said she was uncertain as to the arrangements that would be made for the students.

"Is pure chaos and confusion here this (yesterday) morning, because we weren't given any prior notice until today about the shift system," she said.

Ended prematurely

The first day of school also ended a bit prematurely for some students at the Mitchell Town Basic School, who had to be sent home early because there was no water.

"The canteen is totally damaged, so the students can't get their usual hot meals and there is no water to operate the toilets," said Ethel Cole, principal of the school.

In other areas of the parish, the complaints were similar, with some teachers arguing that classrooms were vandalised by residents who used the facilities as a shelter during the hurricane.

At the Salt Savannah Infant and Primary School, Pearlina Dobson, chairman of the school board, told The Gleaner: "I am seriously reconsidering using the school as a shelter in the event of a next hurricane.

"The school was in a complete mess when we got here this morning," she added.

Ms. Dobson explained that the residents left buckets filled with urine and garbage on the compound.

"The principal's office was broken into and they stole the school's DVD player," she said.

At most schools in the parish, less than half the usual student population turned up for classes. The Galilee Basic School, which normally has over 100 students on a regular school day, had only about 10 to 15 students present yesterday.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com