Schools shift to online learning as Tropical Storm Melissa threatens

Late last evening schools across the country informed stakeholders of the directive from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information. Power is however vested in each to institution to decide on the appropriate virtual channels to facilitate online learning.

“It is expected that students will access the available online modality being used by the classroom teacher,” stated Principal of Marlie Mount Primary and Infant Calvin Harris, who noted classes will be held via WhatsApp, Zoom or Google Classroom. 

In his communique Mr Harris emphasized that online classes will commence at 8:00 am and concludes at 12:30 pm, with teachers instructed to record mandatory attendance registration prior to and at the end of the day. 

For St Catherine High School “all students will be engaged through our Google Classroom platform,” wrote Principal Marlon Campbell in a letter issued to stakeholder groups.

“This will allow teachers to continue providing instructions, assignments and resources remotely,” he added. “We encourage you to ensure that your child has access to a devise and a stable internet connection to participate in these online learning activities.

For students who have not yet received their Google Classroom codes, please contact your child’s form teacher in the WhatsApp groups already established.”

Lynton Weir, principal of Old Harbour High urged parents and guardians to prioritize the safety of each child while ensuring that they “complete learning activities” assigned by their teachers. 

In an email to their respective groups, St George’s College Principal Margaret Campbell, stated: “Students are required to log into the Google Classroom for their form class and mark themselves present by 8:00 am.  They must do the same for every timetabled class for the day at the scheduled time. Teachers will post work for student to complete during the class times.”

Meantime, in its latest bulletin issued at 4:00 am today, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica escalated its warnings for the island, upgrading a Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning while also issuing a new Hurricane Watch. 

More alarmingly, the newly issued Hurricane Watch means that hurricane-force winds of 119 km/h or higher pose a possible threat to the island within the next 48 hours.

At the time of the bulletin from the Met Service the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa was located approximately 353 kilometres south-southeast of Morant Point. The storm is moving slowly westward at about 6 km/h, but forecasters predict a gradual turn towards the northwest or north-northwest in the coming days.