#TheBahamas, February 25, 2021 – – All hands were on deck at Eva Hilton Primary School, Tuesday, for the first day of ‘in-person learning’ using the hybrid method. Representatives of Urban Renewal, the Parent-Teacher Association, the School Board, teachers and administrators assisted with the transition as students returned to the Gregory Street campus.
“For the first day we were
able to get through quite smoothly,” said Principal Jermaine Butler.
“The kids have been prepped
at home and in sessions, and they know what the expectations should be.”
February 23, 2021 marked the
first day that students at public schools in New Providence, Exuma, Eleuthera
and Abaco attended classes in person. The Ministry of Education closed its
doors on Monday, March 16th, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hand sanitation stations,
including automatic and soap dispensers at strategic locations, desks spread
out to maximize space between students, signage, markings on the ground with
instructions, plexiglass barriers at teacher’s desks, are some of the
precautionary measures in place.
“We are thankful for the fact
that the PTA and school board assisted us. We have put together registers. The
kids are coming in blended [system] which means a group of kids comes in
Monday/Wednesday, the other group comes in Tuesday/Thursday. We check the
register at the gate. If the child is on the register, the child’s temperature
is taken, the child is sanitized and then ushered to particular rooms to
receive instruction,” said Mr. Butler.
“On Friday we are trying to
capture children who may have problems with technology and were not able to get
on the platforms. We are trying to get them back in gear and fill in the gaps
for what they would have missed.”
With 300 students on the
campus today for the first time, Mr. Butler noted the challenge of getting them
to their proper rooms. “We know that by Wednesday they would know where to go
and that transition would be a little smoother,” he added.
Captions:
Header: Sheniqua Bethel instructs students of Eva Hilton Primary School in Creative Writing.
1st insert: Lakiesha Cox checks a student’s work on the first day of in-person learning at Eva Hilton Primary School.
2nd insert: Students at Eva Hilton Primary School demonstrate one of the protocols in place for the new system of in-person learning. Parents (except pre-school parents) are not allowed to traverse beyond the cones. Students are queued based on grade levels and directed to enter the campus by school officials and members of the PTA.