Students in the Lower School sit within their own spaces, socially distanced from classmates, and have their own materials to use throughout the year to limit exposure and contact. Photo Credit: ANTILLES SCHOOL
ST. THOMAS — Antilles School reopened its doors to learning on Monday, welcoming over 300 students to a mixture of in-person and distance learning.
“It was wonderful to have children back on our campus,” Head of School Liz Morrison said. “We spent months preparing for this day to ensure the safety of our faculty, staff, students and their families while being physically present at school. We are looking forward to a productive year and are committed to keeping our School community engaged and healthy."
The school, whose learning package includes toddlers all the way through 12 grade, said along with mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing protocols, its facilities team transformed the campus to allow for students to fully utilize all indoor and outdoor spaces to ensure safe social distancing. Drop-offs, pick-ups, and breaks are on staggered schedules to keep students within small cohorts, while physical education and recess times are also on rotation, the school said. Hand sanitizing and hand-washing stations are set up throughout campus, and the school had more than a dozen families who joined via Zoom for hybrid classes.
Assistant Head of School Shannon Harris helps escort our youngest learners to the Early Learning Center. Since parents and visitors are not allowed on campus during the day, our faculty and staff walk them in – and make it a little fun by using colorful pool noodles to maintain distance.
Safety is an indelible part of the reopening effort, said Antilles Director of Communications Ananta Pancham. She said the school has been working with the V.I. Dept. of Health which has inspected the facility.
There's an isolation room on campus for persons who show symptoms of the virus. "Anybody who has been diagnosed [with Covid-19], in accordance with CDC guidelines have to quarantine and not come back to campus," Ms.Pancham said.
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