Staggered start times are in place for students attending George Hicks High School.
Some will attend school from 8am to 2pm and others from 10:15am to 4:15pm. They will swap start times at the February half term.
The school has also been divided into three sites – two on the main campus and one at the Family Life Centre behind the school.
‘This is a big change, a lot of adjustment . . . and I think the only way it’s going to work is if we work together,’ Principal Adora Bodden-Groome told a packed meeting with parents held Tuesday at the school to discuss the new arrangements.
She explained staggering start times and dividing students into smaller groups on campus will allow for better supervision and an improved learning environment. Around 1,100 students are enrolled at George Hicks.
As well, the school’s canteen services will now be offered in three different areas to avoid the long line-ups and over-crowding that caused problems last year.
Ms Bodden-Groome was joined by senior school staff and government officials, including Education Minister Alden McLaughlin and Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts, to answer questions from parents.
Adequate staffing and textbooks were a big concern.
Last year’s hurricane destroyed many resources, forcing students to share textbooks and photocopy sections to take home.
Permanent Secretary for Education Angela Martins assured parents there would be enough textbooks for every student to take home, and that six teaching positions have been added this year to accommodate numbers.
She said the Ministry and Department are finalising bussing arrangements, with pick-up sites and times to be published in the media shortly.
The staggered system will be in place for two years until a new school is built, which government officials said would be ready for the 2007-08 academic year.
Orientation for new students at George Hicks is 6 Sept. School opens for all students 7 Sept.
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