SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Hurricane Melissa left Park Mountain Primary School near here with extensive roof damage. But the destruction has not dampened spirits, particularly among students who, according to Principal Carlene Williams-Heath, are eager to resume classes.

“When I go into the communities they are saying ‘Miss, when we coming back to school?’” Williams-Heath told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday, adding that the school is pushing ahead to reopen.

“We are planning to go from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm each day next week and then we will see where we go from that in a phased reopening,” Williams-Heath explained.

“We are trying to reopen on Monday for grades four to six and we want to ensure that when they come they have the necessary stationery and school supplies to make sure that they are in a space for learning,” she said.

“Our guidance counsellor has offered psycho social support to our students and their parents,” the principal added.

“I am excited that we are on the way. There is still a lot to be done, but we are very positive in creating the necessary resources that they need to at least have a start,” Williams-Heath told the Observer.

The school, which has a register of 466 students, was adversely affected during the passage of the Category 5 hurricane last month. The 185 miles per hour winds ripped off roofs.

“Melissa really did great damage to us. Our infant department was totally damaged. The roof was gone. The area that housed grades three and four, the roof was partially removed. Grade six also got damaged. Every roof for every building got some level of damage,” Williams-Heath said.

In the aftermath of the storm the school has benefited from the support of locals and visitors, including a team of volunteers who spent two days doing re-roofing work.

“We are very happy and find ourselves favoured for the support that we have been receiving as a school community. When I speak of support I speak of the many calls, the concern of the community. I speak of the Ministry of Education,” said Williams-Heath.

“We got help for the infant department from our friends from America called Growing Faithful Children. They have always been supporting us in teaching and learning. They have always been supporting us to ensure that we have a positive learning environment. They are from the Church of Christ and when they do visit, it is not only spiritual benefits but also social,” the principal explained.

“It is a group that has been coming for the past four years to support us. As soon as they heard that we were damaged they were on their way to make their mark and to really bring help to us, so we received the help from them… they came and they provided the resources for the re-roofing of the infant department,” she added.

Although the school has its challenges in rebuilding, Williams-Heath has reached out to the students and their parents.

“I went into five communities where children from my school live. We gave out care packages,” she said.

“It has been remarkable that people travel all the way from Old Harbour [and] Ocho Rios to reach us. A group of National Water Commission workers from Kingston gave out 50 care packages. They decided to help Park Mountain Primary,” she said, adding that some of her students need clothes, food, “and just resources to help them get by”.

While reiterating the needs of the children, particularly those affected most by the storm, Williams-Heath admitted that she, too, suffered extensive damage to her home.

“It has been a very devastating process for me personally. I watched my roof go. Water everywhere… I have been able to not 100 per cent put back the roof, but I am covered. There is still some work to be done on the roofing. I gave it a pause, based on my personal resources, to return to it. I am trying to get back to normal… I am seeing progress and I am grateful,” she said.

Anyone interested in assisting the school can contact Williams-Heath at 876-447-1125.

WILLIAMS-HEATH… we are trying to reopen on Monday for grades four to six