CHANGING TIMES - THE COVID DAYS

Blog by Hilary Sherlock and Leslie Wan - formatting by Leslie Wan

HILARY'S THOUGHTS

It seems like a long time ago, but on a Monday we met with the St Patrick Rangers to work on our Disaster Preparedness Plan. 

On Tuesday we had the earthquake. The earthquake underscored the importance of our preparations. We were still thinking earthquake, hurricane, fire - all physical happenings which have a beginning and known familiar stages of anticipation, enduring and picking up the pieces.  We were not thinking of having to close school because of something we could neither see nor feel. So, when an earnest young fireman visited school to do a formal inspection we welcomed him after squirting his hands with a large amount of sanitizer, eager to implement the necessary steps to be fully prepared. Then everything began to speed up and change.

As talk of the new virus and its spread grew we revised our sanitation protocols.  We bought new hand sanitizer dispensers, filled them, and put them up.  We refreshed our hand washing techniques with all staff, stocked up on cleaning supplies and informed our parents and caregivers of all that we were doing and reminding them the importance of their participation at home.   We researched and followed the WHO and CDC guidelines, and asked that children with any signs of coughs colds etc. should not come to school.  This was not a new policy, but one which to tell the truth, is often ignored by parents and caregivers.  Even in our vulnerable population the rule that the child should be fever free (without medication for 48 hours) is not respected nor is the “please come to collect your sick child” request always heeded. This is a real problem for us AND the other children. 

It was with building anxiety that we “inspected” each child every morning and made the necessary phone calls. Thus, when the news came that schools were to be closed it seemed a safe and reasonable action. With closing however came the realization that there was a big hole in our disaster preparedness upgrade as it were.

We had made no real plans for how we would be teachers when our students were not physically with us.  How were we to be a school without our heart – for it is the children who are our heartbeat. What practical steps could we take now. We began to grow a new routine.  We began, and are continuing, to send activity suggestions home. I began sharing information about available resources on our Facebook page.  We established a staff what's app group and we are trying to build a remote staff training program for our teaching assistants. 

Not knowing when we will be back is HARD.  I know Ken ( our gardener) will go and water the flowers, but I also know the birds who flock to be fed in the early morning, will be wondering what happened.  I also know we all pray for our students who live in residential care and we acknowledge the burden of care placed on the staff who love them.   

We hope that when this is all over, we will have learned that holding each other close even if just in spirit is precious..........Hilary Sherlock

LESLIE'S THOUGHTS

I apologize it has been awhile getting this post out . These are days that challenge us all spiritually and literally, and certainly did me. Needless to say the earth seemed to be shifting daily, and yet I never lost the thoughts of our children. Our beautiful children scattered in their many living spaces. Quite frankly I miss them so much, but they are so much better off in their places of shelter than out in the world. Their smiles and quirky ways are not with us to guide us and cheer us, but we celebrate them still. 

Those who believe in our children are scattered across our beautiful country of Jamaica and the world, and to each of you, our hearts are with you. There is no STEP Centre without all of you: supporters, parents, teachers, children and organizations. To each of you we wish the very best in health and strength and endurance. Covid-19 is changing and challenging all of us, but that is when the wonder of our shared humanity, in thought and spirit, needs to uplift us. We are not sure when school will be back, but I know that when we throw open those doors and the children and their wheelchairs come streaming in, it will be a celebration. A celebration of strength, perseverance and the wonder of all of us. Though we feel like the world has shifted on it's axis, there will always be children who need us and we plan to be there for them.  None of us knows what is written for tomorrow, or even how we will get there, but we will never get there without realizing that even our weakest among us, share the love that this world brings and needs..................Leslie Wan