Kendal schools get safer classrooms for new term after Hurricane Melissa

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — For teachers and students at two schools in Kendal, the new school term began with more than the usual back-to-school excitement — they returned to safer classrooms.

Just days before the September term, the JN Circle Mandeville, through funding from the JN Foundation, restored sections of the roof at Kendal Primary and Infant School and repaired the roof and ceiling at Kendal Shiloh Early Childhood Institution (ECI).

A release from the JN Foundation said works were funded through the JN Group's I Support Jamaica Hurricane Relief Fund, part of the foundation's ongoing commitment to helping communities recover and build resilience after Hurricane Melissa.

At Kendal Shiloh ECI, the damage was severe. The school lost most of its roof, forcing teachers to relocate students to other areas of the compound to continue classes.

Denisa Mollison, a teacher at the institution, said the disruption made teaching difficult, but the restoration has helped return stability.

"It has been a great help because we can go back to normal, teach them in the best way," she said.

The institution, which has served the Kendal community for about 20 years, has 27 students and focuses on the holistic development of its young learners, with literacy as a key priority.

At neighbouring Kendal Primary and Infant School, the hurricane damaged sections of the roof and dislodged box eaves.

Principal Maxine Headley, who is also secretary of the local JN Circle Mandeville, said while the school escaped major structural damage, the loose eaves posed a safety risk.

"Although the school was not badly damaged, we had the box eaves coming down and it was more of a detrimental effect or safety effect to the children," she said.

Headley, who learned about the JN Foundation's support through JN Circle meetings, nominated the school for assistance.

"For our project to be selected and the box eaves to get fixed, I am very happy, and the school is much safer now," she said.

The nomination for Kendal Shiloh ECI came from Verna Manning, a member of JN Circle Mandeville, who said she immediately thought of the school when assistance became available.

"The nomination helped tremendously fixing the ceiling of the school. The teachers are very grateful, students are very grateful, and also members of the school group and, in general, the Kendal community," Manning said.

For the JN Foundation, the restoration is about more than repairing hurricane damage.

Omar Wright, lead, environment and community development at the JN Foundation, said the organisation was pleased to provide timely support ahead of the new academic year. Both schools also received back-to-school supplies from the foundation.

"When a school is damaged, the impact goes far beyond the physical structure. It affects how children learn, how teachers teach and the sense of safety within the school community. We are therefore pleased to have played a part in restoring these spaces so that students can return to school ready to learn and thrive," he said.