The Calp schools and the City Council for Education, with the participation of the regional government, have in recent weeks prepared the plans and protocols against the Covid threat before the start of the school year.
New access doors have been opened in the Azorin and Gabriel Miró schools by the town council and at the request of the headmasters, in order to make it easier for pupils to access the schools in a safe way and to avoid overcrowding. In the same way, at the beginning of the school year, Oppenheim Street at the CEIP Mediterrani School and Miguel Hernández Street at the CEIP Azorin School will be cut off to create more space and facilitate access to the schools.
The City Council for Education has set up gel dispensers in all schools and will be responsible for the supply of hydrogel, soap and disposable paper. There will be one person in charge of cleaning, who will carry out various cleaning tasks during the whole day of lessons (from 10:00 to 17:00).
Access to the schools will be staggered and will depend on the organisation of each school, with the possibility of entering the buildings from different doors in the centre. For example, in the CEIP Oltà School, on the first two school days, pupils will enter between 9:00 and 9:40, the four entrances to the centre will be used (children's playground, central playground, main playground, main ramp) and the situation will normalise from the 9th with entrances at 9:00, 9:05 and 9:10.
In the CEIP Azorín school, on the other hand, from 7 to 11 September, access will be between 9 and 10.45 am and exit will also be staggered between 12 and 1 pm, depending on the different classes.
The Gabriel Miró school has prepared two shifts at the entrance, one at 9:00 and another at 9:15, and two shifts at the exit, one at 12:45 and another at 13. At the CEIP Mediterrani school, staggered access shifts are set up between 9:00 and 9:30, both in Masnou Avenue and Oppenheim Street.
Rebeca Merchán, the City Councillor for Education, pointed out that "since March, the entire education community has been facing a very difficult health situation. I would like to put on record the efforts of the education team of the Calpe Town Council, which has been doing its utmost for months to contribute to the safety of the little ones. I also believe that the work of the teachers and headmasters in this episode was fundamental, as they had to deal with some difficult situations, such as preparing their own emergency plans, which had more to do with health than with their actual profession. My admiration and respect for them. Finally, I would like to thank my Council colleagues Domingo Sánchez and Juan Manuel Del Pino for their ability to work as a team and their willingness to cooperate in the face of an unprecedented education and health crisis".
Merchan added: “With regard to possible changes that our children might experience when they arrive at school, I would like to insist on the use of the mask, which is compulsory from the age of 6 (they must wear one and a spare mask), the isolated groups of students, the compulsory hand washing (between 5 and 6 times a day) and the fountains, which are very likely to be closed. It is therefore important that parents pay special attention and make sure that their child brings a reusable water bottle and refills it at school. From the city council we will provide some bottles for possible omissions”.