Schools close as snow brings island to a halt
Monday 2nd February 2009, 2:30PM GMT.
It was smiles all round for these children at L’Ancresse as they prepared for a day of sledging after news that all island States schools were to stay closed today. Left to right, front, Gabrielle Setters, Megan Hockey, both 8, Lucy Hockey, 4. Left to right, back, Brett Le Goupillot, 9, and Daniel Le Goupillot, 7. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0713511)
THE Education Department has announced that Guernsey schools will remain closed on Tuesday, as the snowy weather is due to continue.
‘The decision has been taken in the interest of the safety of children travelling to school,’ the Department said in a statement issued this afternoon.
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Islanders woke up to a blanket of snow this morning for the first time since February 2005.
More than 10cm, about four inches, fell in places during the night.
That has caused disruption to many services, including the airport, schools and Island Coachways.
Education minister Carol Steere said early this morning that the schools would be closed for the day.
‘The reason for that is that the police have issued a warning for people to stay at home unless it is necessary and the bus service is not running,’ she said.
‘It is a rare event, but a pleasant opportunity to enjoy as a one-off.
‘Hopefully, the island’s school children will enjoy the day.’
- View our gallery of snow scenes here.
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hardcore! no school!
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SWEET< no skool for some other kids instead of me!
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Is Ladies’ College closed on Tuesday too? Theres some confusion!
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yes no more skl great wow hoo
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I bet Mums and Dads are pleased.
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Its all very well closing schools but what about essential workers who then have to find childcare. Its not that easy!! By all means close schools for snow if you want to but provide some other means of provision for those children.
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Wussy kids. Where I come from 10cm is considered a dusting.
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Island comes to a halt? It just takes a little bit of snow and everything stops? What would happen if there was a blizzard?
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Bit pointless in my view, i managed to make it to work today, bit of snow and they all panic scared of a crash or a slip in the snow and legal action against the schools i spose
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I made it to work too. There is no excuse not to go to work unless you have kids but will there be any staff loyalty reward or the missing members of staff be docked?
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I remember clearly walking from Bailiffs Cross to St Andrews school and back when I was a nipper, in the snow,hardy lot then.But with all the traffic trying to get along with their summer tyres on, cancelling school was a wise decision!
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So Carol Steere got her wish, admittedly for only two days.
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My children were off school but of an age where they could be left at home safely without an adult. I walked to work as did my husband. If i had not gone into work my pay would have stopped for a day. This is a small island and it is pathetic that it comes to a standstill with a bit of snow. Most of my colleagues made it to work – except those who had to stay home with young children which is fair enough.
The schools should have stayed open – i feel sorry for all the parents with young children who had no option but to stay home with them – and who have unsympathetic employers. We should be walking in weather like this and employers would, I am sure, be sympathetic to shorter working days and if staff were a little late rather than have no staff at all!
We knew the snow was coming so it should not have caused such chaos.
It was very pretty though and i enjoyed walking to work (7 miles) – sometimes it makes one realise what a beautiful island we live in.
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As many families take their kids out before term holidays start and Education appears to condone this; the unholy alliance of fawning parents and a weak Education Department aren’t going to lose any sleep of a few days off for the kids.
Ok, possibly the wrong place to choose my battle as we did have a lot of fun on our bin bags down various hills; and it is a 20 year event :)
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