RAINSTORM AND TYPHOON WARNINGS
The rainy season lasts from April to September. Parents are advised to note the following arrangements, which apply in all cases except where students are taking external examinations (see EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS below).
TYPHOONS
Before school hours:
Parents should use radio or television (or consult the EDB website) to receive announcements on the closure of schools.
If Typhoon Signal Pre-8 or Signal 8 or above is raised prior to school hours, all schools will close. Kindergartens and the Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (JCSRS) will close if a Signal 3 is hoisted.
The pre-8 signal indicates that the observatory expects to raise the Signal 8 within two hours, giving schools and families the opportunity to be prepared.
If a signal is raised while students are travelling to school, the school is responsible for receiving the students and holding them until arrangements can be made for them to return home at an appropriate time.
In school hours:
With the government announcement of the closure of schools, all schools are to close. In that situation principals will ensure that safe and adequate arrangements can be made for students to return home.
If that is impossible the school will inform affected parents that their children will remain in school until it is safe to release them or until a parent or designated responsible adult picks them up. Students will not be sent home on school buses once a Signal 8 or above has been hoisted.
Lowering of signals:
When a typhoon signal is lowered to Signal 3 (or Signal 1 for kindergartens and JCSRS) or all signals are cancelled, all schools will open on the next school day.
If the signal is lowered or cancelled before 10.30am, the afternoon session of kindergartens will proceed as usual and the school buses will operate (unless EDB announces that kindergartens are to close).
HEAVY PERSISTENT RAIN
The Amber, Red, Black Warnings are independent of other warnings e.g. landslip or typhoon warnings.
| RAINSTORM WARNING SYSTEM | ACTION TO BE TAKEN |
|---|---|
| AMBER | All schools and kindergartens operate as usual |
| RED OR BLACK | Please scroll down for information about external examinations |
| (i) Before the start of school | All schools will close for the whole day. If the warning is raised at the time your child sets off for school (s)he should stay at home. |
| (ii) After students have set off for school, but before the commencement of school | Schools will accept those students who arrive, and retain them until it is safe to allow them to proceed home. |
| (iii) When classes are in session | Schools continue until the end of normal hours and students are retained until conditions are safe for them to return home. |
Schools will not allow students to return home, including on a school bus when a Red or Black Warning is issued.
In these circumstances children may only be released to a parent or designated responsible adult if requested by a parent to do so. Schools will not request parents to come to school to collect their children in dangerous conditions.
If school buses can be arranged when the relevant signals are lowered, then they should run. If not, the school must advise parents (or designated responsible adult) to collect their children from school.
Each school will have a contingency plan to cover inclement weather conditions and shall advise parents so that procedures are fully understood by all concerned.
Schools that lie in areas prone to flooding or landslips will monitor conditions and take the necessary precautionary measures.
When in doubt, parents should consult the school website for clarification on arrangements in inclement weather.
When relevant observatory signals are lowered, the emergency notices will be removed from websites, indicating a business as usual situation.
EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS
It should not be assumed that the above procedures will hold for those taking external examinations e.g. GCSE, A Level or International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Parents will be advised about contingency plans for extreme weather by the schools in their communications to parents on examination arrangements. Parents are advised to keep these arrangements easily available should such conditions arise. All schools will follow common procedures for each session of such examinations.
In extreme weather please do not telephone your child’s school unless it is absolutely necessary.
Please refer to the ESF or school website.
Links:
May 2015