The typhoon/rainstorm warnings and emergency procedures are designed to ensure students’ safety. There are different warnings and procedures for typhoons and rainstorms as listed below. A PDF file can also be downloaded and printed here.
In cases of extreme weather where the school is required to close by the Education Bureau, an SMS message will be sent to all parents and staff notifying school closure. Please also listen to television and radio announcements from 6am onwards and throughout the day for updates.
Primary and Secondary schools will operate as normal unless advised otherwise.
Typhoon Signal No.8 and above
Before school hours: All schools will close.
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: ● The school will ensure that safe arrangements are made for students to return home. ● 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. Ideally, if safety allows, the school will aim to have buses depart before the hoisting of the higher T8 signal ● If buses cannot run the school will inform affected parents that their child/ren will remain supervised 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 all signals are cancelled, all schools will open on the next school day and all transport can run as usual.
Rainstorm Warning
Information for Parents
Amber Rainstorm Warning
All schools will operate as normal.
Red Rainstorm Warning
Before the start of school
All schools will close all day. If the warning is raised at the time your child is getting ready to set off for school, your child should stay home.
After students have set off for school but before the commencement of school Schools will accept and retain students until arrangements are made with their families for safe pickup.
When classes are in session
Schools continue until the end of normal school hours and students are retained at school until conditions are safe for them to return home.
School buses cannot run if the Red or Black rainstorm warning is still in effect. If the signal does not change, the school will ask parents to pick up their child(ren) when it is safe to do so. Parents are encouraged to check the ESF App regularly for updates.
Black Rainstorm Warning
Online Learning
If the Observatory hoists an inclement Typhoon/Rainstorm Warning weather signal before the start of the school day and schools are closed, ESF will activate the work-from-home arrangement. A message will be sent through the ESF APP.
Online learning will be arranged for all year groups. Tasks will be shared via the year group Cahoot page
Class teachers will communicate with families, and students will participate, if they are able to.
The ‘live’ aspect of learning will include a class Zoom session 2 times per day. At 9:00 am and 11:30am.
If extreme weather conditions occur and a typhoon signal is hoisted above a No. 8 signal and/or a Black Rain signal is hoisted, school will not provide online synchronous or asynchronous teaching and learning during this time.
If the extreme weather conditions are down-graded to T8 or lower or below a Black Rain before 12 noon we will activate our online learning provision for the remainder of the day.
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