Shropshire pupils safe and well in New York
Parents of pupils from three Shropshire schools currently on trips to New York are being reassured that everyone is safe and well after the superstorm Sandy lashed the east coast overnight.
Groups from Lakelands School in Ellesmere, Idsall School in Shifnal, and The Priory School in Shrewsbury, all followed advice from the authorities in New York and stayed in their hotels while the ‘super storm’ Sandy passed through.
Reports from each school are that all pupils are in good spirits and have been well looked after by the teachers leading the groups. Parents are being kept informed by their schools about travel arrangements, as delays are expected following the cancellation of many flights from New York.
Idsall’s School Chair of governors, Mark Blackstock, said:
“We can confirm that a number of staff and students from Idsall School are currently on a school trip to New York. Pupils have been encouraged to text message their parents to let them know that they are ok and we are speaking with the staff in New York to get as much information for parents as we can. Parents should check the school website for updates.
“We appreciate parents may be worried, but we can assure them that the pupils are safe and in good spirits, with teachers following the appropriate advice from the New York authorities. There are several senior and very experienced members of staff on the trip and I have every faith in their ability to take care of the students while in New York and to get them home safely. We will keep parents informed of any developments regarding flights back as there will inevitably be some disruption from so many cancellations taking place.”
Parents of pupils from The Priory School in Shrewsbury are being kept up to date via email. The students are staying in the centre of New York and which is not at risk of flooding. Two extra nights have been booked at the hotel by the school whilst flights are arranged for the pupils to return to the UK.
Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for education and skills, said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is everyone’s number one concern, and I know it’s been a worrying time for parents who are seeing the images of destruction on the television news. We are told from the group leaders in New York that the worst of the storm has passed, and apart from some high winds the weather is not actually too bad.
“All the pupils are in good spirits and are being well looked after, and parents are being kept up-to-date by the schools regarding when their children will be flying home.”
Forecasters say the storm is set to move westwards towards the Great Lakes, and on to northeastern states and parts of Canada. While it is gradually weakening, gusts of up 50mph are expected, and heavy rainfall will bring flooding to inland areas.
The "post-tropical" storm made landfall at 8pm local time on Monday, bringing gusts of more than 85mph and a record-breaking 13ft surge of seawater in Manhattan.
