‘Closed until further notice’: Adelaide private school campus shut following storm damage
Hundreds of children have been told not to come in this morning because storm damage had created “a significant safety risk”.
Education
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Students at Sacred Heart College were advised to stay home on Tuesday after their Marcellin Campus was left without power due to damage from last night’s storm.
Downed powerlines at the Somerton Park campus presented “a significant safety risk”, the school told its community in a message posted to social media.
“Powerlines are down on Cudmore St which poses a significant safety risk,” the message said.
“Accordingly, Marcellin Campus is closed today until further notice.”
The campus was left without lighting, heating, Wi-Fi or telephone connectivity.
“Not only will learning be hindered, but safety cannot be assured without these communication services,” it said.
“Students who arrive at the college will be supervised until they can safely depart.”
The school advised it would advise families of an appropriate reopening time “if power is restored in a timely manner”.
Students were told to access work online and continue work from home.
Sacred Heart College principal Daniel Lynch told The Advertiser the decision was made to shut the campus as “the safety of our students, and of our staff, is absolutely paramount”.
“Given the damage caused by the storms, families were notified this morning prior to 8am of our campus closure, meaning only a very small number of students attended the Marcellin Campus today,” Mr Lynch said.
“Those students who did attend were offered supervision and support until such time as plans were made for them to return home.”
Teaching for the students at the Marcellin Campus continued throughout the day through Google Classroom.
“We remain in contact with SA Power Networks,” he said.
“The advice we’ve received at the moment is that power should be restored at some point later today and as such, we are hopeful that classes will resume tomorrow morning.
“We will, of course, communicate directly with our families throughout the day, as more information comes to hand.”
Teaching and learning at the Champagnat Campus, for students in years 7 to 9 at Mitchell Park, continued as normal.
An SA Power Networks spokeswoman said electricity should be restored at the school about 6pm.
Multiple crews are on site with a crane to repair a power pole, damaged by a fallen tree branch.
At the peak of Monday’s storm, which continued overnight, more than 16,000 SA Power Networks customers were without electricity and the State Emergency Services responded to more than 230 calls for help – mostly for fallen trees and minor flood damage.
South Australia experienced wind gusts of up to 120km/h on Monday and – after an extended dry period – the heavy rains and strong winds saw trees being uprooted and dropping limbs, causing damage to the electricity network.
More than 1600 customers are still in the dark across SA on Tuesday morning.
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