Special Lockdown Message

March 26, 2020

Dear JJS Castleson parents, students, and employees,

We are in a highly unusual time where everyone's health is at risk. Even small and medium-sized businesses are faced with serious dilemmas while remaining stoic. This is a good time to practice kindness and patience, and extend assistance whenever appropriate. Our schools have over 1000 students and 150 employees who are connected to an exponential number of family, friends, and neighbors at home and elsewhere. Please stay safe. A wave and a smile at a distance are always in abundance on our lovely island and proud City of Smiles.

Our school offices will be fully closed until April 14 in response to the Negros mandatory lockdown. Starting April 15, we will open only on Wednesdays. Entrance exams will be held also on Wednesdays starting April 15 from 8am-11am and 1-4pm.

We have fully deployed our online enrollment form for summer classes and for the next school year. Payments can now be made on our website through Paypal. Your neighborhood banks and financial outlets such as Metrobank, BPI, LBC, and MLhuillier will also accept your school payments. Now is the best time to utilize these services to ensure everyone's health and safety.

We will not issue refunds for tuition because we pay our employees year round and we also support them through this crisis. Those who have open accounts should try to resolve this as soon as possible. Teachers continue to work from home evaluating students performance and calculating grades.

We understand our beloved students and their families look forward to special school days. It breaks our heart to also cancel Graduation Day, Culminating activities, Recognition Day, and report card distribution. We will provide refunds if you paid for these but we will keep ₱400 to cover the cost of the certificates, plaques, and medals. These will be ready for pick up on May 13 and every Wednesday thereafter.

For other activities and events that were postponed or cancelled including High School Night at City Heights, you can either 1) receive a refund, or 2) carry over the amount to our summer programs or upon enrollment for the next school year. On the other hand, we worry about crowding so please try NOT to descend on the school at the same time. Come on different Wednesdays, keep physical distance, disinfect hands with alcohol, and stay home if you have flu-like symptoms. These refunds will be available for you until next school year.

At this time, we are closely monitoring the unfolding of events and have not decided on our summer classes scheduled for May 18-June 26. We will keep you updated of any changes.

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The best way to communicate is through question@jjscastleson.org. We are aware our decisions at times do not sit well with others but we try to be mindful of our decisions given the circumstances.  We appreciate the patience and helpfulness you have extended to all of us. Together we will prevail.

Thank you! Stay healthy! Be kind!

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Muriel C. Lopez-Wagner, PhD
President
JJS Castleson Inc