Around 1,800 out of the 3,600 enrolled students in Fortune Elementary School (FES) in Marikina City participated in the "peaceful and orderly" inauguration of face-to-face classes after two years amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Sherly Ann Hernandez, the principal of FES, said the school opening was met with an influx of eager parents and students.
They had to employ a "hands-on" approach, she said, particularly for Kinder students who are going to school for the first time.
When meeting the children for the first Kinder shift, she observed no children cried. However, some children began crying as they welcomed the kids for the second shift.
", kung hindi ready , wag pilitin. Kung hindi talaga kaya, wag na muna papasukin (If the child is not ready, do not force them. They don't have to go to class if they really cannot do it)," Hernandez said.
Parents who accompanied their children to school were only allowed at the gate, and discouraged to wait for their children.
A bulletin containing the start and dismissal times of students per year level were indicated there in order for parents' to know when to come back to pick up their kids.
Hernandez said they asked the help of the Marikina City police to control and safeguard the people outside of the campus grounds.
Shifting system
The school devised a two shift system - morning and afternoon - to accommodate the number of students.
The schedule also follows time intervals to regulate the flow of students coming in and out of the school, and ease congestion at the narrow entrance and exit points.
Kinder, Grades 1, 3, and 6 students are scheduled for morning classes, while the sessions for Grades 2, 4, and 5 are set in the afternoon.
The schedules for classes are as follows:
- Grade 1 - 6:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Grade 3 - 6:15 to 12 nn
- Grade 6 - 6 a.m. to 12:10 nn
- Grade 2 - 11:35 a.m. to 5:35 p.m.
- Grade 4 - 12:10 to 6:10 p.m.
- Grade 5 - 12:00 to 6 p.m.
The abovementioned classes last for six hours maximum. Only 24 students are accommodated in each classroom.
Kinder classes last for a maximum of three hours.
There are slight deviations to the kindergarten level scheme, wherein the morning shift is divided into two -- one from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and the other from 10 a.m. to 12 nn.
Some 26 students can occupy a kindergarten classroom, but only 13 can be accommodated at a time. So the two shifts of Kinder classes in the morning are further divided into two sessions.
Students of all levels are grouped in scheduled sets for attendance to face-to-face classes.
Those who belong to Set A will go to school on Monday and Wednesday, while those in Set B will have on-site sessions on Tuesday and Thursday.
Fridays are reserved for assessment and remediation days.
Observing health protocols
For students who have six hour classes, 20 minutes are reserved for a quick snack break in between lessons.
In line with observing health protocols, students eat at their designated tables, and are discouraged from sharing their food, as well as talking with classmates during break times.
Hernandez said they encourage students to bring their own water bottles.
As of now, the schools is implementing limited group activities.
Majority of the individual activities they have planned can be done with physical distancing, she added.
Communication is key
A hurdle that Hernandez noted was miscommunication between the school and the parents regarding school guidelines, seeing as some parents do not have access to the school's Facebook groups.
To resolve these issues, Hernandez said they utilized "communication notebooks" as a tool for communication between the parents and teachers.
Each student has the notebook wherein the teacher writes school guidelines and reminders for the parents' reference. Parents may also write questions and concerns in the notebook for the teachers.