Most students OK with new normal
LAHAD DATU: The reopening of school for Form 5 and 6 students are actually a blessing in disguise for the students who will soon sit for important examinations.
At SM St Dominic, a total of 190 students who will be sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) this year, attended the first day of school reopening as early as 6am.
St Dominic principal, Wong Vui Hang said the reopening of school during this Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) provides the opportunity for students to be more focused with with the small number of students in a class.
“The implementation of new norm is actually a blessing for the students as well as teachers.
“Prior to this, we have five Form 5 classes and during the reopening of the school this time, we have increased the number of classes to 13. Each class will only have 13 to 17 students,” she said.
Wong said the less number of students in a class could reduce distraction and allow the students to be more focused.
She said the students should take this opportunity and provide full commitment to their studies although they are facing the global issue of Covid-19 pandemic.
“Students should always comply with the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) and practice social distancing as well as maintain personal hygiene to prevent the spread of Covid 19.
“School has also provided face masksand hand sanitizer to the students as well as labeling to facilitate the students to practise social distancing,” she said whent met yesterday.
According to Wong, the school took more than two weeks to prepare for the reopening to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Wong said simulations had also been performed by taking into account of all aspects.
“The school has done what are necessary and will always monitor the students while in school. But, at the same time, we hope the stuents will be more responsible and disciplined while not in school by practising whatever needed to be done to fight the pandemic.
“We also hope that parents will fully cooperate on this matter by always reminding their children to comply with all the rules,” she said.
According to Wong, parents should also be more cautious about their children’s health and do not allow the students to go school if they are sick.
Wong said parents were also encouraged to send and fetch their children as well as prepare food for their children from home.
She said two subjects would be taught everyday and hoped the students could come everyday unless they were sick so that they would not miss their lesson.
“We have 64 teachers for both sessions who come to school, not only to teach the Form 5 students but also to assist the school in ensuring the students comply with the SOP as well as practise scial distancing.
“We hope all of us would be able to face the challenges of practising the new norms to fight against Covid-19 as well as providing the best for the students so that they could sit for SPM,” she added.
Meanwhile, most of the students are happy to be able to return to school although the environment is different from the previous session.
When asked the students said that being able to return to school would definitely help them in their studies, especially with the upcoming SPM.
They said although they need to practise social distancing and could not spend the recess to
meet up with their friends, they would still be able to have discussions with their friends and teachers.