NEW SCHOOL YEAR. Pupils line up to enter their classroom with the guidance of their teacher during the opening of classes at the Samal South Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Samal, Bataan on Monday (Aug. 22, 2022). The opening of classes in public elementary and secondary schools in the province went on smoothly. (Photo by Ernie Esconde)
SAMAL, Bataan – The opening of classes in public elementary and secondary schools in this province proceeded smoothly on Monday as students and pupils were reminded of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health protocols as well as measures against dengue.
At the Samal South Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Lucia here, teachers attended to children by taking their temperature and disinfecting their hands with alcohol as they entered the school premises.
Before going inside their classrooms, children, all wearing face mask, cleaned their shoes on sanitation rugs as teachers reminded them to observe health protocols.
After two years of not being in school due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the children again sang the national anthem during the flag-raising ceremony, and did some physical exercises.
School principal Alice De Guzman said the pupils were excited to go to classes although some cried as their parents left them in school.
“Nandito ang teaching and non-teaching staff para punan ang pangangailangan ng mga estudyante sa abot ng aming makakaya (The teaching and non-teaching staff are here to fill-in the needs of the students to the best of our efforts),” de Guzman said in an interview.
She reminded the children that Covid-19 is still present, so they should always sanitize their hands and observe all the other safety measures.
Rural health center midwife Lolita Poblete, on the other hand, said that aside from Covid-19, everyone should also take precaution against dengue.
She enumerated ways of preventing the mosquito-borne disease such as eliminating breeding places by maintaining clean surroundings. (PNA)
