The back to school season has begun and students, teachers and staff have returned to school grounds under unusual circumstances. Since schools in the UAE closed down in March, it was hard to say what the new academic year was going to look as as Coronavirus cases continued to rise.
Now, with regulated safety measures, schools have opened up their doors to some, if not all, students. We spoke to students in the UAE and asked them to describe their experiences of going back to school during a pandemic and what they think the rest of the school year will look like.
I feel that returning to school is like a small miracle after months of distance learning last year. It came as a huge shock last March when we were not able to go back to school after our Spring Break. I did not enjoy having to stay at home, and I don’t think anyone did. We had to endure months of being stuck at home, not being able to leave or see any of our families and friends. I am feeling very happy to be returning to school.
To be very honest, when it was confirmed that we would return for the new year, I felt a little scared because I didn’t know what the set up would be and how the school would protect us. Now, after coming in, from the moment I entered after six months, I feel safe and understand the importance of being back, and I remembered how fun it is to be in school.
The first thing I noticed is the safety measures, how they take our temperature and then sanitize our school bags and shoes. We are also social distancing in the classrooms and while moving around the school. We are lucky that we have lots of spaces that allow us to social distance ourselves properly. To tell the truth, I felt relieved that it is safe in school.
I think that in the future the coronavirus will be gone however we will always need to keep our guard up, wear our masks, sanitize our hands and keep our distance. The future is still unsure, and we don’t know what will happen, so all we can do is follow the safety instructions and try to live an everyday life by coming back into school. Our school and teachers are doing all they can for us, and now it’s our time to keep safe. Keep your guard up #GOCOVID19!
I feel safe because the rules are clear and easy to follow, so why would I feel bad or nervous? I think it will be a great year because no matter what happens, we are safe and happy to be back in school.
It feels a bit weird being back in school because of what is going on – like the social distancing and wearing masks. I feel happy to be back in school because I can see all my friends and meet the teachers in person. I think it’s safe because we have so much hand sanitizing areas around school. I think most of the school year will be like this but hopefully the end will be different. I want it to go back to normal because of the simple things like being able to play football with my friends and swim.
Max, Year 7
I am happy to see all of my friends. I really missed school because I didn’t really like the online learning – it was very different to being in school. I hope it gets better.
Sam, Year 6
After being at home for so long, I was looking forward to going back to school. A new school, so it was more nerve-wracking for me. I wasn’t worried about wearing a mask for school or having to wash our hands all the time; I had been doing this for so long that I didn’t feel strange, and I knew that everyone else would be doing it too. My school had been sending little videos about what to expect when we went to school, so it wasn’t a shock at all. I don’t feel strange having to stay apart from people, and I have even made new friends despite the restrictions. We have been able to have PE lessons, and I am looking forward to piano lessons starting very soon too. We have even been able to have school lunches which are delivered to our classrooms and have a short ‘stay safe’ note on each one from our chef. I love school, and it is different but hasn’t affected us too much at all. It is just a new way of life that we have had to get used to.
It felt great to be back in school. I love the school and the teachers and it was exciting to see my friends again. It does feel different because of the pandemic and the safety measures, but slowly it is starting to feel normal and I look forward to coming to school every day.
Hi, my name is Larry (LJ) and I am in 4th grade at Bright Learners Private School. I am excited to go back to the classroom and meet my classmates. I feel happy because we are separated in class and that makes me feel safe. I think it will be a great year because everything is going to be new and everyone is family. It is exciting to be one of the 1st new students in this school. After being home and distance learning, I was excited to see the playground and football pitch! I am looking forward to this school year!
Coming back to school has been a great experience for me. I have been able to see all my friends and can talk and interact with them at a safe distance. We have been able to do nearly all of our lessons and have been doing so safely. In lessons, chairs are spaced 2 meters apart and masks are being worn by everyone. Brighton College is a very safe and happy place to be.
Morris from The British International School Abu Dhabi was happy to be back in school. Upfront he was pondering about what his new Year 3 class would be like, his new classmates and his new teacher. He was excited to finally be able to meet old and make new friends:
‘It was really, really fun! I already made a new friend, he is sitting next to me (with 1.5m distance). We played a lot of number and letter games, we did yoga and drama (act it out) and we made a poster on safety. On the poster, we put all the things we need to do to keep safe. I am okay with wearing a mask and walking one way in the hallways. We played a tag game outside, but with new rules: if you were near, you already tagged! I hope nobody will get sick so we can continue to go every day.
The pandemic meant that I was unable to see my classmates for such a long time and the best part of being back in school for me has been meeting my best friend, who I hadn’t seen since lockdown. When we first arrived at school, I really enjoyed being shown around by my teacher, and seeing the school after such a long time. We’ve been playing really fun games as a class, as we learn about health and safety as well as our lessons like English and maths.
BSAK primary teachers have found some brilliant and creative ways to have fun with the children as they adapt to the new environment. Students have enjoyed learning about hand hygiene through word searches, colouring, quizzes and scrabble and understanding health, safety and feelings through wellbeing sessions. A whole series of socially distanced playground games have been invented that explore indoor and outdoor spaces, proving that there’s lots of fun to be had, even at a distance.
I am excited to start the school year on a brand new campus and follow the new guidelines for students. I am going to make sure that I sanitize my hands and belongings in school. COVID-19 has changed the world and I think my school is going to do great as it is always ready to face any challenge. This will be a new experience for all of us but I’m sure that we will get used to this new routine in no time!
This year we faced many challenges, one of them was the sudden shift to online learning but my school supported us right from the start. Our principal, vice principal and teachers worked hard to give us the best learning experience. As the situation is now under control, we are glad to be able to go back to school and continue to soar higher and reach our goals. Returning to school during this pandemic will be a new and exciting experience for me because I or most people have never faced something like this. I am anxious but I trust my school as it always ensures that the students receive the best academic experience.
Dubai Heights Academy has made sure they’ve implemented the right safety measures in order keep students safe!
Temperature checks for every student before embarking on school buses.
Spaced out seating arrangements.
Posters encouraging kids to wash their hands properly.
Hi! My name is Maya Adham. I am in grade 11 and it is my first year of the IB Diploma Programme. As a returning student at Dunecrest American School, I am happy to say that the campus has a palpable buzz. It’s as busy and as vibrant as ever!
I am excited to be back with my fellow classmates and teachers, knowing that we are in good hands during this pandemic. The school has taken several safety precautions to ensure our wellbeing while still being able to deliver a successful and fun learning experience. This is indeed one of the school’s main priorities.
The face masks and two meter distance between each person does not prevent anyone from connecting with their peers, as the school has created a precautious yet enjoyable environment where we can sit and chat in certain areas of the school. Teachers keep reminding us that it is not social distancing, but physical distancing.
I envision the rest of this school year on campus to be a unique one, where we can study in a stimulating environment even with the limitations prescribed by the current pandemic. My greatest hope is that sports teams return in full action, so everyone can come together and enjoy physical activities. Knowing the respectful, positive, and persevering attitude of this amazing community, I’m confident that this will be a great school year for the Eagles!
The head boy and head girl from The English College share their thoughts on returning to campus, as well as the safety measures put in place.
The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly created a global hindrance. As a student, when we were distance learning from home last spring, it was often overwhelming to be learning by myself as it was harder to share ideas and perceptions with a group of pupils and teachers. Moreover, being quarantined at home also heavily impacted everyone’s wellbeing and health. Missing out on face-to-face social interactions with my classmates and teachers was indeed an impediment I faced during distance learning.
These faint predicaments really became a fading memory when I first received the message that I was going to return to school. My first impression of the announcement was a rush of enthusiasm. The first days of school have been an undeniable contrast from the past. I fully understand that my school, Fairgreen International, is taking the correct and practical safety measures to protect us all. One example of this socially distanced style of learning is when we are present in a classroom. Our administrators always remind us to sanitize our hands and school supplies. There are also stickers placed on the floor (distributed all around the school grounds) that remind us to stay safely apart. Similarly, hand sanitizers are available at plentiful locations around the campus. We are also advised not to share food or other novelty items for the safety of our health and others. Precisely because of all of this, I feel protected at school. I also believe that the smaller size of our school and classrooms have made it very amiable and comfortable coming back to school.
I truly believe that my school has done exceptionally well with regard to protecting students. I envision this academic year to be safe and enjoyable.
My name is Anirudh Rohitkumar of Grade 8A from GIIS Dubai and I am excited at the idea of school reopening. I am especially looking forward to this term as we students now have the privilege of going to school even if it is for once or twice a week. School reopening also means that we will be engaged more, although this summer vacation was quite busy for me at least considering the number of classes I took.
Since a handful of students will be coming to school for face to face learning, our school will have to implement safety regulations. As a lot of you know, the coronavirus outbreak occurred this year so precautions must be taken. And I feel our teachers and staff are doing a good job on handling this. I think face to face learning will not only benefit us students as we get to step out of the house and meet our friends but also will benefit our teachers as they too get some time out of the house.
Distance learning has also been handled very well by our school and the ASA last term was really beneficial for students and even a handful of parents who took part. The teachers conducting those classes did a fantastic job and really engaged the students and I hope to see more of the same work this term. To conclude, I’d like to give a huge thanks to all the school staff for handling the current situation in the way they have and I will be looking forward to the coming surprises our school will bring.
Anirudh Rohitkumar, Grade 8
Being a part of GIIS has always been a blessing for me. This time it hit a little different. It’s been a lot harder than we thought, but our school did the most they could to make up for that and we all adapted quickly. Still, we have truly missed everyone. The school has been working and planning day and night for reopening from the very first day. Well at first we were concerned, with all the cases rising, but then looking at the safety measures of our school, our fears were put to rest, it was beyond what we could ask.
Our school was committed to do all they can to keep us safe, did their best to protect all, and invited us with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where we can thrive to be lifelong learners. I enjoyed every virtual class, the air had been filled with encouragement, patience, information, and enrichment. We are delighted to share our plans for opening the school!
Thank you teachers; even in the hardest times, they were making my educational journey enjoyable and fruitful. Now, schools are starting! When the school reopens, it will give us an outstanding opportunity to meet friends and to share all my feelings, thoughts, knowledge, understanding and perspectives. It’s been so long since we have seen each other face to face as we have all been quarantined, but now we can finally go to our school. We are really excited, we couldn’t wait and now at last! We can all now discuss concepts of different topics while socially distancing, do various different activities, and get more opportunities. We can do physical activities as well but best of all we can meet our friends and teachers! Everyone has to respect and implement recommendations by the UAE health organizations/WHO guidelines.
We need to implement these measures in an effective way. We need to continue the vision as per the government and KHDA regulations and follow their instructions as per the guidelines given in detail, and if any student feels uneasy going to school during this pandemic, our school has provided both the options. I appreciate the efforts our school has done and we are sure if we have any challenges in the future we will be ready! Thank you! We all can’t wait to meet everyone!
Daniya Zainab, Grade 8
The staff and students at Kent College Dubai were happy to return for the new academic year!
I feel great coming back to school since I get to catch up with friends, teachers and get active, as well as meeting new friends and teachers. In school I feel very safe and happy!
They have taken extra precautions like making passageways and marked the halls to keep distance. We all are practicing social distancing and are using our hand sanitizers at all times. The teachers make sure that we are keeping a safe distance and are always making sure we wash our hands and stay safe too. I feel like the rest of the year will go smoothly and nicely with lots of safety precautions. Even if we go back in lockdown again, we can still do distance learning. We had a great distance learning experience too! The teachers taught us through live sessions which were easy to access, and they put in all their effort to make sure we were having a great time too!
I am so happy to be back to school after such a long break. It brings me joy to see my friends again, even though we have to maintain social distancing and stay within our bubbles. Seeing the bag and shoe sanitizers, sanitation dispensers and safety measures in place make me feel safe to come back to school. I cannot wait to begin the new academic year at Nibras International School.
Coming back into school was definitely relieving. Being in my last year of Secondary school, I really wanted to experience as ‘normal’ of a year as possible. However, that did come with some changes. Overall, I feel my school Nord Anglia International School Dubai (NAS) did an outstanding job at making every student—myself included—feel safe and comfortable in the school.
Oh yes, it was strange the first couple days trying to adjust to the one-way system (to get around classrooms), and staying in the same class for breaks and lunches, but everyone understood that certain measures needed to be implemented in order to ensure our safety. Looking at the bright side, I feel like this pandemic has somehow given the school an unintended positive effect. I, for one, feel more motivated to learn. I’ve developed a much stronger appreciation for school and my teachers, and all the work they do to support us.
The student and the teacher community has definitely grown closer as well seeing as we’ve all experienced these pressing times together. Overall, I am excited to see how the rest of the year will turn out, but I’m not as scared because I know I have the support of my school behind me.
Hi! My name is Fayrouz from Year 6, at Reach British School.
At the beginning of the year, Covid-19 appeared and schools had to be closed for everyone’s safety. Our classes were shifted to distance learning and at first, it made me sad. I couldn’t go to school and see my friends, classmates and teachers.
I became the happiest person alive when Reach British School announced that we can go back to school for face to face learning. As I go back to school, it is somehow different. Before you enter the school, there is a big tent where they check your temperature. There are lots of signs and markings on the floors and walls about distance learning and washing our hands. It is everywhere!
Our school strictly implements all the safety measures so that we can all be safe at school.
Many things have changed but I am very happy to see my friends once again and I hope it stays that way. We are in blended learning where 1 week we are at school and 1 week in distance learning. I hope that everything will be back to normal and we can be as free as before.
How have you found the return to school?
It’s been amazing to see my friends and teachers again! And being back physically learning has been so much fun. There are lots of rules and procedures in place but we know they are there to keep us safe.
Do you feel safe at school and what safety measures are taken?
Yes, I do feel safe at school – we have to social distance, wear masks at all times and have thermal scanners. We also had some training during our tutor time which was really helpful.
What do you think the rest of the school year will look like?
I think that it depends on the success of a vaccine and the number of cases. If we all play our part in the community then hopefully we can go back to how school was before. If we follow the guidelines in school the safety measure will start to relax.
What have you enjoyed most about the return to school?
I’ve enjoyed seeing my friends, meeting my new teachers – who are so fun! I’ve also really enjoyed having the daily contact with my teacher in person and being able to talk to them face to face – it will really help with my learning.
Springdales School students Juveria Shah, Samara Dutta, Sufiyan Ali and Araya Jacob were delighted to return to school and have sweet messages for their teachers and schoolmates! Principal Dr. Brian Gray also shares some encouraging words to get everyone in the back to school spirit.
I was so happy and excited to return to school, I kept on jumping up and down, so excited! I think safety will be all good, there is everything we need; masks, sanitiser, and more. The school year will be amazing, I think so and I know it will. I love the school a lot, it’ll be a lot of fun.
I made friends on the first day, and then on the second day, I made more friends! The most important thing is to wear our masks and use sanitizer.
Vernus International School also has a full time doctor on campus to teach children how to stay Covid safe!
Hello, my name is Nataly Mitchell and I am in the 3rd grade. I am from Florida and I have lived in the UAE for 5 years. I prefer going to school than doing it online because if I was doing it online and I have a question I have to text my teacher and wait. But when I’m in school, I just raise my hand and I can ask. And also I get to see my teacher and my friends face to face. So I’m so happy to be back at school.
Twitter
Add a Comment
Please do not post:
Thank you once again for doing your part to keep Edarabia the most trusted education source.