The excitement was palpable in the air. Almost after 11 long months, the streets of Manjakkudi came alive with the sound of school going children. The Swami Dayananda Matric Higher Secondary School, Manjakkudi, Tamil Nadu opened doors recently based on the directives of the Education Department of the State Government.
January 2021 brought in good tidings. The Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu allowed reopening of schools for students from Class 10 to 12 on 19th January 2021. A detailed SOP (standard operating procedure) was also shared with respect to safety and precautionary measures by the Education Department.
Soon after this announcement, the staff at Swami Dayananda Matric Higher Secondary School, Manjakkudi, held a meeting with the parents. The parents signed a declaration form where they affirmed their willingness to send their wards to school. The students also signed a self declaration form that contained the safety norms (do’s and don’ts) and their commitment to adhere to the norms.
In addition, all teaching and non-teaching staff at the school also signed a self declaration form relating to Covid-19 safety compliance norms.
In all, safety began at the school doorstep. Teachers were deputed on a rotation basis to check the temperature of staff and students on a daily basis. Those who were found sick were advised to return home. Sanitisers were also given at the entrance. All staff and students are wearing masks.
Class 9 and 10 students were allotted rooms in the first floor of the school building while students of Classes 11 and 12 have be given rooms in the second floor to avoid crowding and maintain social distancing.
The school now begins at 9:15 am everyday and ends at 3:15 pm. Each period is of 45 minute duration and one test period of the same length on all working days. The Swami Dayananda Matric Higher Secondary School, Manjakkudi, Tamil Nadu, will now function on all week days and on Saturday (on need basis).
Teachers are given lunch duty to ensure students maintain adequate space amongst them and do not share food or drink water from the same bottle. Class teachers, physical education teachers, coordinators and the school principal take regular rounds in the school premises to ensure that all safety norms are being adhered to.
The school principal had separate sessions with students of Class 9 and 10, 11 and 12 along with the respective teachers. The main points discussed were staying healthy, adoption of best hygiene practices and staying motivated and giving their best and getting good results in the forthcoming examinations.
“With the blessings of our Founder, Pujya Swamiji and the unstinting support of our Chairperson (Ms. Sheela Balaji), we, the staff and students of Swami Dayananda Matric School, are looking forward to
successful results and fruitful days ahead,” sums up Ms. Padma Raghunathan, principal, Swami Dayananda Matric Higher Secondary School, Manjakkudi, Tamil Nadu