First 3 days back to school experiences

September 12, 2022

Education is a need and every kids should have it starting on their early age.

For two years, students missed their school and their classroom because of the pandemic. It closes their opportunity to learn face to face and tried their best to continue learning in different ways like modular and online discussion.

During those times, not only the students adjusted in the new way of learning but the teachers and the parents as well. Many kids have limited learning with it. Many parents became an instant teacher that made them realize how hard to be a teacher.

It was a unique and difficult experience but pandemic taught us different lessons and gave us different experiences.

This school year, students, parents and teachers were so happy that they have given a chance to have a face to face classes.

I planned to enroll my son in Kinder-2 but unfortunately his age doesnt met the requirements. Kinder 2 should be 5 years old or turning 5 until October. My son will be turning 5 on November 13. Oh no! only 13 days late.

So, I have no choice but to enrol him in the Kinder 1 making him one of the oldest among his classmates.

Last Monday, September 05, 2022 is their orientation and first day of school. My son is so excited because he had only one day face to face experience during the pandemic and it was their exam and he just met his 3 classmates. So, thinking that he would go to school again, it makes him more excited. He wakes up and took a bath early, eat well and so excited to wear his clothes for school. I can still remember how he woke so fast when I told him to wake up because we will go to school. When the classes is not yet started, my son usually woke up at 6am onwards but when the classes begin he woke up at around 5am or before 6am. He usually took a bath at 9am back then but now, he should take a bath before 6:30am. He sometimes told me that he felt so cold but still willing to take a bath so early.

Here is my son before leaving home. His excitement can be seen in his smile.

In the first day, we are the first to arrive in school. I choose to go early because it is our first time and I still don't know yet how many minutes we could consume in walking before reaching his school. I then found out that we can consume 7-8 minutes only.

Before their class starts, every parent is trying to instruct kids to behave and listen to their teacher. Then, we parents, just stay outside.

Look! these are some of the parents in the first day of school. We are trying to look our kids over the door or window just to check if they are listening and doing things as instructed by their teacher.

My son was first called to introduce himself. His face seems going to cry. I felt worried and then thankful because he did it and never cried. When we reached home I asked him why he seems about to cry? He told me that he thought that all of his classmates will stand in the front.

The first activity were given and some parents entered to assist their kids in getting their paper, pencil and crayons. Their teacher is a person with disability so he couldn't walk towards her students tables. So, she will just call them by name to bring their paper and pencil to their teacher. Parents really need to assists their children.

My son also is the first to write in the board on that day.

My son already knew about letters, shapes, colors and numbers so it is not so difficult for him. He always finished the activity first and he is so glad to show me his stars.

We don't need to bring merienda for them because the parents will cook food for their merienda everyday. On the first day, they have bihon, on the second day, they have egg and tuna with carrots and in the third day they have arozcaldo.

I always remind my son to offer a prayer of thanksgiving before eating his food and he did. I felt disappointed because they are not praying for food as a whole before eating. So, my son, prays for his food alone.

On the second day, his excitement is still there. He is so active in the classroom and went to his teacher when called.

In the second day, his bag was damaged. This bag is already 3 years old because this bag is what we used when he is still so young. So in the afternoon, we went to the market and bought a bag for him. He first choose a bigger bag but I didn't buy it because he don't need a super big bag. He only put paper, pencil and crayons in his bag so a smaller one is okay and he then end up to choose that one red bag.

In the third day, he is still so excited, and much more excited wearing his new bag.

He is still have an active participation in the classroom and always obeys his teacher. I am hoping that his excitement everyday will continue as time pass by.

Last Saturday evening, I brought him to a dressmaker so he could wear his uniform soon.

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Having face to face classes is so different from having a modular class. Having a teacher in front, sitting in small chair, having small table and having their classmates around make the room a good environment for schooling or learning. Kids are more focused in their activity because there is no tv or cellphone to distract them while learning. Seeing their classmates writes will also encourage them to write.

I am happy for the kids because at last they can go to school and learn even it also means as adjusted time, adjusted routine for the parents like me who will bring children to school, stays and guide them until the classes end.

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This is my participation in the @hiveph Blogging contests for September 2022 Week 2 (Sept. 5 - 12, 2022) : Back to school experience.

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Let the child go to school, have fun, learn and be educated.