How South City International School will welcome students back after pandemic break

Schools are set to reopen in West Bengal on November 16 and preparations are underway to ensure safety of students and teachers.

South City International School has taken up a string of measures such as extensive sanitisation, turning the auditorium into a classroom, installing sensor taps in washrooms and ensuring vaccination of all staff.

“We are ready to welcome students back to school. The management has already ordered 150 extra single desks to help maintain social distancing among students in classes. These desks are arriving next week and we will be ordering for more,” said John Bagul, the principal of South City International School. “Also, for those who are not comfortable attending school every day or cannot attend school, we have tied up with edtech platform NEXT to facilitate learning in hybrid mode.”

Teachers have been conducting online classes from school for the past three months and the school has been following all COVID protocol to ensure maximum safety.

“We are ready to welcome students back to school. Also, for those who are not comfortable attending school every day or cannot attend school, we have tied up with edtech platform NEXT to facilitate learning in hybrid mode.”

- John Bagul, Principal, South City International School

Here’s how South City International School is getting ready for the big day:

Staff vaccination: All teachers and non-teaching staff have received double vaccination. All non-teaching staff have to wear gloves as an additional safety measure.

Entry: Wearing masks will be mandatory and the school will have extra masks ready should anyone need them. Contactless sanitizers have been installed at the entry and exit points of the school.

Thermal guns: Temperature check using thermal guns is already in practice for teachers and non-teaching staff and will be extended to students when they come in.

Classrooms: All classrooms are being sanitized regularly. Air-conditioners will remain switched off to minimise the spread of infections. Windows will be opened for cross ventilation.

Big rooms: The school will use its yoga room, music room, dance room and other such spacious rooms to accommodate higher class students following COVID protocol.

Auditorium: The school auditorium that seats 1,000 is being sanitised and will be converted into an exam hall to conduct board exams. The hall can accommodate over 250 students at a time maintaining 7 feet distance between each of them.

Open air: The school plans to hold some classes in its open-air areas, including the open-air amphitheatre.

Toilet area: All taps in washrooms and utility areas have been changed. Contactless taps have been installed.

Posters: The school notice boards will have COVID awareness-related posters to keep students informed and updated about COVID safety protocol.