Preparedness Required for the School Reopening
The concept of school reopening is an annual event for all academic institutions and campus environments. But it has taken more meaning considering how the pandemic changed everything. At this point, the reopening of schools is perhaps the most crucial factor in a learning environment.
The preparation and facilities required as part of school reopening after the pandemic and related gloom is a vital aspect for management and staff alike. This post helps you understand the details related to the top relevant features of school reopening and guides the application of safety measures with discipline.
Introduction
Effective preparedness required for the reopening of schools is a wholesome process. It takes efforts on the part of the management, school authorities, Government initiatives, training and support staff, students and parent bodies to collectively empower the schooling environments back to their full potential.
Earlier, the reopening idea only meant going back to school. Now it’s about engaging in a proper protocol for health, wellness, safety, and mindful and conscious hygienic activities. The pointers mentioned in this article, if followed thoroughly, can guarantee the same.
Infrastructures Needed for Reopening Schools
The infrastructure facilities needed for the reopening of schools are the most important thing about maintaining a disciplined schooling environment in sight. It is only with the support of this infrastructure a capable health and hygiene system can be established.
Classrooms with Good Ventilation
Not that it was never a need of the past, but classrooms with active airflow and ventilation channels are more needed than ever now. The overall schooling environment or campus should have a well-thought-out and efficiently designed architectural system showcasing all basic features like ventilation.
Classrooms should follow a green and environmental structure, and the design patterns should include sufficient openings for air, light and the presence of a relaxing ambience. Stay tuned to the latest institutional design upgrades for receiving the best out-of-classroom ventilation.
Playground and Sports Facilities
The optimum factor about schooling in classrooms is that it shouldn’t stick to the rooms alone. Students and learners must be exposed to external environments and the best way to ensure this is through extra-curricular activities.
In the school reopening phase, it is necessary to entertain sporting facilities and playgrounds as part of the ecosystem. Physical, mental and emotional growth is targeted in this feature by helping students partake in all such sporting activities available in the school.
Internet Connectivity and Devices
Digitization is the future, and no education system can shy away from it. Schools can’t avoid modern features like internet connectivity and digital devices. Online is the new norm, and everyone should stick to it to get the best out of the new-age learning process.
It’s amazing how digital measures can impart a more visualized and dynamic learning process for students. Make sure to provide these functions to the students to help them receive a strategic boost towards building their careers and personal lives.
Security Measures
The security checks should become more tactical and consistent to ensure the post-pandemic phase free of further health or sanitation-related issues. Automated security techniques are preferred over manual methods.
The best method of approaching essential security steps is to create an ideal process where the entry to the exit of personnel in the schooling ecosystem is perfectly done. Insights can be gained on a trial-and-error basis.
Medical Facilities
Maximum availability of medical facilities, including check-up centres and first aid kits, is a must for schools. The pandemic situation has stressed the need for more medical amenities and health/wellness goals within the schooling organization.
The top pointers to mention here are medical assistance specifically meant for respiratory and breathing support as this system takes a much more dominant role than the earlier times. Rest assured, an internal staffing system is needed to create the best value for medical support.
Maintain Proper Communication with Students and Parents
Even though sufficient communication exists between parents and students in a schooling system, the recent global events demand an even better and streamlined communication channel. The schools must maintain an extraordinary communication channel with students and parents.
Effective communication networks are not just about building a credible platform for contact among the personnel in the school but also about developing a circular support system. Both online and face-to-face communication work in this regard.
Digital Initiatives Implemented for the School’s Reopening
The reopening measures of the school are not complete without a strategically planned and implemented digital structure. The digital initiatives that help in the reopening process of schools are listed below.
Hybrid Learning
A hybrid mode of learning is an excellent option to engage in safer study models. This involves a scenario where you undergo classes in online and classroom environments. It will also freshen up the learning environment for students.
Virtual Learning Environment
One of the features that will be talked about a lot in the coming years is going to be the virtual learning environment system. This will open up numerous pathways for teachers, students, parents and management authorities alike to craft an efficient and sensible schooling ecosystem.
Digital Attendance
Marking attendance in digital mode during the school reopening stages is a simple but feasible step. It seems like a fun way to involve student participation in class interactions.
Personalised Learning
The provision of a personalised learning platform is the need of the hour as each student’s capacity and interests vary. The school reopening time is the best situation to fully utilise this feature and integrate them into modern schooling models.
Training Programs are Provided to Teachers before School Reopens
Teachers and trainers occupy a special place in the schooling ecosystem during the time of scheduled reopening. You cannot understate the power of imparting teachers with suitable training programs before the school reopens. Some of the aspects that are covered in the training programs for teachers are listed in this segment.
Guidelines for Health and Safety
The fundamental learning modules should include health and safety procedures. A training program that covers these topics with the inclusion of demo sessions and modules should be thoroughly practised by the teachers before schools undergo the reopening phase.
Instruction in Using the Latest Digital Technologies
Teachers should familiarize themselves with all aspects of the modern and latest digital technologies necessary for the schooling requirements. It is only their confidence that can assist the students (especially new learners) in adapting to a digitalized and internet-oriented approach.
Classroom Management
Teachers must perfect the art of classroom management to empower the students on an enlightening journey. Personalized and collective treatment of learners should be done and must act as a value addition to their resumes too. The best thing teachers can do here is to take charge of their ecosystem with grace and spirit.
Curriculum Modifications
Another strategic training program that teachers must focus on is concerning their curriculum training efforts. A strict curriculum schedule must be followed following various modifications and fresh changes in the domain.
Procedures for Taking A New Admission
The procedure for taking new school admissions starts from an online format. This eases the process with components like application forms and downloadable attachments readily available. The procedure involves marking an exemplary addition to the institutional structures using vibrant counselling techniques, engaging exam modules and cost-effective administration of the onboarding process.
A more personalized student admission process is a reality now, helping the career development of learners from an early stage.
Documents that are Retained in the School Records
School records still may have the process of retaining documentation related to admission registers, pupil attendance registers, teacher attendance registers, stock issue and quality control registers, general registers and cash data books. The storage and display of these items should be maintained at an optimum space.
Record retention can be easily done in online mode, and this facilitates the option for maintaining the records of all valid documents. Records are currently available in both online and offline modes, helping the storage activity become a crucial task for modern schooling environments too.
Awareness Sessions for Non-teaching Staff
Apart from teachers and their respective training sessions, awareness programs and modules for non-teaching staff are also a genuine topic that requires attention. If the right training awareness for non-teaching staff is provided, they can aid in the school reopening process by sharing their roles like environment maintenance and awareness control.
Ensure that All Medical Emergencies are Provided in Health Room
A working health room is mandatory for all schools and must be accompanied by supporting staff. The health room should store all necessary medical emergencies, including first aid boxes, basic tablet and supplement provisions, preventive and protective wellness cases, etc.
The supply stocks can be maintained based on certain factors like the geographical location of the school, the population density of the ecosystem and general factors. Public schools will have Government aid for medical supplies whereas, for private academies, the management authorities should take charge of the situation.
How to Instruct Teachers in CPR
As part of teacher training sessions, specific modules are supposed to be carried out to educate them based on different topics. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is one of the primary techniques in this regard. It is an emergency procedure that can boost the respiratory system health of a person and is an incredible solution in many cases.
Teaching staff and personnel should learn how to carry out the CPR process by understanding the value of the lifesaving technique that it possesses. The emergency nature of the CPR process makes it an excellent life-saving procedure that is to be learned by students.
Make Sure that Pest Control Services are Carried Out
Pest control services should be carried out extensively before the commencement of the new offline school sessions. Aside from this, it is better to carry out such services every 2 – 3 months.
The service action right before the reopening of schools should be done with the help of experts, and no compromises should be made about the same. Industry standards and set safety measures should be followed in this scenario to ensure the best hygiene and sanitation protocols.
Inspect the Fire Apparatus in the School
Fire and safety engineering is another aspect that never loses its significance in the bigger scheme of things. Regular and standard-based inspections should be carried out on every school campus. Mock drills should also be done.
Fire apparatus and types of equipment should be in line with the optimum emergency protocols that are followed across the country. Supporting professionals should be provided who either play a dedicated role or multitask in other schooling activities.
Advantages of Having Uniforms and Textbooks at School Itself
This is a relatively new tactic to help prevent issues related to hygiene and sanitation. If the students can keep their uniforms and textbooks at school itself, it will prevent the various issues related to the spread of bacteria and anti-microbial particles during transit.
Keeping stuff at school can help reduce transportation efforts too. Designated personal lockers are the best way to proceed with this step. Students may keep their belongings in their lockers with the help of keys and locks. Changing rooms at school is enough to help girls and boys separately manage their business.
Transportation Services in School
Transportation is another facility that needs to be done systematically to receive the best benefits of school reopening strategies. It should be locked in with specified routes where the student gets an opportunity to travel effortlessly to school.
Transportation services mean more in the remote areas of the country. This is where learners need the greatest support regarding access and journey.
Safety Warnings in School
The concept of safety should be etched in the minds of everyone interacting within a schooling environment. This applies specifically to students on the campuses.
Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Protocols
The provision of enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols is a must for students to get active reminders about hygiene. Hoarding boards and placards can assist in this section.
Make Sure of Physical Distance Among Students
The social distancing measures still exist even though they are not discussed like in the earlier days of the pandemic. People inside the school ecosystem should maintain a safe physical distance at all times. This applies the most to students as their health and wellness are the top priority.
Mandatory to Use the Mask
Wearing masks should not be avoided for the time being as it reflects a mode of awareness within the schooling community. It’s a popular and safe hygienic practice as well.
Screening and Testing
Health checkups and tests should be done at frequent intervals to check the status of your physical, mental and emotional health. Screening procedures can be done within the school walls.
School Canteen Services
An unavoidable part of schooling services is the in-house canteen and food joints usually allotted to vendor partners. Maintaining the hygiene of this location is very relevant as it functions on a day-to-day basis and includes consumption habits.
Maintain Cleanliness in the Kitchen and Dining
The hygiene in canteen services starts with the kitchen area. It extends to dining spaces as well and should be regularly maintained at all times.
Uphold Rules of Safety
It works wonders to have a board erected explaining all the safety tips and practices to be maintained by the visitors and users.
Provide Nutritious Food
Food quality matters. School management and partner providers are responsible for offering delicious and nutritious food to consumers at all times.
Conclusion
The reopening of schools should be seen as a continuous process rather than as a one-time measure. In the case of school reopening, the optimum way to go forward is to create a balance between the existing environment and the new ecosystem to be adopted. Good luck with following all the optimum tips and techniques!
