Eating in the classroom is perfectly normal now

What a treat: A pupil enjoying a cupcake during recess on the first day of school reopening at SK Convent Green Lane in Penang. — CHAN BOON KAI

GEORGE TOWN: Eating in classrooms, regular hand washing and temperature checks are part of the new normal for Year Five and Year Six pupils who returned to schools yesterday.

Many pupils brought lunch boxes from home while the rest practised social distancing while queuing up to buy food at the canteen.

SK Convent Green Lane headmistress Noor Azian Ahmat said the pupils would have to eat in class during recess under the teachers’ supervision.

“We have prepared a set of guidelines for the parents so that they can brief their children on the standard operating procedure (SOP) before coming to school.

“We encourage them to bring their own cutlery. If they forget to bring their own we will provide for them.

“As the pupils are still new to the SOP, we have extended the recess time by 10 minutes.

“After having their meals, the teacher will walk around the classroom to collect the rubbish before resuming lessons,” she said.

Noor Azian said the pupils were excited to return to school after staying at home for more than three months due to the movement control order (MCO) period.

“We gave each pupil a new student card today with a QR code on it so that they can scan to record their temperature and attendance.

“Before entering their classrooms, the pupils’ temperature will be taken and they are encouraged to sanitise their hands regularly.

“I am happy to see the pupils adhering to the SOP and familiarising themselves with the new normal,” she said when met at the school yesterday.

There are 137 Year Five and 134 Year Six pupils in SK Convent Green Lane.