The first day back in school under the new norm

PETALING JAYA: After four months of rest, getting back to school can be quite a hassle.

Wearing the school uniform again just felt so alien to me. After a quick breakfast, it’s off to school!

It was wise to go early – it was 7am and SMK Sri Permata was already busy. A long line had formed at the main gate as students patiently waited to have their temperatures checked before getting the green light to start their day.

There are many students at SMK Sri Permata, and the school made do with whatever space available. It was business as usual.

Despite being hidden behind masks, my friends and I were still able to recognise each other. Everyone seemed to have changed during our time apart. Upon arrival, we were immediately ushered to our classrooms.

We were then seated, with every desk and chair one metre apart from each other, in line with the standard operating procedure.

There was a change in the schedule and new teachers were assigned to us. The duration of the language classes were reduced, allowing more time for other “heavier subjects” like Physics, Biology, Accounts and Economics, so that students could catch up on missed lessons during the MCO.

Teachers were also working hard to pick up on where they had left off, revising topics and whizzing through the new ones.

The recess bell rang, signalling our break.

Although many of us brought food packed from home, the line at the canteen was surprisingly long – as long as those you see at the supermarkets.

Teachers and canteen workers were on high alert. The simple act of buying a drink became a huge fuss. Perhaps I’ll bring my own food next time.

Students were instructed to eat in class, remaining in their pre-designated seats while maintaining a safe distance.

A teacher was assigned to every classroom as a “monitor” during our snack break. It felt a bit weird to have someone watch you eat, but I suppose we would have to get used to that.

When the final bell rang to mark the end of the day’s classes, it was an orderly end to an exhausting day.

Under normal circumstances, everyone would be crowding at the main gate like ants around a lump of sugar.

But now, teachers were present to make sure that we walked out in an orderly manner, observing the one metre social distancing rule at all times.

The new norm is not something that will be easy to get used to. But I understand that the situation requires it, and I am grateful to the teachers and school staff who spared no effort in keeping us virus-free!

Zahra Mohd Zaki (pic), 16, from SMK Sri Permata, Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (NiE) team. For more information on Star-NiE’s BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.