AFTER almost two years of attending classes via online and in modular format, my two boys officially attended their first day IN school yesterday (March 24, 2022) at the San Fernando Elementary School or SFES. As parents, we have decided to allow our children to participate in the limited face to face classes after they have been fully vaccinated last week.
I must say the first-day-high feeling was there not only as seen in the excitement of my kids to go back to school but also for me as a parent. The night before, my kids actively prepared their bags and things for school while I prepared their clothes to wear. We also made sure to sleep earlier than usual so that we will also wake up earlier for the big day.
The next morning, my eldest son Marco was up early and asked that we eat breakfast earlier since he doesn't want to be late for school. Although I was not shocked to hear that from him, I was happy to know that my son has also matured in a way. Time really passes by so quickly I must say. Of course, Lance, my son who is on the spectrum, is expectedly overexcited about it and hardly slept at all (I still have to research about autism and its relation to inability to sleep).
I took a day off from work since there was no scheduled meeting or activity that I needed to take care of so that I can personally send off and endorse my kids to the teachers. Of course, as a Department of Education (DepEd) personnel, I have to still thank the school principal, Mam Lorna Aquino, for her genuine concern and active leadership in the school. Her commitment to public service and to education is certainly outstanding and truly worth emulating.
After the half day session, we went back home and I asked my kids if they still wanted to go back to school. Of course, their answer is a resounding YES! I realized that while learning can happen inside our homes, nothing can still replace the classroom as the appropriate place where quality teaching and learning happens.
To my fellow parents, all it takes is for you to allow your kids to go back to in-person classes. Whether partially or fully vaccinated, our learners are all welcome to go back to school and enjoy the company of their teachers and their classmates. This is the new normal in education and we all wish that everything will be back to the way it used to be.