Title: Ensuring a Safe and Effective Start: Oplan Balik Eskwela 2021 at Sta. Cruz Elementary School
Introduction: “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey
Sta. Cruz Elementary School, guided by the principles of comprehensive education, understands the true essence of learning. Education encompasses reading and writing and involves a rich blend of experiences, environment, socialization, and communication. In line with this philosophy, the school has successfully implemented Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) for the School Year 2021-2022, under the theme: “OBE 2021: Bayanihan Para sa Ligtas na Balik Eskwela.”
Purpose and Preparation: The primary aim of Oplan Balik Eskwela is to address enrollment-related issues and ensure that all students are ready to embark on the new academic year. Following DepEd Memorandum No. 058 s. 2021 and Division Memorandum No. 306 s. 2021, Sta. Cruz Elementary School organized an OBE Committee to manage and resolve any concerns from the public regarding enrollment and to guarantee a smooth start to the school year.
Key Activities:
- Help Desk and Hotlines: The school established a dedicated Help Desk and provided hotlines to receive and log calls, text messages, emails, requests, and suggestions from parents, students, and other concerned citizens. This initiative ensured that all queries and complaints were promptly addressed.
- Disinfection of School Premises: Prior to the opening of classes, the entire school premises underwent thorough disinfection to ensure a safe environment for the students and staff.
- Flag Raising Ceremony: On September 13, 2021, the school year formally commenced with a flag-raising ceremony, adhering to health and safety protocols. This ceremony was a symbolic start to a new year of learning under the “New Normal Education.”
- Distribution of Self-Learning Modules: In compliance with health and safety measures, parents or guardians picked up the Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) for their children from designated Honesty Booths. This process included temperature checks, wearing of face masks and shields, and filling out health declaration forms for contact tracing.
- SCES Honesty Booth: Teachers organized Honesty Booths to facilitate the distribution and retrieval of SLMs, ensuring an orderly and safe process.
Highlights and Documentation: Attached to the narrative report are photos and documentation that showcase the various activities undertaken during the Oplan Balik Eskwela. These include images of the disinfection process, the flag-raising ceremony, the official opening of the school year by the School Principal, the active SCES-OBE Help Desk, and the organized distribution of Self-Learning Modules.
Conclusion: Oplan Balik Eskwela 2021 at Sta. Cruz Elementary School epitomizes the spirit of bayanihan and the commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment for all students. By addressing enrollment concerns and ensuring compliance with health protocols, the school has laid a strong foundation for a successful academic year. Through collective effort and dedication, Sta. Cruz Elementary School continues to uphold the true meaning of education, preparing students not just for school, but for life.
