Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION III-CENTRAL LUZON
TARLAC CITY SCHOOL SCHOOLS DIVISION
SAN JOSE DE URQUICO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SAN JOSE DE URQUICO, TARLAC CITY
 

Reintroducing F2F classes: A transition to the New Normal

“Resilience has been described as the capacity for positive outcomes despite challenging
or threatening circumstances.”- Byron Egeland, 1993
The Filipino resilience is what makes the nation “bullet proof” from the shots of every
adversity that comes along and sustains the people in the face of challenging times,
that becoming proactive as well as reactive in the most difficult times seem innate
and natural. The ongoing health crisis may have affected all sectors of our society
including the educational system, but then again it is this resilience which prevents
the system from remaining in a crippled state.
After almost two years of school lockdown brought about by the pandemic, the
Department of Education stands up in its fight against Covid-19. The department is
firm in its advocacy of continued learning and ensuring that no child shall be left
behind especially during these challenging times. Certainly, DepED could not be
hampered from delivering quality education for every young Filipino amidst the
pandemic. The DepED Memorandum No. 071, s.2021 released on October 18, 2021
is one big step of the educational system towards the New Normal as attested by the
schools around the region that held Limited Face to Face Classes during the pilot
run.
The Tarlac City Schools Division supports the department’s vision of such transition.
San Jose de Urquico Elementary School being identified low risk for the corona
virus, was one of the nominated schools and the only elementary school in the city
that had been approved and recommended by the division to conduct the pilot face
to face classes.
Preparations for the pilot face-to-face classes
PRE-IMPLEMENTATION
PHASE 1:
A Division Orientation on Basic Education Schools Safety Assessment was
conducted for all school heads last November 2, 2021 via Ms Teams. The google
sheet for the Region- wide School Safety Assessment Template was cascaded to all
teachers on November 3, 2021 followed by the formation of the School Composite
Team.
Accomplishment of the Region- wide School Safety Assessment (SSAT) Template
via google sheet was conducted in four cycles:
Cycle 1 –
(October 25-November 5,2021)
Cycle 2 –
(November 8-19, 2021)
Cycle 3 –
(November 22- December 3,2021)
Cycle 4 –
(December 6- 17, 2021)

A series of onsite and online meetings were conducted for technical assistance to
teachers, data validation of SSAT and planning of the School Composite Team.

Re-echoing of the Basic Education Schools Safety Assessment.

Series of Monitoring and Validation of PSDS on School Safety Assessment Tool.

Classrooms were retrofitted following the SSAT guidelines which included classroom
layout and structure, signage and ground markings. A School Clinic was set up as well as
opening a functional Guidance Room.

PHASE 2:

Monitoring, Assessment and Validation of the Division Composite Team after

accomplishing SSAT Cycle 4
Potential donors were sought and partnership with stakeholders was built for the
needs of the school in the implementation of face to face classes. The school’s
GPTA officers and supportive parents volunteered in the repainting of the
classrooms’ exterior and interior walls and ceiling, chairs and tables, replace of water
leaked damaged plywood of ceiling and repair of broken chairs and putting door of
clinic.
Donations of health essentials were also provided for the school:
Item Quantity Sponsor
Alcohol(1 gal.) 2 Jen Pepino
2 Jezzel Pepino
2 Rhea Buenaventura
1 Rainier Dela Cruz
1 Sharifa Feraren
1 Michelle Vidad
1 Jonalyn Lantano
Spray Bottle 1 Arnie Domingo
60 Princess Quiton
26 Cleofe Dela Cruz
30 Rainier Dela Cruz
 Face Mask (1box) 15 Myra Lantano
8 Nympha garlitos
Thermal Scanners w/
stand 3 Jerbert M. Palma

boxes of face mask

Toothpaste 100 Mr. Jet and Mrs. Clarisse
Toothbrush Rillera.
1 gallon Alcohol
1
Health Kit
Medicines and vitamins 1 Barangay Council
2 boxes
Partition Curtain for
GPTA Officers
School Clinic

Construction of additional 6-faucet handwashing area and concretion of exit pathway

were accomplished during this phase. Murals on proper handwashing and health
protocols were sponsored by the Barangay Council headed by Hon. Lorena S.
Gomez and Hon. Irene C. Ofoob. and Ground markings through the GPTA Officers.
The repainting of 3 classrooms was sponsored by the Barangay Chairwoman, Hon.
Yolanda P. Corpuz.
The whole month of December was consumed for the crafting of class program sand
preparations for the limited face to face classes, Coordination Meeting with Brgy.
Officals for support of Pilot F2F through a resolution, securing parent /guardians
consent, and crafting of the Contingency Plan. A signed resolution on December
14,2021 by the Barangay Chairwoman, GPTA Officers and school Composite Team
signified the community’s support for the Pilot Implementation of Limited Face-to-
Face Classes.
PHASE 3:
All preparations in the first two phases of the pre-implementation were subjected for
validation by the Division Composite Team and Top Management headed by Tarlac
City Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Maria Carmen P. Cuenco, CESO VI last
December 16,2021 followed by the recommendation of San Jose de Urquico
Elementary School to the Regional Office for possible implementation of face-to-face
classes.
Request to conduct a Parents’ Orientation on the Pilot Face-to-Face Classes had
been approved with full support from the division.

IMPLEMENTATION PROPER
On January 3,2022, after 22 months of blended distance learning, participating
learners of San Jose de Urquico Elementary School were able to set foot on their
school once again during the School Based Dry Run/Simulation of the Pilot Face-to-
Face Classes. Arriving in school at different time intervals for each grade level and
following health protocols upon entering the school premises, children in their
uniform waving at their teachers were such a pleasant sight as they follow the foot
traffic in red paint leading to their respective rooms. Face masks worn could not hide
their smile and excitement as they return to school. Day 1 of the Dry Run was
attended by 98 participating learners from Kindergarten to Grade Six. Classes were
alternately held wherein excited voices of children filled the classrooms and
corridors. After 3 hours of learning time, Kindergarten learners could be heard
singing their farewell song and later seen trailing the blue foot traffic signs leading
them out of the school to their waiting parents.
The exit flow of each grade level from their classrooms was witnessed and observed
by the Tarlac City Schools Division Superintendent herself, Dr. Maria Carmen P.
Cuenco.
“It is such a joy to see children back in school and see their eagerness to learn!”
exclaimed Cuenco.
“But on top of these, everybody’s safety should be our utmost concern.”, she added.
To ensure this, the division nurse assigned was instructed to strictly monitor the
implementation of health protocols throughout the Dry Run’s duration.
Day 2-4 went on smoothly however, a decreasing number of participants were
observed especially in the lower grades due to illnesses like colds, cough and fever.
As part of the contingency plan, learners detected with such illnesses were brought
to the School Clinic to rest for a while, after which, parents were notified and asked
to fetch their children.
Unfortunately, suspension of the face to face classes was announced on Day 5,
January 13 due to resurgence of Covid-19 putting the entire province under Alert
Level 3.
The 4-day Dry Run manifested the safety mechanisms set by the department which
shows that through collaborative efforts of every stakeholder involved, education can
continue amidst the public health situation.
Until the face-to face classes resume, Tarlaqueños, specifically Urquicons, continue
to hope for positive outcomes – a safe return to school - THIS is the Filipino
resilience!

ELVIRA S. SAMANIEGO
School Head

Noted:

ANGELITA P. CASTRO EdD

Public Schools District Supervisor