Student Journalists

For this edition of the newsletter, we asked our students to share their story of returning to school after studying online.

Saleha H

On 27th March, the government announced schools would be closed and we went into lockdown. We were at home every day and we learned how to study online. Before the lockdown, school was good as we could sit together, and we were not afraid of the Coronavirus. However some students were talking so loudly all the time that we couldn’t concentrate and I wasn’t able to learn.

School means a lot to me. We study, we learn English, we learn new things, and this gives us opportunities for the future. This will change me and I feel better. I can get a job and work with other people.

When the lockdown happened I felt bad as we were not free to go anywhere and we were afraid. Anywhere with too many people was dangerous. Maybe more people would get the virus, and maybe I would. I felt sick, nervous and afraid for me, and afraid for my family. However when I knew what to do—cleaning and social distancing—I thought it would be OK.

Online school was good because we were safe at home and no one was interrupting and disturbing us and so I was able to get work done and finish my work. I could learn in the lessons because when the tasks were explained I understood quickly without classroom noise. When the teacher explained the tasks or answered a question, I understood and I got my answer. It makes me feel so good when I understand, and I enjoy my work. When I do not understand, I get upset.

When I found out we were returning to school, I was glad because at school we have a lot of helpers and we also have homework club. I was excited to see my friends and teachers after two months. I was worried the noisy students would talk loudly and play music or cause the teacher to take them to the office or speak with them so they are wasting our time. If that happened and I couldn’t focus, that would not be good. We have just two years to finish school and then we need to get a job or study, and I am worried about my future. Every day we have new work to do and new things to learn. We need to do this now, because when we finish school, then no one is helping us. There is no one to ask questions or help us learn. 

It is good to be back at school. We have plenty of hand sanitiser so I feel safe. Sometimes the class is noisy, but better than before. When I need help with my task I ask my teacher and can fix it. There are people who help me during class and after school. I feel hopeful about my future, but sometimes I still worry if I will get a job which will help me and my family. I want to earn my own money and not have to ask others to give to me.

Faiza AH

School during lockdown was fun and challenging but I managed through it. It was my first experience doing online school.

For the first couple of weeks I was motivated. I was waking up early so excited to do online school. I would wake up at 7:30am to make breakfast and to get all my stuff ready for school. I liked how most of the work was simple and not that hard. When the work was challenging, I would email the teachers and ask for help and they would reply that second. I would like to thank all the teachers that helped and provided work for all the students.

Remote learning was easy because there were no distractions during my learning. I would just peacefully do my work on my table. Unfortunately, my motivation lowered after a couple of weeks. I wasn’t able to focus on my work. I missed a couple of lessons. I really missed my friends and teachers. I wasn’t organised. Since it was Ramadan, I was even more tired and hungry so that had an effect on my schooling. Luckily that lasted only lasted a week. I finished all my work that I had not done. I was more motivated suddenly and wanted to do work. I paced myself and had a 5-10 minute break each period, so I wasn’t just sitting in front of my laptop screen the whole day.

The most challenging subjects for me were P.E. and science. My science teachers would give us tons of work to do. For P.E. I had to do workouts and it was Ramadan, so I was really tired and hungry. I’m not complaining - the work I had to do was fun and interesting. I learnt new things and did new activities.

My favourite subject during remote learning was Health. I liked that the work we had to do wasn’t just typing on a computer. One of my favourite activities was doing a trick shot where we had to throw an object into something. My trick shot was juggling a ball and kicking the ball onto the wall and the ball would rebound and land into the bucket. I loved my CAT work for Health; it was simple and easy to do but I also found out things I didn’t know before. 

When I missed my friends, I would facetime them, but it didn’t feel the same. I wanted face-to-face learning just to see my friends again. Remote learning was a new experience for me, but I managed it and it was a lot of fun.

Returning to school after four months... YAY! I was so excited to meet my friends in what felt like forever. My normal school routine felt so different, but it didn’t take long to adjust again. I like how the everyone is following the new rules, such as going through one door to enter and another door to exit, and using hand sanitiser before and after class. I like how our school is fighting against coronavirus.

Atefeh R

During remote learning I learned many things, from being organised to even waking up at the right time. Online learning was a somewhat strange and difficult time for all of us. 

During remote learning, I would think about the times when I was at school, when I always said to myself:

“OH MY GOD, I don’t want to be here.”

It was funny to think that during remote learning I actually realised the importance of school and the good times of it - even the importance of becoming an independent learner. I realised the fun times I had with my friends and teachers and understood what precious moments these were.

Overall, it was a great experience for every single one of us, we learned many things and we realised the importance of school!