Abu Dhabi pupils returned to classrooms on Sunday after an extended winter break owing to a rise in coronavirus cases.
The number of children resuming in-person lessons was lower than usual because some parents took up the option of continuing distance learning.
Many private schools in the Emirates are having planned half-term breaks and their pupils will return to classrooms in the next few days or early next week.
Schools were deep-cleaned and social distancing measures put in place before pupils could resume face-to-face lessons.
Pupils were due to go back to school in the first week of January but their return was delayed twice amid concern about rising infection rates.
Learners encountered a different problem on Sunday, when fog engulfed the capital and caused school bus journeys to be delayed.
Rishikesh Padegaonkar, principal of Bright Riders School in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, said Grade 12 pupils would be practising laboratory work, with some free time thrown in to help them interact with one another and relax.
“They will not be at their desks throughout the day. Pupils will participate in activities, indoor games, yoga and aerobic sessions,” he said.
Mr Padegaonkar said 15 per cent of 3,689 pupils enrolled at the school had returned for in-person classes.
For pupils in years seven to nine in Abu Dhabi, it will be their first day in school since March.
“There are children coming back after 11 months of distance learning and we have to ensure they mentally strong and able,” Mr Padegaonkar said.
“We are excited to have the children back on campus.
“We are trying to explain to them that we need them back at school.”
Teachers queued up to greet each child as they walked in to the building.
Aniket Tuli, 17, is an Indian pupil in the 12th grade at the school. He said he was looking forward to meeting friends after studying at home since early December.
“It’s our last year in school and there are so many things we wanted to do. We have missed being at school and interacting with friends,” he said.
He said pupils would at last be able to practise laboratory work before their final exams.
“There was no way we could do it online. We were missing the classroom experience,” he said.
“The feeling of loneliness sets in when you’re studying at home. We really looked forward to being back.
“Now that we are back we can clear our misconceptions and get clarifications easily from our teachers.”
Mr Tuli said he felt the use of videos during online learning helped boost pupils’ interest.
Dakshesh Gupta, 17, who is in the 12th grade, was happy to be back in the classroom.
“I am looking forward to seeing my friends and teachers again,” he said.
“Being in class meant we could study with our friends and motivate each other. When we were studying online, the interaction was limited.
“Now that we would be in the classroom, revising our syllabus would be easier and faster.”
K George Mathew, principal of Gems United Indian School, said 493 of the 3,300 pupils enrolled would return this week.
Mr Mathew said the dense fog in Abu Dhabi had hindered pupils’ return to school on time.
“On their first day back, we want to make sure that pupils have fun as well as lessons,” Mr Mathew said.
“We are welcoming them and have activities planned by teachers. There will be wellness sessions which will have elements of art and music.”
The school follows a learning model in which pupils attend school on alternate days.
Mr Mathew said pupils were excited to see one another and did not want to stay at home.
Nithin Krishnan, a 15-year-old 10th grader at Gems United Indian School, said he was excited to be back at school after studying at home since March.
"I have not been able to see my friends in almost a year. Walking back into the school was an exhilarating feeling," he said.
"During online learning, I felt there was a missing element as I could not meet friends."
Rohit Shibu, a 10-year-old Indian pupil at the school, shared the enthusiasm for in-person lessons.
"I spoke with my friends and it was so much fun to see them after a long time," he said.
"I prefer being in school to online learning because it's really important for me to talk with teachers and understand things clearly."
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
more from Janine di Giovanni
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A