Aug. 30 marks the start of the new school year for elementary and junior high schools. Many schools began implementing COVID-19 prevention and control measures on the first day.
Parents take photos with their children in front of the school entrance to capture the moment their children started school as first graders. Only one parent was allowed to accompany each student into the school as a disease prevention measure. Parents also had to leave by 9 a.m. Parents of students in other grades were only allowed to drop off their children at the entrance. The students went through preventative disinfection before they entered the school.
Dajia Elementary School Sixth Grader: “(Reporter: “Why are you feeling excited?”) Because I don't have anyone to play with at home.”
A ceremony was held on the sports field to mark the opening of the new school year, and students sang the national anthem and raised the national flag. Dajia Elementary School welcomed students back to in-person learning. Although teachers and students were outside, everyone still wore masks. The principal said the school has approximately 400 students including its kindergarten, and 40 percent are unvaccinated. One-third have recovered after being infected.
Dajia Elementary School Student's Parent: “He got infected in May, so he couldn't get vaccinated until the end of August and there wasn't enough time for him to get vaccinated before school started in September.”
If any student in a class tests positive between Aug. 30 and Sept. 11, the school will be suspended for that class for three days. After Sept. 12, infected students will have to stay at home for seven days while classmates and other students who interacted with infected students for more than 15 minutes while not wearing masks can return to school with a negative rapid test result if they are asymptomatic. The rapid tests will be provided by the school. The principal said some parents have concerns.
Li Chung-hui, Principal, Dajia Elementary School: “Sept. 12 is after the Mid-Autumn Festival, so we're afraid of infections resulting from gatherings.”
Dajia Elementary School Student's Parent: “(Reporter: “You don't want classes to be suspended for the entire school at the drop of a hat.”) Yes. I want to start living normally, and we'll follow what the CECC says.”
The school organized a rice ball-making activity for the students to help them get acclimated. Teachers say they hope the epidemic situation won't worsen and interrupt in-person learning.
孩子成為小學一年級新生，爸爸媽媽迫不及待在校門口一起合影，但基於防疫，新生家長只能一人陪同入校，9時離校。其他年級的學生家長，只能送孩子到校門口，孩子們通過奈米級噴霧，踩過稀釋的漂白水，自己入校。
記者問學童為何對開學感到興奮? 北市大佳國小六年級學生說：「因為我在家裡都沒人跟我玩。」
在操場開學，唱國歌，升旗，大佳國小迎來久違的實體開學，雖然在室外，師生們仍全程戴口罩。校長表示，全校包括幼兒園近400名學生，有4成未打疫苗，三分之一確診康復。
北市大佳國小家長說：「他5月確診，可是不到8月底不能打，9月開學也來不及打。」
做好防疫，畢竟8月30到9月11日，班上一人確診，全班仍停課3天。不過9月12日後，確診學生實施7天居家照護，同班同學和有摘下口罩共同活動15分鐘以上的學生，由學校提供快篩，陰性無症狀可上課，對12日為分界點，校長轉達部分家長擔憂。
北市大佳國小校長李鍾慧表示：「9月12日因為中秋節過後，所以很怕說群聚之後，是不是會增加一些傳染力。」
北市大佳國小家長表示：「(記者問：「你是不是不希望動不動就全班停課?」)對，其實是，因為我就想要正常生活，指揮中心這樣我們就配合。」
裝飯放肉鬆，搖一搖就有一顆顆的小飯糰，孩子們透過活動，找回在校的熟悉感。111學年度才開始，老師們則期待，疫情不要再來，實體學習有始有終。
