Beginning of the School Year in Poland.

The government in Poland decided that despite the current situation and the pandemic it is possible to open the schools with in-person classes. The schools need to be prepared to implement online teaching or a hybrid model if there is a coronavirus case at school or the situation in the region gets worse. Currently, most of the primary and secondary schools in Poland work normally. All Jesuit schools in Poland started the new school year with in-person classes on September 1st. 

I work at the Jesuit Educational Center in Nowy Sącz (Southern Poland) where we have kindergarten, primary and secondary school. How will it look like to work in the time of pandemic? How the students, teachers, and parents will feel in the new school year in such a difficult situation? What can we do to provide a safe and healthy environment in our community? Those have been some of the questions and challenges that the administration of the Jesuit Educational Center has had to face. 

There is indeed a lot of uncertainty and fear as we start this new year. But not only those feelings are present among the members of our community. There is also a lot of hope that we can return to normalcy. Students and teachers missed normal learning. We can say that the pandemic allowed us to appreciate the school and realize that it is not only about grades, knowledge, and preparation for higher education. Schools play an important role in relationship building which is crucial for young people. Online teaching cannot fully replace in-person classes for our students. 

Obviously, the safety of the students and their families, teachers, and other members of the school community is the priority for us. Therefore, the Jesuit Educational Center took very concrete steps to minimize the risk of spreading the virus at the school:

• Adjusting the schedule and assigning a classroom for every class in order to minimize the movement around the school and the contact between students from different classes; 
• Introducing the obligation of using face masks in the common spaces, such as hallways; 
• Posting special signage around the school;  
• Creating zones for students-teachers, parents, and other people entering the building; 
• Limiting visits of people from outside the school community; 
• Installation of hand sanitizer dispensers;
• Using professional air purifiers that the school received from a sponsor.

All the measures listed above are important. The administration is analyzing the situation and looking for improvements. We are listening to students, parents, and teachers. However, the most important thing right now is the sense of shared responsibility. We believe that we can create a safe and healthy environment only if every member of the school community feels responsible for others. It starts with monitoring our own health and staying home if we have any symptoms of infection. We believe that this current difficult situation can help us to teach our students that they are responsible for creating a safe, healthy, and friendly environment at the school.