'Cher, I want more soup.' 'Cher, I have stomachache,' life teachers were always there for students once they needed some help. Led by HOD Ms. Huang, this has been a friendly team which cooperate with class teachers and manage students' life well to keep them safe while they are in school.

Professional Training with dry-runs - to ensure complete safety in school

All life teachers had their professional training and dry-runs by school doctors and security personnel from General Affairs Department prior to the school commencement to reinforce epidemic prevention and control. They had learned to use medical products such as taking body temperatures and the details on personal protection to normalise VBS management on hygiene.

They began the dry-runs immediately for emergencies during lunchbreak and bedtime. By simulating the occurrence of emergency situations, life teachers launched contingency plans to review the whole process to establish a set of feasible operations for epidemic prevention and control. They also made plans for temperature taking, food distribution and shoes manners. 

Disinfecting items and boarding the school buses - to ensure students' health and safety

Maintaining good sanitary conditions in school was key to epidemic prevention and control. Life teachers undertook the duties to disinfect classrooms, siesta rooms and dorms three times a day with records as well as the book baskets, lockers, desks and the school buses. 

Assistance in hostel and pick up - to offer quality services in students' logistics

The first batch of year 7 and 8 boarding students returned to school on 10th May. Life teachers assisted students in making bed and luggages. Primary 1, 2 and 3 students returned to school on 18th May, life teachers took the sleeping bags from students to put them at respective siesta rooms for students.

Teachers confirmed with parents about their preferred way to pick up students with the number of students dining at school and the number of boarding students to ensure the school operation. Each class had their own siesta room to ensure social distancing. Life teachers were also taking the job of safety personnel on buses this semester with safety training in advance to ensure the buses' safe operations.

First lesson of the semester - to manage students' living by regulations

Students had their first lesson of the semester in a different set-up. Teachers explained epidemic prevention and control knowledge to students and aske them to follow the behaviour regulations in school at this difficult times by learning to properly wear masks and the seven-step hand-washing methods.

Self-discipline commitment and awards - to nurture students' good habits

Life teacher department had the boarding students meeting for 2nd semester, year 2019/20 on 14th May. HOD Ms. Huang explained the housekeeping rules and self-discipline commitment to boarding students before handing out certficate of honours to excellent boarding students for the last semester. Xiao Pinshang from 7E spoke on behalf of excellent boarding students to continue exercising self-discipline and unite one another to maintain the peaceful and wonderful boarding school life.

E-learning with practice - to improve students’ manual skills

Life could teach everyone plenty of lessons. Residential teachers also prepared classes during this prolonged winter break for students of different age groups to have a try on life skills such as housekeeping, cooking, paperfolding and drawing.

Ms. Zhang Li expressed her sincerity and truthfulness to treat parents and students. She would focus on the details and find out what made each student special.

Experience sharing session to reinforce their professionalism

Residential teacher department regularly hold meetings for teachers to share their experience on how to win the trust of parents and students by communicating with them. They had the consensus that essential love would be the solution as they handled students' matters.

Ms. Wu Yahui stated the importance of being an observer to befriend students by listening to them. Everything about the students was a great deal, she would communicate with them by saying the nice things first before offering her opinions and suggestions with expectations.

Ms. Liu Yanjing thought she had to appreciate, understand, accept their characters while sending her love to them so that they could open up to them.

Ms. Li Zhenzhen put herself as the key to connect parents and students so she had to listen to parents with humility, honesty and patience as they spoke. She would take down what students did in school on the journals to participate in their upbringing together with parents. 

Ms. Yang Yanhua conversed with students during their spare time to make them feel being cared. As they were in a bad mood, she would find out how it happened to resolve the situation.

Ms. Zhao Lianying believed that students would change if necessary trust and love is given to students. She cared for the students' health and informed parents immediately as the flu season came at the end of last semester, winning their recognition.

It was life teachers in the school buses to fetch students in early mornings, to accompany them during lunchbreak, sunset, to send them home in the buses again and to be on night watch for boarders.  

They befriend with parents and students by taking students to see doctors, combing their hair and hugging them. They treat students as if their own and have a common wish - to dedicate themselves to support students' upbringing and improvement despite the work is tedious and exhausting.

In the upbringing of VBS Youth of the Future, it is good to have you all accompany and support with them!

 Materials provided by Residential Teacher Department

Author ： Huang 

Photographer: Linda

Formatting: Judy