Are rules made to be broken - preventive measures around the pandemic

By Eunie Jeong

At the restart of school, students were sent a long email which had a long list of rules and requirements. As Luo Yuki, from 8.4, exclaimed, “How are we to remember and comply with so many?” Turns out, everyone had the same concern.

Returning to school after such a long break was confusing enough. However, the additional things to do listed in the email were hard for students. How did we do? 

1. Bring temperature sheets

Rule: Students need to place their temperature sheets on their desks at the start of advisory for their advisor to confirm that their temperatures were taken at home.

In advisory every day, teachers scrutinised temperature sheets. Yet in the advisors’ eyes having a high temperature was a minor problem compared to students not bringing the temperature sheet. There were always the one or two exasperating students who would cry out, “Oh no, I forgot my temperature sheet!” during advisory. Then what could the teachers do but heave a sigh! Originally those who did not bring these records would not be able to be admitted, but with so many cases of forgetfulness, it was hard to actually put these requirements into effect.

2. Social distancing (In meal times)

Rule: Social distancing means we all must aim to remain about one metre apart at all times (leave any hugging for after school!)

Please note that due to social distancing rules there should be no socialising while eating.

The plan was that we should all be one metre apart from each other. No hugging was particularly specified. But as with the normal attitude of students, holding hands, patting each other on the back and pushing and poking was very common. Or is this just me? At first, I was mortally terrified of my friends when going to school, as they would suddenly draw closer to me. In mealtimes, in particular, we were supposed not to socialize, as we had to take off our masks. However, loud laughter and jokes were soon resounding through the school during meal times.

3. Staircases

Rule: The staircases will have a one-way system. The central staircases will be for going up and the staircases on the outside will be for going down.

Many of us would admit that instead of following the up only and down only staircases when we were rushing to classes, we would speed down the main staircase. Sometimes, meeting teachers on the way! We were seen speeding down the main staircase at the end of the day, with perhaps one poor student being buffeted on the way up by crowds of guilty people. But the fact is, that the down staircases are almost inaccessible, as they are right at the corner of the school, in the gym staircase, or the end of the hubs. No one really wanted to take the trouble of walking so far when there was a convenient alternative!

4. Eating arrangements

Rule: Students should bring their own food/snacks (no facilities at school to heat food) and eat in the allocated area for their year groups.

There was a set plan for students to follow. For example, Year 8 was allocated the cafeteria yet at first students seemed ill-inclined to sit in the mist-covered and noisy space. The excuse was that there was no space in the cafeteria, which was often true, but as people got used to the rules steadiness and safety ensued. And that part of bringing our own snacks? This was not needed to many as the vending machines were always open. This was not mentioned in the requirement, and many on their first day brought a lot of snacks, but it could be observed that soon the snacks brought declined, and Health Addiction (the name of our vending machine) thrived again.

So did we really disregard the rules at Renaissance College? For the first few days? Well, for a little…. yes. But as the year draws to a close, we can see that Renaissance College students have been able to resume their normal lives with certain adjustments.