Mandaue students, teachers reminded on quake safety tips

HAIDEE Torion waited anxiously for her children Hynes and Stephanie to get out of their classrooms at the Mandaue City Central School yesterday morning.

“Akoa na sila gi-ingnan daan nga dapat ila dayon coveran ilang ulo unya mangita silag kataguan sa ilalom sa mesa (I told them earlier that they should cover their heads and look for a table to hide under),” the 35-year-old Torion told Cebu Daily News.

She shared the anxiety of other parents whose children resumed classes nearly three weeks after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Bohol province and rattled Cebu and nearby provinces last Oct. 15.

Despite the continuing aftershocks, the school had full attendance of students yesterday.

“Pasalamat jud ko nga holiday tong higayona kay kung dili ambot lang (I was thankful that it was a holiday then because if it wasn’t I don’t know what will happen),” she said.

Hynes’ classroom was one of 19 classrooms declared unsafe for occupancy by the Mandaue City Engineering Office.

The rooms declared unsafe were cordoned off using galvanized iron sheets.

After the flag-raising ceremony, principal Aliena Quimque reminded students on what to do if an earthquake occurs.

“I reminded the students to stay calm and to seek cover or exit the building as calmly as they can when it’s a strong tremor,” she said.

Quimque said teachers were also re-oriented on how to deal with students during earthquakes.

Quimque said Grades 1 and 2 pupils will be divided into morning and afternoon classes.

Classes will be done on double shifts to accommodate all the students whose classrooms were damaged by the quake.

The classrooms were previously occupied by 15 sections.

The rest of the grade levels will hold their classes in their assigned rooms.

“We prepared for today’s resumption of classes during the long semestral break,” Quimque said.

Teachers briefed the affected students of the changes. Grade 1 and 2 pupils will be divided into the 7 a.m. to 12 noon first shift and the 12:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. second shift.

With the compressed class periods, Quimque said teachers will give more attention to slow learners.

Quimque said they may have to hold Saturday classes or extend class hours to make up for the missed days.

“It will depend on the decision of the higher offices,” she said.

But if she had her way, Quimque said she prefers to extend class hours than hold make-up classes on Saturday since it is less expensive for the students and teachers as well.

The City Central School has 4,455 pupils and 105 teachers from kindergarten to Grade 6. It has 26 buildings housing 89 classrooms. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Reporter