K2 and Elementary 2-6 students will stay home the first day of the new school year: MOE

SINGAPORE: Students in Kindergarten 2 and Primary 2 to Primary 6 must stay home on the first day of the new school year, January 4, to facilitate safe management measures for children entering Kindergarten 1 and Primary 1, said the Ministry of Education. (MOE) on Friday (December 18).

“To better welcome Kindergarten 1 children and Primary 1 students to their new schools … only K1 children and P1 students will report to school on January 4, the MOE said.

Students entering Kindergarten 2 and Primary 2 to Primary 6 next year will report to school on January 5 only, the Ministry of Education said.

High school students and special education schools will begin the school year on January 4, while colleges and the Millennia Institute will begin on January 11.

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The TraceTogether tokens will not be required when the school reopens and will only be needed after the nationwide distribution is complete, the MOE said.

ONE PARENT PER K1, PRI 1 STUDENT

Unlike in previous years, only a parent or guardian will be able to accompany their Kindergarten 1 or Primary 1 child to their new school next year.

Singapore has implemented several measures to halt the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, including comprehensive home learning for students during the “circuit break” period and safe distancing restrictions. Some measures have been progressively softened as the COVID-19 situation improved, with the country entering Phase 3 of its reopening on December 28.

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“To ensure that schools remain a safe place for teaching and learning, safe management measures will continue to be observed when schools reopen, including visual sensing and taking people’s temperatures, meeting high standards. hygiene and safe distancing of students and staff, ”said MOE.

He also reminded unwell students with flu-like symptoms to seek medical attention and not go to school.

To accommodate parents of Kindergarten 1 students, Kindergarten Care at MOE Kindergartens will not work for Kindergarten 2 children on January 4.

The student care centers at the school will remain open in the afternoon for students from Primary 2 to Primary 6.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS TO BE RESUMED IN 2021

When schools reopen next year, most co-curricular and school activities will be allowed, the Education Ministry said.

However, higher risk activities will be suspended or limited to a smaller group limit.

The National School Games will resume for sports in divisions “A”, “B” and “Senior” that meet the national guidelines, beginning in mid-to-late February, the MOE said.

From late March to early May, the Singapore Youth Festival Art Presentation for high schools, universities and the Millennia Institute will also resume for events that similarly meet national guidelines.

The activities allowed to resume are the following:

“These activities will be carried out with the necessary modifications and the safe management measures implemented to guarantee the safety of the participants and organizers,” said the MOE.

“We are working on how the remaining sports and performance events of the Singapore Youth Festival that do not meet national guidelines can be safely and meaningfully resumed for the 2021 season and details will be announced separately.”

Additional details on the activities of the “Junior” and “C” divisions, which are scheduled for the second half of 2021, will also be announced later.

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