IST's First Day of the School Year 2020-21

This morning was a morning of smiles, cheers and laughs as students returned to start their new school year at IST, along with new students commencing on their wonderful “learning at IST” journey.
The second semester of the 2019-20 school year was rudely interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the school being forced to close until just a few days before the end of the school year. This interruption, while mitigated by the school’s excellent efforts with online programs, affected not just the character of learning programs but also the community-oriented character of IST; students were physically isolated from their teachers and their peers, and parents were physically isolated from the school campus, from school life, and from IST’s inclusive and supportive community.
However, with the new school year comes with renewed optimism. Students have returned to school campus, albeit with protective masks on their faces and sanitizer on their hands! Some families are of course being missed and it is being hoped that they will be back soon too. The school has put into place a comprehensive COVID-19 protocol for the students, and all members of the IST community, which will ensure the safety and hygiene of students, teachers, staff and visitors, while they go about their daily routines in school.
Teachers, parents and students were all in high spirits and happy to be back, as was evident from squeals of delight all around.
Happiness, the hallmark of IST, was the all-pervading mood, and even the protective masks that everyone wore were not able to conceal the joy on everyone’s faces.