It was an ordinary Monday morning for many schools across China. The students formed lines and raised the national flag as usual. However, for the students and teachers of Maduo Ethnic Boarding School, the regular flag-raising ceremony was far from ordinary with blue disaster-relief tents in the background.

A magnitude-7.4 earthquake hit northwest China's Qinghai Province on Saturday morning, injuring at least 17 people and damaging several roadways, public facilities and schools, including theirs. 

"Our teachers immediately rushed to the dormitories, urging the children to run to the playground," recalled Yang Yiping, deputy principal of Maduo Ethnic Boarding School.

"Some of them were still asleep, so the teachers picked them up and ran, carrying them out of the dormitory."

The threat of an earthquake has haunted Yang since a fatal one hit the neighboring prefecture of Yushu 11 years ago. More than 2,600 people were killed in that incident.

When this quake hit, Yang didn't even have time to call her family. She ran to the playground and saw teachers lining the students up and counting. "All safe! " Yang said. 

The teachers were comforting some children who were crying. Some weren't wearing much, so the teachers wrapped them up in some of their own clothes. Logistical personnel soon brought quilts from a warehouse for the children, Yang said.

Parents were relieved to see WeChat photos of the blue tents and their children in line for meals and playing on the playground. Some students were relieved as well.

"I was afraid in the beginning, but I calmed down later," said Tibetan student Za Ga. "Many people came to help, including firefighters and parents; it was touching."

"I feel safe now," said a junior student who is preparing for an important entrance examination next month.

But the damage to the teaching building, auditorium and dormitories has led to uncertainty about when the children will return to a normal routine.

The emergency authorities said they will soon apply devices to assess the situation, given the damaged walls and tiles inside the buildings.

Two hours after the earthquake, the local government helped set up the tents in schools. Teachers provided psychological assistance and explained the reason for the temporary shelter to the students.

"Because most of the children come from herder families, they're used to living in tents," Yang explained.

 One student said having classes on the playground is great, noting that they feel safer seeing that all their schoolmates and teachers remained joyful in the face of disaster.