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Saint Mary’s School of Sagada
Principal’s Bulletin, 2011-2012 Series # 6
August 5, 2011
Dear Parents, Students, Alumni, and Friends:
The first quarter exams had been over by the time you receive this bulletin. This means we have been in the school for ten weeks.
Before we embark on a new quarter, it is good to reflect on our performance during the first quarter. As for me, the first quarter was a great challenge mainly because I am learning in the field of administration. I am blessed to have with me energetic and supportive faculty and staff members who are willing to go beyond their regular duties for the welfare of our students.
We have a wide range of disciplinary cases during the first quarter and most concern the freshmen and transferees who are adjusting to our system. Sometimes these cases drain my energy that I want to give up especially with some behaviorally challenged students. Often times the faculty had to meet to discuss issues and deal with particular students who tend to challenge our system. Our life could have been easier if we ask these few students to just leave the school but even if sometimes we get frustrated we still do our best to put these students in the right track. If we see the determination of a student to change, we do all what we can to help him.
St. Mary’s School exists with the missionary spirit to reach out to other people. However, there are instances that while it is painful on our part, we have to ask a student to leave the school for his own benefit and/or for the benefit of the majority of the students. We asked three students to leave the school during the past quarter due to continuous infractions. They went for a period of reflection to think of what they want in life. After some weeks, they came back to SMS, apologized to the teachers and the student body, presented their plans to reform, and appealed to be reinstalled. It was a risky decision to accept them back and I’m still crossing my fingers that they will remain focused on their studies. If they do succeed, they will be part of our success stories. While the desire to change has to come from the person, I am happy to see that their schoolmates are willing to extend whatever assistance they can to them. I think this is a result of our emphasis on service the past years.
RECENT EVENTS
The Kinder Family Fun Day was held on July 24 at the school grounds after the sung mass. Thanks to the Teacher Lissa, Teacher Jing, Teacher Roland and the Kinder PTA for organizing the event. It was well attended by the families of our kinder children who actively participated in various games. The lunch was a feast as the parents brought abundant food which everybody partook.
While the kinder families were enjoying the Family Day, Sir Fau, Sir Mel and I were in Guinaang, Bontoc conducting training on Understanding by Design to the teachers of Guinaang National High School. The teachers were very receptive and they asked a lot of questions on how they will improve their teaching skills. Sir Mel demonstrated student-centered instruction. Even if it was his first time to meet the students, the class went smoothly. He showed that the students can enjoy their classes if they are actively involved in the learning process. Sir Mel and I came back to Sagada in the afternoon while Sir Fau stayed overnight with Mr. Arnel Chomawat (an SMS parent, a former SMS teacher and now teaching TLE, Computer, and PE at Guinaang National High School). Sir Fau stayed because was requested by the principal to observe the teachers the following day.
The Board of Trustees had a meeting last Saturday, July 30, at the parish office of the Cathedral of Resurrection in Baguio City. Sir Fau, Ma’am Carol and I attended the meeting. Among others, we discussed our goal to be self-reliant. During the previous years, the Board, alumni and friends worked hard to sponsor the salary of teachers through faculty chairs to give time to the school to recover. It was programmed for five years and was supposed to end during the SY 2009-2010. However, we bargained for four faculty chairs last school year to address the deficit brought by 17 students who transferred to other schools. Another reason for the bargain is to cover four positions which were not in the original plan such as the guidance counselor, chaplain, assistant principal, and a science consultant. It’s high time that we stand on our feet this school year. The operational expenses should be covered by our income. Thus, we have to be more conscious of our expenses as the support from the alumni and other stakeholders will be used for scholarship and capital development.
We received the result of the National Achievement Test last school year which our current third year students took last March. There is a major drop in our school performance. The first time the school participated in the NAT, the school average is 57.50. The following school year, the average is 57.09. Now, it went down to 53.11. The teachers are currently studying the competencies assessed in order for us to come up with a plan to address our deficiencies. We still don’t know the division ranking but we will release our rank once we have the data. We just learned that all third year students and the fourth year students who want to apply for CHED and TESDA scholarship will take the National Career Assessment Exam (NCAE) on September 28. For us here in SMS, we will require all seniors to take the NCAE together with the juniors. We will continue with the Saturday reviews for both third and fourth year students after the YCAP.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FUTURE EVENTS
The UPCAT is scheduled on Saturday, August 6, at Mt. Province General Comprehensive High School in Bontoc. Twelve students will take the exam. Sir Stephen will accompany them to the testing center tomorrow.
The Parent-Child Dance is scheduled on August 12, Friday, from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. This dinner-dance event is sponsored by the PTA. We will have potluck. Each parent will bring food which will be served by homeroom. We will have the opening program which includes the parent-child dance. After that we will have dinner per homeroom. The students will go back to the auditorium to continue the dance while the parents will go to the library for the second quarter PTA meeting.
The SMSS PTA will conduct its YCAP Day (dang-as) on Saturday, August 13, starting at 8:00 AM. All students are expected to be in school on this day. PLEASE BRING YOUR COOKED RICE FOR LUNCH. The PTA will provide the viand which will be funded by the fines of those who are not present or those who opt not to work but will donate P250 for lunch expenses. The fine is 250 pesos. The males will excavate the area near the washroom of the gym while the females will clean the orchard and the gardens. Please bring shovels, bolos, sickles, sanggaps, baretas, and other tools needed to do the job. If you have concerns about the YCAP please approach me or Mr. Guillermo Guyon, the PTA vice-president, who is in-charge of PTA projects.
The ordination of Brother Stephen Ofoob, our school chaplain, to the diaconate is on August 15 (Monday). To enable the teachers to attend the occasion, we will have the second student takeover. The SGO officers will take the administrative positions during the event.
The Report Cards will be released to the parents starting on August 19. Parents, please come to the school to get the report cards of your children so you can review the academic progress of your child in the different subjects. When you receive your child’s report card, please take the time to discuss the grades and the comments with your child as these are the basis for future improvement. Under Values Education, students rate themselves on how they performed based on our first quarter theme which is RESPECT. The grade will not be included in the computation of the general weighted average but is required and is recorded in the transcript.
I will be calling for individual meetings with the parents of the students who will receive failing grades, and for those who are at risk of losing their scholarship or financial assistance starting next week. Please make it a point to come to school for this conference.
August 22, Monday, has been declared a holiday in celebration of Ninoy Aquino Day. August 29 (National Heroes Day) and August 30 (Eid El Fitr) were declared as national holidays also.
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 6 (Saturday) UPCAT
August 12 (Friday) Parent-Child Dance
August 13 (Saturday) YCAP
August 15 (Monday) Ordination of Brother Stephen Ofoob, Student-takeover
August 22 (Monday) Ninoy Aquino Day
August 29 (Monday) National Heroes’ Day
August 30 (Tuesday) Eid El Fitr
Matago-tago tako am-in!
Nemia N. Lite
Acting Principal
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