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Saint Mary’s School of Sagada
Principal’s Bulletin, 2011-2012 Series # 8
September 14, 2011
Dear Parents, Students, Alumni, and Friends:
The month of September is Teachers’ Month. As we honor our teachers, let us also acknowledge our parents who are our first teachers. To the SMS parents, matago-tago kayo! The Lord blesses you as you continue doing your God-given mission to our students.
Let us also recognize the SMS faculty and staff members who work hard to make an impact on the lives of our students. They are our modern heroes! They love their vocation. They care for our children. They build dreams and they inspire our students. To the teachers and staff members: Thank you so much for being there for our students even beyond our regular working hours. I know you will be forever remembered by our students. To Ma’am Kym Ledesma, our registrar and the administrative assistant, who is on leave for a month: we pray for good health and good life.
We usually celebrate Teachers’ Day during Confucius Day which falls on September 28. We decided that we will give the teachers time to relax and bond this Friday, September 16, because there are activities scheduled starting next week until the exams. They will go to Itogon, Benguet for an overnight swimming. The students will take over the classes on that day. I will stay to supervise the students.
RECENT EVENTS
Forty teacher participants from Mountain Province showed up during the music workshop which was held on August 27-30 at the auditorium. We appreciate the participants from Natonin, Barlig, Sadanga, Bontoc, Baukjo and Sagada for coming in spite of Typhoon Mina which unleashed its fury during that time. Mr. Dennis Faustino, our headmaster, facilitated the workshop together with Mrs. Teresa Salao, Antadao Elementary School principal, Miss Lissa Octaviano, SMSS kinder teacher, and Mrs. Wriglene Andawi, Sagada Central School teacher. The teachers were given an overview of the K + 12 curriculum of music and were trained to read, write and apply simple music notations. They viewed varied films as a way of introducing music history and literature which is needed to teach music appreciation to the students.
Representatives from the different schools in Sagada and the Sagada LGU convened during the past weeks to plan the Festival of the Arts and the Festival of the Sciences. Last year, Sagada District hosted the Festival of the Arts. It was successful because of the cooperation of the students, teachers, parents, the church, the police, and the community. We agreed to host the event again this year. It is temporarily scheduled on October 23 PM (Sunday) – 25 (Tuesday) just before the semestral break. Once again, we solicit the help of all concerned to make it memorable to all participants.
The Festival of the Sciences is an annual activity of UNESCO, ABS-CBN, Geothe Institute and the Department of Education where science films are shown all throughout the country in two weeks. The films are usually shown in Manila and in nearby provinces. This year we are blessed that Sagada is included. The films are focused on the environment as 2011 is the Year of the Forest. The films will be shown in the different elementary and secondary schools of Sagada for a week. A culminating program will follow on November 19 (Saturday) which will be held at SMS. Other details will be published in this bulletin once all the plans are finalized.
The SMS Alumni – Sagada Chapter had a meeting on September 4 at the auditorium. In the SMS website, it said that thirty six members were present. The oldest alumna who attended is Ms. Agnes Dagacan, Class 1953, while the youngest is Kunyap, Class 2007, who sang for the delight of everybody. They discussed the plans and tasks of the Alumni for the centennial homecoming which will be on March 28-30 next year.
To all alumni and students particularly the graduating students we welcome suggestions for the theme of the centennial homecoming. The suggestions from the alumni are as follows:
1. "MOVING THE POWER and THE VISION of the MISSIONARY SPIRIT".
- submitted by Ms. Hilda Longid Aquino
2. "Bridging the Future, Missionary Spirit that was, is alive a Century later, and will live in the Future"
- submitted by Ms. Gloria B. Simon
3. The Reconnaissance of the Missionary Spirit a Century later, a Bridge to the Future"
- submitted by Ms. Gloria B. Simon
4. Enlightened Generation by Missionary Spirit and Vision a Century later, are the bridge to the Future"
- submitted by Ms. Gloria B. Simon
5. "Moving the Power and the Vision of the Missionary Spirit into the next Century"
- submitted by Dr. John Alipit
6. "A CENTURY AND BEYOND: Keeping the Torch and Vision Alive"
- submitted by Ms. Hilda Tamking Shortall
7. "Harnessing the Gifts of St. Mary's School in the 21st Century"
- submitted by Ms. Gina Dizon
8. Ms. Catherine Longid Carlin suggested that we maintain the theme of the Chicago Reunion, which is "Honoring the Vision of the Missionary Spirit..."
9. Celebrating A Century Of Education And Learning Honour The Past, Cherish The Present, Imagine/Inspire The Future.
- from Ms. Rose B. Nabert
The Education Department of Mt. Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) invited Sir Fau and I last September 2 and 9 to conduct a seminar-workshop on Understanding by Design (UbD) to 67 high school practice teachers. UbD is a methodology and not a curriculum as misunderstood by many. It employs backward approach in planning the lessons. Unit planning using UbD starts with identifying the essential question(s) which the students should be able to answer at the end of the unit. The teacher then formulates the unit test. This serves as the basis of the teacher in planning the activities. The students were oriented on UbD and the K + 12 curriculum during the first day and they presented their output during the second day. Sir Fau was invited again last Saturday, September 10, to speak on Curriculum Writing to the graduate students of MPSPC.
Twenty-eight students were suspended last week due to various reasons such as drinking, curfew violations, playing computer games, and truancy which led to the resignation of an SGO officer. Aside from academic suspension, they are not allowed to play during the intramurals and the District Meet. They will stay at the library to study particularly the lessons that they have missed during their suspension. What alarmed me is that twenty, mostly graduating students, decided to have a party, which turned out a drinking party, in a house unsupervised during the evening of September 2. This is the first time this happened in my years of stay here. To the parents, we need to be more vigilant on the after school activities of our children. When our children ask permission to attend a party, please make an effort to confirm it with the parent of our children’s friend. Or much better, we should be the ones to invite the friends of our children through their parents when we have parties for our kids. In such way, we can be assured of their safety.
I am worried that a student started skipping classes to play computer games in the Internet cafes. I appeal to the computer shop owners to please ask the students to leave especially during school hours. I want to remind everybody again that SMS students are NOT allowed to go to the computer shops anytime. The school computer lab is open after classes for research so please maximize it.
Let us welcome Hellevie Fagyan who was installed last Friday as an officer of the Student Government Organization. Hellevie is a third year student. We expect that she will be a role model to her fellow students.
The school attended the ordination of Deacon Marilou Dectan Wadingan, who is also the current principal of Sagada Central School, to the priesthood last Tuesday, September 13. It was an opportunity for our students to see an ordination and study its significance. Our cultural troupe played the gongs during the entrance and during the offertory. To Padi Marilou: Congratulations!
FUTURE EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The students are now busy preparing for the first Intramurals of the school year which will be on September 22 (Thursday) – 24 (Saturday). We follow the British system where we divide our students into four houses (dap-ays) namely Bilig, Losban, Malingeb, and Matoba. The dap-ays compete with each other in the field of sports, cultural arts, academic quizzes, and service and spirit. They work for their points throughout the school year and we declare the over-all winner during the Dap-ay Banquet which is held just before graduation. The champion two years ago and last year are Malingeb and Losban, respectively.
Each house is comprised of students from first to fifth year levels in contrast to the horizontal method where the students are grouped by year level and the freshmen are placed in a disadvantaged position as they are expected to compete with the upper year levels.
The District Meet is scheduled on Sept 30- Oct 2. If the weather is not good it will be moved to Oct 7-9.
The second quarter exams are scheduled on October 13-14. As such we will have the parent-teacher-student conference on Sept 19-21. The PTS will start at 4:15 PM after classes. Parents, please be guided with our schedule.
September 19 (Monday) 5th year and 3rd year
September 20 (Tuesday) 2nd and 4th year
September 21 (Wednesday) 1st year
Six (3 fourth year and 3 fifth year) students will take the Ateneo College Entrance Exam (ACET) this Saturday, September 17, at Baguio City National High School, Baguio City. In the afternoon, thirteen fifth year students will take the Benguet State University Entrance Exam at BSU in La Trinidad, Benguet. Examinees, please be at your testing center one hour before the exam.
Gawis ay agew tako am-in!
(sgd) Nemia N. Lite
Acting Principal
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