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Saint Mary’s School of Sagada
Principal’s Bulletin, 2011-2012 Series # 13
December 15, 2011
Dear Parents, Students, Alumni, and Friends:
The teachers and students are back to school after three days of service learning. The service learning started last Sunday, December 11, until the other day, December 13. There was a low pressure area last Sunday but the weather improved on the second and third day which allowed the different year levels to go on with the planned activities.
As mentioned in last week’s bulletin and in the brochures, the service learning provides the opportunity for the students and teachers to experience a “connectedness” with the world outside the classroom. It enables them to apply skills and knowledge learned and taught in class in the service for others in an authentic service learning situation. The program supports the school’s commitment to develop the students as knowledgeable and responsible citizens. The service learning program also provides time for the students to fulfill the BOT requirement of 30 hours of service for every year of stay at SMS.
The freshmen experienced their first service learning at Suyo, Sagada and were housed at Ankileng Elementary School. They attended the mass at Corpus Christi Church last Sunday. They cleaned canals, pathways and some portion of the road. They also interacted with the First Year students of Ankileng National high School. Melvin Magsanoc, Glen Gayagay, Julie Pasiteng, Janet Eason and Jenny Bicarme accompanied them.
The sophomores attended the mass and retreat at Saint Ignacia and Juan Church. They hauled stones from the terminal to the dike. They also cleaned the canals at Aguid Elementary School and interacted with the Sangguniang Kabataan members of Aguid before they went to Datacan on the second day accompanied by the ever supportive barangay officials of Aguid. The second year students enjoyed their overnight jungle adventure in Datacan where they studied the flora and fauna of the forest as part of their lessons in Biology. On the third day, they hiked back to Bangaan where they were fetched by the vehicle going to Poblacion. Bernadette Dekdeken, Roland Ngalob, Daniel Ambasing, Cora Deligen and Stephen Ofoob were their loco parentis during the trip.
The juniors were welcomed by the community of Guinzadan Central, Bauko. They were housed at the Day Care Center and at the Barangay Hall. They carried river stones, from the river up to the road, which will be used in stone walling the eroded area near a newly constructed government building. They also picked up plastic and paper wastes in the different purok of the community. They had a social hour with some selected third year students and played volleyball and basketball games with the provincial meet team of Bauko 1. They were chaperoned by Beverly Ticobay, Leo Carlin, Mary Jane Aluyen and Elpid Daketan.
The seniors had their service learning at Guinaang, Bontoc and they were housed at Guinaang National High School. They played basketball, volleyball and softball games with the students of GNHS. They also had social hour with the seniors of the same school. Our students cleaned the grounds of Guinaang National School and did some excavation works. They also cleaned the gym of the church and the pathway from the gym to the school. Their chaperones are Roderick Pecdasen, Gay Pascual, Susan Ngagan and I. Gay and I co-teach with the GNHS teachers in Science and Math.
The fifth year students were assigned to the different year levels as assistant chaperones. They helped in monitoring the students, organizing the work details, social hour and journal writing sessions. They also had their set of requirements in their subjects.
The parents shouldered the meal expenses at P60.00 per meal while the school paid for the transportation of the students and the food of the chaperones.
Lighting of the Centennial Torch: We had the lighting of the centennial torch last Friday, December 9, at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin instead of having it in the school quadrangle as earlier planned due to bad weather condition. I’d like to acknowledge Deacon Stephen for preparing the ceremony well. It went smoothly even with some adjustments due to the weather. We had the procession at the church which should have been from the church to the school. During the ceremony, the “mother candle” was lit from the paschal candle. The mother candle was used to light the candles of the congregation and torches of the student, alumni, and parent, church and faculty representatives. The representatives all lighted the centennial torch.
The SMS high school students and kinder children were joined by the parents and alumni in this once-in-a century kick-off celebration. The symbolic candle then was sent to Baguio City for the torch parade at the Cathedral of the Resurrection grounds on December 10, Saturday. I’d like to acknowledge the faculty and staff of SMS for sponsoring the merienda after the ceremony.
Kinder Christmas Party: Today is the Kinder Christmas Party, December 15, Thursday. It started at 10:00 AM on the church grounds. The kinder still went to school at 8:30 AM for their practice. The lunch was potluck as usual. Most parents attended this important occasion in their child’s life.
Foundation Day/Christmas Party/Mountain Night: We will celebrate the Foundation Day/Christmas Party/Mountain Night on December 16, Friday. Parents and alumni are invited. Please be guided by the following schedule.
Foundation Day-Cordillera Night-Christmas Party
Schedule of Activities
Friday, December 16, 2011
4:30 am Misa de Gallo (sponsors: SMS and STH)
8:00 am School Mass (in Igorot)
10:00 am Assembly at the Quadrangle – Quiz Bee
1:00 pm Indigenous Games
3:30 pm Cultural Presentations (by Dap-ay)
4:30 pm Students go home to prepare for the Cordillera Night
5:30 pm Torch Parade including Kindergarten and Parents from Dao-angan to SMS Quadrangle
6:30 pm Lighting of the Christmas Tree, Kinder Cultural Presentation
7:00 pm Dinner (potluck by Dap-ay)
7:30 pm- 9:00pm Mountain Night Presentations (SMS Cultural Troupe, the winner in the cultural presentations by dap-ay, SMS Parents, Alumni); Testimonials
Parents, please be reminded that we will have potluck dinner on Dec 16. Please bring food for your family and some to share with the others as we will join the dap-ay of our children. Please ask the dap-ay of your child so you know where to go. The following is the room assignment during the dinner: Room 1 and 2 – Bilig, Room 3 and 4 – Matoba, Room 6 and 7 – Losban, Room 8 and 9 – Malingeb.
Please arrange also for the transportation of your children particularly those who reside outside Poblacion, Sagada area.
Provincial Meet: Some of our students will join the Sagada delegates to the Provincial Meet which will be held on December 17-21 at Tadian, Mountain Province. To all Sagada athletes: we wish you the best and bring home the bacon! For our contribution to the food of the athletes, each student will bring one chupa of rice and vegetables on December 15, Thursday. The contributions then will be brought to Sagada Central School.
Christmas Break: Christmas break starts on December 17, 2011 to January 8, 2012. Classes resume on January 9 (Monday). All students are expected to be here on January 9. We will deal with any student who will not report on the first school day of 2012. Parents, please make sure that your children will be in Sagada before January 9. We will not accept “naiwan ng sasakyan” as a reason. Further, we will not give make-up activities to those who will be absent, except those confined at a hospital, as we have a longer break compared to the other schools.
Students, remember that school rules apply during the break.
Third Quarter Exams: The third quarter exam is scheduled on January 16-17. It is then important for the students to attend classes starting on January 9. Please be reminded parents that the tuition fee should have been paid before the third quarter exams.
Enjoy the holidays,
Nemia N. Lite
Acting Principal
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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