10.17.2011

One Month at Site

Tenth Month 17, 2011


I think this is an appropriate time for me to describe the school where I am assigned, and to share a little about the schedule and practices that I find interesting.

The School
The school has a total land area of 10,000 sq. m. Its location is the main contributing factor to high participation rate of 157% Parents from nearby barangays send their children to the school because most of the parents work at a nearby university.

The school is a complete elementary school in a second class municipality in the province of Laguna. It is a science and math pilot school (since 1990) which serves as training partner of four local universities in many projects and extension services.

The school is managed by a Principal III with 2,227 pupils, 53 teachers, one utility worker, one clerk and traffic aid.


 The Office
Teachers clock–in (an actual time clock and card) and sign an attendance book in the office when they arrive. The time cards are on a wall placed behind the teachers’ pictures and identifying information. Each teacher has a space on the wall with his/her picture, along with the following information:

Name Regina Renee Ward
D.O.B. 3-23-1971
Address Lopez Avenue, Los Banos, Laguna
Blood type: B positive
Degrees Earned: B.S. EdM MLIS
PRC No (teaching license number)
Original Date of Appointment 9-17-11
TIN No(Tax account number)
Phone # / Contact #

All of this information is on display and is placed on top of the time card which is concealed. Interesting.


The Schedule
Every morning when we enter class after the daily flag ceremony (7:15-7:30), we follow an established routine.

The morning routine: Prayer, greetings, lessons, recess, lessons, prayer, lunch.

Prayer: Let us pray. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord God, You made the world and promised to love and care for us. You sent your only son Jesus to save us, that whoever trusts Him will not be lost, but will have life that lasts forever. Thank you Lord for the kindness and generosity you have showered us. (Not a typo)

Bless us today with intelligence and wisdom to understand our schoolwork and activities; love, patience, and humbleness for our parents, teachers, classmates, and others; and peace, joy, and happiness may reign in our hearts forever. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Greetings: Good morning Ma’am Ward. Good morning classmates.

Lessons:             07:30 English
                            08:30 Math
Recess:               09:30 The students purchase snacks and drinks 
Lessons:             09:45 Filipino
                           10:45 HEKASI (Social Studies)

Prayer: Let us pray. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
Angel of God my guardian dear. To whom His love commits me here.
Ever this day, be at my side, to light and guide, to rule and guard. Amen.


Before we leave to go home for lunch, the students recite in unison:
Good afternoon Ma’am Ward. Good afternoon classmates. See you this afternoon.


Lunch

The afternoon Routine: Greeting, lessons, prayer, farewell, dismissal

When we return from lunch, the students recite in unison:

Greeting: Good afternoon Ma’am Ward. Good afternoon classmates. It is nice to see you again.

Lessons:             12:30 Religion - for Catholics, Muslims, & "Born Agains"
                            13:00 Science
                            14:00 English (Grade 4)
                            15:00 Music Art P.E

Leader: Classmates please stand up. Are you ready to pray?
Class: Yes, we are.
Prayer:  Let us pray. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  
Angel of God my guardian dear. To whom His love commits me here.
Ever this day, be at my side, to light and guide, to rule and guard. Amen.

When we leave for the day, the students recite in unison:

Farewell: Goodbye Ma’am Ward. Thank you for teaching us. Goodbye classmates. Cleaners today (insert the names of the cleaners for the day) See you tomorrow.

Dismissal:      Primary grades 15:30
                        Intermediate grades 16:00
                        Faculty and Staff 17:00


Miscellaneous Information that I find Interesting
Along with the core subjects, character building is on the pupil report card.
The pupils receive individual grades for each of the following:
1.     Honesty
2.     Courtesy
3.     Helpfulness and cooperation
4.     Resourcefulness and creativity
5.     Consideration to others
6.     Sportsmanship
7.     Obedience
8.     Self reliance
9.     Industry
10. Cleanliness and orderliness
11. Promptness and punctuality
12. Sense of responsibility
13. Love of God
14. Patriotism and love of country

*Class sections are determined based on grades. Rizal is the top section. In order to be in Rizal, a pupil must maintain a grade of 85 or above in each subject or they will be transferred to a lower section. Rizal sections can have no more than 40 pupils. My other sections have about 65 pupils. Seating is also based on grades. Row 1 Seat 1 is reserved for the top student.

*These observations are true for my site. They are not true for every public school in the Philippines, but are fairly common.


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