Development of Session Guides for National Training of Trainers

I felt so honored when I received a call coming from DepEd Central Office inviting me for a Five-Day Writeshop on the Development of Session Guides (SGs) in Preparation for the National Training of Trainers (NTOT).

It was last March 9 when I went to TICC, Tagaytay City, to attend the writeshop. I was so glad to know that it was like a reunion with my fellow writers for EPP 4 Learners’ Material and Teaching Guide. We excitingly worked with our session guides that will be used for the NTOT.

At first, I thought this was just an easy task, like preparing lesson plans. But when I heard the discussions of Dr. John from National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) about the development of session guides, I learned that developing SGs for a training is an entirely different thing. For the first time I encountered the term andragogy (opposite of pedagogy), which is consisted of teaching strategies focused on adults. Since the participants are adults, we should learn some principles and theories concerning about how adults could be engaged in a learning process. Thereby, Dr. John comprehensively lectured about Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and the 4 As (Activity, Analysis, Abstraction and Application) of Learning.

This workshop also required us to produce the materials that will be used for the training, like the presentations, videos, and other visual aids. I was glad that I had finished the session guides for the EPP-ICT Team, but quite disappointed because I wasn’t able to produce the presentations and other materials on time, because I needed to go back to our school to attend to activities related to our forthcoming graduation. So thankful that Ma’am Glenda, our team secretary, allowed me to go back to my station earlier to attend to the needs of my class advisory. I just promised her to work on these materials during the orientation of chief trainers. 

With my fellow writers while working with 

our session plans in preparation for the NTOT.

Like this pose is an essential part of my documentation :D

Reflections on Being a Class Adviser

And another school year has passed. Time really flies so fast. The memories of the first day of classes seemed just like yesterday. I will surely miss my class advisory, IV – Lalaguna Batch 2014-2015. These bunch of teens gave me a roller coaster experience as their class adviser.

It was like feeling all kinds of emotions with them. There were times that I would be so happy with them, but there were also times that I was so close on cursing them. Sometimes, they will make me so proud of our section with all their co-curricular achievements, but there were some instances that I felt so remorseful that they became my class advisory. There was even a quarter when we became the lowest performing class in mastery level. I felt so ashamed. But despite all these ups and down, I realized that no matter what the circumstances we are into with our class advisory, it is our disposition as their class adviser that should be consistent. I will always be their second father, who will always be there to remind them of their responsibilities and support them in all their endeavor.

Last March 26, 2015, our school held its 18^th Commencement Exercises at Valenzuela Astrodome. I was almost teary-eyed seeing my forty nine (49) children marching their way as graduating students. And when they received their diplomas, my emotions are mixed up. Happy that at last they can pursue their dreams in college, sad because I know some of them will not be able to continue to college or still need to work first to save for tuition fees and other expenses. Nevertheless, I still hope and pray that all them can achieve their life goals someday and become who they want to be.

A photo taken before the graduation march,
with my dear students and Ma’am Karina.
Photo Credits: Jacklyn Cosico

Stephen Grellet said, “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” We shall only pass through the life of our students once, so let us do all acts of kindness for them, it doesn’t matter if it’s small or big. The important thing is that we touched their lives. Let us guide and inspire them to do their best, and light their path towards a brighter future. 

Mr. and Ms. Ecosavers 2015 Coronation Day

Last March 6, 2015, our department staged the first-ever Mr. and Ms. Ecosavers 2015. This was also the department’s first-ever big income-generating project.

A brief background about this program: National Ecosavers Program (NEP) is a joint project by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Galing Pook Foundation. This program aims to reinforce the habit of solid waste management and environmental concern among the youth today.

NEP was governed by Republic Act No. 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which established a comprehensive, systematic and ecological solid waste management framework. This act also required the full participation of DepEd in strengthening the integration of waste segregation and environment concern in school curricula, both in theory and practice.

Our department organized this event to promote solid-waste management and environmental concern among students through a pageant and popularity contest based on newspaper, bottle and plastic drive contest, at the same time to generate funds for the department in purchasing our own LED projector and Smart TV.

Our school principal, Mrs. Salvacion V. David,
during her inspirational message.

Photo Credits: Angelo Salazar

This is me while reading the mechanics of the pageant

Photo Credits: Angelo Salazar

Our lovely finalists in their Ecosavers Costumes, which are made of recycled materials:

Photo Credits: Angelo Salazar

Patrick Sioson of G8 – Aldiscimo and Airah Francheska Dela Cruz of G8 – Gavino won the major titles as the first ever Mr.and Ms. Ecosavers ofour school campus.

Our gorgeous emcees:

Mr. Dino Angelo Salazar and Ms. Leila Garcia
Photo Credits: Angelo Salazar

Meet the people behind the success of this event: 

Photo Credits: Angelo Salazar

We just hope that aside from the fun and excitement that they had during the pageant, our students would also realize and appreciate the importance of environmental conservation and protection for a more sustainable development of our country.  

Winning Big Time in Technolympics 2015

Last February 10-11, 2015, our division held the TECHNOLYMPICS COMPETITION 2015 with the theme “Optimizing Creativity.” Sixteen public high schools participated in different skills competitions. The delegation of our school, Gen. Tiburcio de Leon National High School was a strong team with determined trainers and student representatives.

The following are the trainers who were able to bag places in their assigned contest:

ICT
Web Designing	Marlon L. Lalaguna	Third Place
Tarpaulin Designing	Jeffry S. Reovoca	Second Place
Home Economics
Experimental Fish Dish	Marivic C. Francisco	Third Place
Hair and Make-Up	Jenny S. Loseñada	First Place
Children’s Wear Construction	Maricel N. Bautista	Third Place
Agriculture
Landscaping	Leonardo A. Parel	Second Place

               

We were so delighted that all our efforts and sacrifices paid off. An addition to this year’s Technolympics was the recognition of an over-all champion, which is based on the scores accumulated for every place that is won by the school. Fortunately, our school also won as the OVER-ALL CHAMPION. Mrs. Rona M. Reyes, our head teacher-in-charge, was so happy about the success of our department and said that the collaborative efforts and hard work of all the trainers and student representatives, who devoted most of their time in training, were the important aspects of this milestone.

Hopefully, we will perform the same or even more in the Technolympics next year.  To God be the glory.

Photo Credits: Rona Reyes

Yet Another Catching Up Post

Oh-my… It seems that it has been ages since the last time I posted here. For the nth time, please pardon me for this hiatus. As much as I really wanted to post a lot about my recent journeys, my mortal body and limited time would not really permit me to do so. Ha-ha!

There are a lot of stories I would like to share here that I decided to dedicate one post at a time for each of them. I am indeed so thankful because it seems that I have accomplished a lot early this year. Here are my previous endeavors in a nutshell:

• Our school won as the Over-all Champion in the previous Technolympics held at Parada NHS and Bagbaguin NHS, and that is because of the collaborative effort of all the trainers, who really devoted their time in training our student representatives for each contest categories; 
• Our department successfully held our income-generating project, the “Mr. and Ms. Ecosavers 2015.” As the project proponent, my head teacher tasked me to supervise the operations of this event. The proceeds of this project would help our department to buy ICT for education tools like LED projector and Smart TV.
•  I also felt so proud that for the recent school year, I was able to guide all my learners to successfully meet all the academic requirements to finish their basic education. Big thanks to their ever patient and understanding subject teachers;     
• I was again invited by DepEd Central Office – Bureau of Elementary Education to become part of the Workshop on the Development of Session Guides and Orientation of Chief Trainers for the National Training of Trainers for the K to 12 Basic Education Program;
•  And of course my actual experiences as Chief Trainer for EPP-ICT during the National Training of Trainers held at Teachers’ Camp, Baguio City and Ecotech Center, Cebu City.

I am offering all these accomplishments to God, for He gave me all the strength and wisdom to accomplish these great things. To God be the glory.