Monday, April 07, 2008 Mendoza: A school year of harvest By Lorenzo E. Mendoza The Scribe's Corner
(Lorenzo E. Mendoza is Education Supervisor II of Department of Education 11 (Deped 11) and has joined Sun.Star Davao's roster of respected columnists. This is his first contribution and will be expected to bring education updates every Monday. -- The Editor)
It's vacation time once again, a full two months of enjoying a life away from school. The best way to cherish the summer festivities is to recall the noteworthy achievements of Deped 11 this school year that has just ended.
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To strengthen the collaboration and understanding between government leaders and the Deped officials of Region 11 led by Deped 11 Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy, a one-day orientation-dialogue was conducted at the Waling-Waling Hall, Deped Regional Office 11, Davao City on March 18, 2008.
Deped Assistant Secretary Jesus Lorenzo R. Mateo and Planning Director Milagros Talinio served as the resource persons who clarified numerous issues and concerns that the government leaders had raised during the orientation-dialogue.
Representatives Manuel 'Way Kurat' Zamora, Thelma Almario and Isidro Ungab, Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas, Igacos Mayor Aniano Antalan, a number of Provincial Board and City Council members who chair education committee and representatives of other government officials responded to the call of Deped so that grey areas in some Deped policies would be ironed out and common agreement could be reached on some issues.
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Julito Aligaen, a teacher from Asuncion National High School in Davao del Norte, won the top prize in Education Planner and Administrator Category of the Unesco ICT in Education Awards, 2007-2008, with his entry "One Computer in Multigrade Classroom" from a total of 146 applications from 19 countries all over the world.
Aligaen was also a grand prize winner in the SEAMEO Jasper Research Award in 2007.
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Two out of the three winners of the 2008 Vice President Noli de Castro Academic Excellence and Exemplary Leadership Awards from Mindanao were taken by two high school students of Deped 11.
Benralph Yu of Davao City National High School, Division of Davao City, the President of the National Federation of Supreme Student Government (NFSSG) of the Philippines for SY 2007-2008, was accorded with the Exemplary Leadership Award for Mindanao while Vienna Mae Miranda from Tagum City National Comprehensive High School, Division of Tagum City took home the Kabayan Noli de Castro Foundation Award.
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Krystel Duane S. Suam of Southpoint School in Davao City emerged as the National Champion during the 13th Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) National Oratorical contest held last February 7, 2008 during the 29th PAWD National Convention in Cagayan de Oro City.
Suam, who was trained by Pauline Anne B. Ferrero, is the 7th DCWD locally produced champion who made it to the national finals since 1997.
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Deped Secretary Jesli A. Lapus said on Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), an AusAID supported project, "I am very impressed with the BEAM Project and I want to make sure that all the achievements of BEAM will be utilized and implemented across the rest of the country."
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Digos City Division ranked first in the regional level and fourth nationwide in the National Achievement Test (NAT) based from the results released by the NETRC on June 2007 that showed the division has paced strides in its Mean Percentage Scores (MPS) in the last five-year academic period in practically all subjects.
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Director's Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of Regional Director of Deped Region 11 Susana Teresa B. Estigoy to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education) "Whatever Deped Region 11 has achieved or was able to cope with in CY 2007, recognition and gratitude are due all those who stood by us, supported and assisted us; the congressmen, the governors, mayors and other local government officials, the heads of other national agencies in the region, the parents, members of the media, the BEAM project management and staff, and also the whole of the Deped family in the regional office and divisional offices."
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For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, email me at renzthescribe@yahoo.com.
