issue no. 3

HCEC passes the International Educational Standard at 84%

HCEC Grade School garnered an 84% Mean Scaled Ability Score with 72% Performance Level based from the Standard Based Assessment (SBA) test given by the Asian Psychological Services and Assessment Corporation last March 2009.

The proficiency level of the International Educational Standard, which is the passing score, is 80% which HCEC has been meeting for the past 3 consecutive years of assessment. The SBA test is given to all grade school pupils to measure the level of academic performance based from the content and competency standards for the the given grade level.

HCEC has been consistent in meeting such standards but the commitment to improve and increase the number of pupils in the proficiency level makes the teachers and pupils driven to work harder.

Congratulations TEAM Grade School for a job well-done!


Mass of the Holy Spirit for HCECians: A communion of believers

One of the thrusts of the school is the character and spiritual formation of the academic community. Though the school is not a “Catholic School”, in principles, practice and beliefs, HCEC community is a practicing catholic believer which is manifested in the programs and activities. Celebrating a regular holy mass is just part of the customary and standard activities of HCEC.

July 3,2009 marks the special day for all HCECians as the community holds the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit at St. Anthony of Padua Church at 9:00 am. This
will be attended by all pupils, teachers and staff; parents are invited to come. In this special mass celebration, the school invokes for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to be bestowed in every pupil, every teachers and staff and every family of the HCEC. Special prayer intentions are to be raised for the success of the academic programs and for the safety of the school community members for the academic year 2009-2010.

Character and spiritual formation starts at home and to be strengthened in school. HCEC recognizes and accepts the significant roles and enormous responsibilities of the school in strengthening and intensifying the values and characters caught and practiced at home. May the Holy Spirit bestow upon us His gifts: knowledge, wisdom, understanding, counsel, piety, fear of the Lord, amen

Pupils’ assembly time: 8:30-8:45 am
Assembly place: St. Anthony of Padua Church
Attire: School Uniform
Expected time of dismissal: 11:00 am
• Kindly fetch your child on time.
• No more classes in the afternoon

Mr. Dindo Ibarreta is the New EB President

The appointed level representatives made their choice on who will take on the lead the PTA Exceutive Board. The elected president of Grade 3 Faith, Mr. Dindo Zoilo Ibarreta is now the new Executive Board President who will serve one term from AY 2009-2012. The officers also filled-up the rest of the positions that will comprise the Executive Board Members.

The teachers group will be represented by the senior teachers both from preschool and gradeschool division. Ms. Elena B. Oafallas was appointed by the Managemement to be the Admin Representative.

The HCEC Management and teaching staff congratulate the new set of EB Officers. The school now appeals to the usual support the community is giving to the parent-officers.

CONGRATULATIONS!
The PTA Executive Board Officers
AY 2009-2012
President Mr. Dindo Zoilo Ibarreta
Internal Vice-President Mrs. Ana Liza Trinidad
External VP Mr. Renie Zorilla
Treasurer Mrs. Janet Aguilar
Secretary Mrs. Theresa Sta. Rosa
Auditor Ms. Maricel Sacayan
PIO Mrs.Jacqueline Cuasay
Business Manager 1 Engr. Pepito Mora
Business Manager 2 Mrs. Thelma Bachiller
Admin Representative Ms. Elen Oafallas
Grade School Teacher Representative Mr. Dominico Bagacina
Preschool Teacher Representative Ms. Mary Ann Elcano


What is standard?

Being the first does not guarantee excellence unless, the achievements are compared with certain STANDARDS just like the one set by DepEd. Those who will not meet the passing grade of 75% are given failing marks.

It is a level of quality or excellence that is accepted by which actual attainments are judged or measured. (Microsoft Encarta Dictionary)

We need to have standard for excellence and productivity not with- standing the market competitive edge.

In education, there is what we call education standard set by Mcrel, Mid- continent for Research and Educational Learing, a conglomeration of international educators. (Visit their website at www.mcrel.com)


McRel defined the standards about what students should know (concepts) and be able to do (skills ad competencies) in a particular academic subjects and level. “ What should a grade 1 pupil know and do in English, Math and Science?”

For three years HCEC has adapted the McRel Standard and is being evaluated by the Standard Based Assessment (SBA) given by Asian Psychological Services and Assessment, Inc.
Act Hi-Pro on its 4th year, a distinct program to increase academic performance
A special Academic Program that is distinct and unique in HCEC is the Act Hi-Pro or Action Towards High Proficiency (Act Hi-Pro) that resulted into a significant increase in the number of pupils who met the proficiency level of 80% in their Academic grades in English, Math, and Science.

Act Hi-Pro or Action Towards High Proficiency Program was implemented in order to increase the level of pupils' proficiency level in English, Math and Science. This year, Act Hi-Pro will be enforced again expecting to reap much better results. Based from the academic achievements of the grade schoolers, Act Hi-Pro has proven its worth as a venue to meet the academic goal of proficiency.
Act Hi-Pro is done every Friday morning where pupils from grades 2-6 are grouped according to the pre-identified level of proficiency based from the SBA results given last March 2008. The Grade 1 shall remain in their respective sections since they did not have the testing last year. Transferees will be grouped according to the admission test results. The Act Hi-Pro Program has the following levels of groupings:

Level of Proficiency Program
Strata 1 Highly Proficient Enrichment & Advance
Strata 2 Proficient Remedial & Enrichment
Strata 3 Progressing Towards Standards/ Did not meet standards Remedial
The program aims to increase the school's proficiency level as compared with the International Educational Standard (IES), which at present is 84%. It also targets to decrease the number of pupils who did not meet the IES which is at 27%.

After Class Program, an extended academic activities

There are things that need to be given extra time and attention to polish and sharpen the related skills. There are pupils that need to have extra attention to reach their level of competencies. Children need to have opportunities to discover their potentials and improve their skills and talents. All of these are the reasons that back-up the After Class Program. This is the pupils extended academic activities which will start on July 6, 2009 onwards.

Who may attend?
Math and English Enhancement Class – pupils recommended by teachers with a special letter to be sent to the parents.

Honors’ Circle- pupils who were awarded as Honors’ Circle Fellow

Scouting – pupils from grades 5-6 who are registered scouters (grade 4 pupils shall wait for the registration period)

Dance Academy- pupils who attended the Summer Dance Workshop

HCEC Choir – official choir members

Schedule: Primary- 3:30-4:30 pm
Intermediate – 4:30-5:30 pm

Please refer to PB no. 2 or to the attached July Calendar of Activities for the specific day of ACP for your child.

Kindly coordinate the schedule with your child’s fetchers.


ACADEMIC POLICIES

Performance Task Assessment (PTA) – This is a kind of evaluation that measures the diverse competencies of pupils through a non-paper and pen test. Pupils perform certain tasks designed by the teacher; it can be an oral, visual, or kinesthetic tasks that require the pupils to show their level of learning and understanding. This is given every other month.

Pre-test - before every lesson, a 5- item test is given to measure the readiness of the pupils for a particular lesson. The result is used for the differentiated activities (a curricular approach to meet the diverse needs of the pupils). Pre-test result is not recorded so don't be surprised if you will see quiz results with low scores.

Homeworks – are fully accomplished when duly signed by the parents. Children are expected to keep daily homework with fixed schedule; but sometimes teacher may not give due to some activities in school. Home works are given on specific days to ensure that pupils will have enough time to work on their home tasks.
Days of Homeworks:
Monday – English
Tuesday – Math, Filipino
Wednesday- Science, AP
Thursday – HELE

Copying of Notes – is not done on a daily basis. Lectures to be copied are given on a specific day so as to give the pupils time to focus and participate in the class discussions and activities. If the concepts discussed are in the textbooks already, these should not be copied anymore, lectures being coppied in the notebooks are those concepts NOT FOUND in the textbooks.

OTHER POLICIES

Absences – when a pupil absent himself/herself from the class, he/she should submit an excuse letter signed by the parents upon reporting to school. This will make the absence marked as EXCUSED ABSENCE, otherwise, it will be an UNEXCUSED ABSENCE. Pupils with excused absences will be excused from quizzes and other assessment and maybe given special tests.

Entry Lunch Pass – parents or guardian who will bring food and eat with their kids during lunch time shall secure an ENTRY LUNCH PASS that should be worn during the lunch break period. Kindly bring an ID card to be left with the guard in exchange of the Entry Lunch Pass.

Reply Slips - all communications including the Parents' Bulletin have a reply slip. That reply slip must be returned the following class day. Returned reply slips are collected and counted by the advisers as part of their KRA. Monitoring the reply slips will help us ensure that the communication was received and hopefully read. Please do the RSS: READ the communication, SIGN the reply slip and SEND it back.

Strict gate entry, a safety measure

School where children study and learn must be a safe place at all times. Safety can not be compromised. Protection from intruders and bad elements must be ensured. To do this, a strict gate entry is implemented through the following:

• Parents or guardians must present an ID card in exchange of a gate pass or entry lunch pass.
• The gate pass, and entry lunch pass must be worn on display while inside the campus.
• Anyone seen without any of those passes shall be asked by the school guard for identification.


The school is requesting for the cooperation of the entire members of HCEC community to adhere to this policy. This may be inconvenient for some, but this will give the the pupils an environment that is safe and more conducive for learning.




1. July 3 – Mass of the Holy Spirit and induction of Class Council Officers, Parents HR Officers, Level Reps and New Executive Board Members
2. July 6- start of the ACP
3. July 10- Dance workshop
4. July 11- Flute workshop
5. July 19-23- First Performance Task Assessment
6. July 24-26- Leadership Training Seminar for pupil officers

Thank you for making yourself well-informed on school matters
by reading the
Parents’ Bulletin.


Ms. Helen R. Andalis
School Principal


Ms. Teresita P. Nadal
School Directress