Friday, September 18, 2009

issue no.13

GS Perfect Attendance Rating at 31%


Two of the five mandatory work habits being promoted among the grade school pupils and teachers are the Attendance and Punctuality which are essentials in productivity and excellence. The school’s drive to promote the importance of attendance and punctuality in the efficiency and productivity of academic tasks remains to be a big challenge. For this year, the average attendance rating for the First Term is 97.82% , a -.36% compared to last year’s rating; punctuality rataing posed an increase of .09% giving the grade school a stunning 98.28%.

The average of the two Mandatory Work Habits for the first term is 98.05% that established a decrease of .14% compared last year.

The decrease in rating is attributed to health problems we had due to seasonal flu which is unavoidable and inevitable. In spite of this, the conscious effort of both the pupils and the parents in terms of punctuality yielded a positive result.
Actions repeatedly done will become a habit and eventually, will be a way of life.

The school recognizes the 31% of pupils who had a perfect attendance with zero tardy record through the PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD

Congratulations to the Perfect Attendance Awardees for the First Term. Continue meeting your goals and target towards excellence.

Laudable performance for the First wave of the Open Mic Season 2

An overwhelming response from the pupils was seen in the long queue of the aspirant Open Mic presenter. A big number of pupils presented themselves for screening for the Open Mic Season for the 2nd Term. This only shows that HCECians have the talents and the confidence to perform.
High Five to the first Open Mic Presenter:

Rina Angela Penales – 3 Charity

Alexis Corporal – 2 Piety


These two eloquent pupils were also the first to perform last year (refer to Vol.3 PB no.13).

Rina Angela had a Story Telling about the Wisdom of King Solomon while Alexis gave an oration piece by Abraham Lincoln. The performance was well-executed and expressed with powerful delivery.

Open Mic is for all. Screening is still on going.

First Parent-Teacher Conference on Sept. 26



The time to see the fruit of your child’s effort in his/her school task is set on September 26, 2009 during the First Parent-Teachers conference starting at 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm.

The PTC is an opportunity for the parent to talk to his/her child’s adviser about the school performance through the report card. Each parent will be given a maximum of ten (ten) minutes to get the report card and talk to the adviser. If there are matters that need to have a lengthy discussion, parents are requested to fill-up the Appointment Form found in this issue to be given a Special Time.
Please be guided by the following schedule:

Grades 1-5

1:00 3:30 – Teacher Conference for 10 minutes, first come-first serve

3:30- 5:00 – Special Conference; by appointment

Grade 6 – Grade 6 Humility Room

1:00- 2:30 – Level Parents’ Meeting

Agenda: Confirmation Rites, Graduation Rites, Other Matters

2:30-3:30 – Distribution of the Report Card

3:30-5:00 – Special Conference; by appointment, first come-first serve


While waiting, parents may stay at the MPH to watch the video of the Family Day 2009- Broadway Musical.


PTC is an avenue to see your child’s work in school. Let’s make it pleasant, objective and fulfilling both for you and the teachers. See you all!

Friday, September 11, 2009

issue no. 12

First Term Exam Mean: 87%, +2% compared last year

The hardwork and perseverance of the TEAM Grade School brought in an acceptable mean rating of 87%, a +2% compared of last year’s exam mean of 85% and a performance level of 78%, a decrease of 2% compared last year’s PL of 80%.

Term exam has a weighted percentage of 30% in the term grade. This year’s term exam focused more on questions that require understanding, critical thinking, applying, analyzing, evaluating, problem solving, and creating. It is still good to recall and remember (memorize) the concepts and data, but for better and enduring learning, the skills mentioned should be mastered by the learners. Grade school learners should be exposed to this kind of questioning so as to prepare themselves for bigger challenges in secondary and tertiary levels. In this case, 78% of our Grade School learners successfully hurdled the written test.

High five to the grade school pupils! Your hardwork paid much this time. Aim more this term.

Understand Better the HCEC Curriculum
Curriculum is the totality of what is being given to the learners in school. These are the written and unwritten course of studies designed to fit in the vision-mission of the school.

The written course of study which is the Subject Matter Budget of HCEC is a product of research and benchmarking to national and international educational standards. The lessons given to the HCEC learners are not the entire things found in a particular text book. There is no text book that will supply all the needed topics and skills required set by the standards the school is setting.

HCEC does not settle with what the minimum learning competencies set by the Department of Education (Take a look at this. In public schools, Science starts in grade 3, in HCEC, Science starts in Preschool.) The school owes it to the studentry to offer more for the belief that learners can achieve more if given more.

Don’t be surprised or sometimes upset if you find the lessons in the PIK not in your child’s text books. Research, research, research will help your child become better learner and eventually a competent individual.

HCEC has proven its worth for years: High acceptance rating in Ateneo de Naga, scholarship grants for our top students, yearly admission to Philippine Science High School, commendable performance in secondary schools and in tertiary school, and acceptable rating in Standard Based Assessment.

Total School Ban of Electronic Gadgets and other Toys

Starting on September 14, 2009, electronic toy gadgets in any form will be banned in school. This mandate is caused by alarming reports of teachers on pupils who are spending their spare time playing with PSP, MSP, and other electronic toy gadgets. In school, children are encouraged to use their time productively. Break times are lessened so as to regulate the use of time in school and to direct the energies and stamina into activities that will give them better output. Considering the harmful effects of these gadgets in the mental development of children, the school has the moral responsibility over the children to teach the correct values and practices.

Pupils are encouraged to use their time productively through:
1. reading books
2. working on their BTAs and assignments
3. creative chatting- a kind of brain storming or sharing of ideas on specific topic
group study
4. playing restful games like scrabble, etc.

Bringing these gadgets in school is posing dangers to the owners in case of loses and temptations to those who do not have such gadgets.

We respect the parents’ decision to provide this kind of toys to their kids but let us reserve the use of this at home.

Self-Discipline and Parents’ Support will make us successful in this campaign.

Who and what to memorize?

Don’t be overwhelmed with the seemingly endless literary pieces to be memorized by the children. Yes, there are quite a number of them BUT only those WHO CAN DO IT are included in the elimination. The declamation piece assigned to each level is part of the recitation in English; if delivery during recitation passed the set standard and within what we call performance level, the pupil (s) will be included in the elimination round.

We also have the MYTHICAL WORLD OF MT. OLYMPUS where pupils are invited to go on audition with their memorized famous lines of the character of the gods/ goddesses of their choice, but this is not compulsory, this is voluntary in nature and those WHO CAN may join.

Memorization is a skill easily mastered at an early stage. Young brains are absorbent and have the capacity to recall and memorize the info given. Don’t get upset if there are so many things to be memorized, instead, take it as a challenge to your child. Memory and recall skills can enhance brain development.

Friday, September 4, 2009

issue no.11

September is Literacy Month

September is the month that accentuates the importance of mounting the skills in reading and writing which are the components of literacy. This is the time that we put into pupils’ awareness the essence of literary appreciation. The literary anthology whether local or foreign displays its richness that entices and fascinates the heart and spirit of anyone who will endulge into these works of arts.

This month, HCECians will be subjected to different exciting literary experiences that will sharpen and test their wit and skills in reading and writing.

Celebrate Words beyond Worlds

Though actions speak louder than words, thoughts and feelings are better expressed thru words. Words are essential and are the backbone of communication. Whatever media you prefer to choose, spoken or written, words are used.

Words are powerful! They can create or destroy even the strongest dynasty or kingdom. They can give blessings or curse; happiness or its opposite; love or indifference. Thru words, we can understand our past, live the present and prepare for the future. Words are parts and ways of life. With the kind of words we are using, our intellect is measured, our personality is tested.If properly and creatively used, words can create worlds- a world that has a defined culture, a world that is unique, a world that can be a legacy to the next generation.

HCEC celebrates the Literacy Month with this theme to acknowledge the contributions of the literary pieces in the enrichment of the mind and spirit through reading, listening, spreaking and writing.

What you will be excited about here is the chance to see on stage the Greek gods and goddesses personified by the pupils.

Topping all of these will be the Spelling Bee, Guess the word, that’s the word game, Essay writing contest and among others.

The Literacy Month promotes awareness of the different genre and media in communication which will enable the school children to use their creative minds in expressing their thoughts, feelings and insights through a cultured, well-mannered form of words.

Open Mic,Year 2: Open to all

Last year, Open Mic was introduced to the grade school division that gained a popular support. It is a venue for the grade school pupils to show their skills in speaking and love for literature. Every morning of Tuesday and Thursday, there will be pupils who will be reciting their favorite and well-mastered literary piece, whether it is a poem, an oration, or a declamation piece. Wednesday is reserved for the teachers. Open Mic will be per term where pupils who will join will get a FIVE ARA Points per term. This 2nd term, Open Mic will be for the recitation and creative reading of poem and stories.

For those who are interested to join the Open Mic, they must register for screening with Sir Melvin or through their English Teacher. There will be a screening to come up with the best story reader, poet or orator.

Pupils who will be for screening must bring a copy of their literary piece and must be ready to deliver it in front of the screening panel.

Screening will start on September 7, 2009 at 4:00-5:00 PM at the cafeteria.

Good Luck to HCECians for the SM’s Search for the Little Star

Ten (10) of our pupils (1 from preschool division and 9 from grade school division,will be joining the Search for the Little Star sponsored by the SM Super Stores. The search is for all boys and girls who are 4-7 years old, pretty/ handsome, confident and talented.

There was no formal screening held at HCEC but the invitation was open to all pupils. No ARA points will be given for those who will be joining the screening since the search is not academic- related.
2nd Performance Task Assessment on Sept. 22-23

The 2nd PTA is now on its way for the grade schoolers to execute a task that will show their level of competence of a particular academic skill. This non-traditional assessment elicit an authentic evidences of learning that is an indicator of enduring learning.
Please secure the Pink Form as test permit not later than Sept. 18. No processing of test permit will be done during the assessment period.