IN BRIEF

Enego wins third place in division-based tagisan sa sipnayan

By Neil Brandon D.L Vildad

JESSIE A. Enego of Grade 10 Aguinaldo won third place for the individual category in the division-based tagisan sa sipnayan held last March 23 at San Bartolome High School with the theme, “Mathematics for Everyone.” ed executing blended learning since May 8. Learners attend in-person classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and they complete online and offline learning activities on Tuesday and Thursday.

ACLDM is operationalized in consistent with DepEd Memorandum, OASOPS No. 2023-077 or Reiteration of the Implementation of Modular Distance Learning as provided in DepEd Order No. 037, s. 2022, and Division Memorandum No. 418, s.2023 or Approval of Requests for Changes in Curriculum Delivery Modalities in Response to Unfavorable Weather Conditions. The Curriculum Implementation Division and the School Governance and Operations Division will monitor the application of ACLDM by the schools.

EARLY... Ponciano Bernardo High School administered in-person diagnostic assessments for Grades 7 to 10 in all learning areas last September 19-20.

According to Regala, a diagnostic test is a tool that lets a teacher know learners’ knowledge about a topic before lessons begin, and the teacher uses this early data to create a realistic roadmap that addresses any gaps of knowledge. While most learning areas show gains, analysis of the results of the diagnostic test can’t explain why scores in Mathematics and English decline, the master teachers stated. Regala said that the drop in scores might be because the learners had yet to be accustomed to F2F exams. “The unexpected change clearly indicated lower results from their online quizzes because this will be the first time the students had taken on-site examinations,” she said.

Flor Abel Vilog, a master teacher in English, said the discrepancy in the scores may possibly have been influenced by learners’ anxiety when taking pencil and paper tests. “The reason why there is a difference in the students’ performance is probably because they have been doing assessments online for a while now and are feeling anxious about having to take an exam in a classroom once again using pen and paper,” he remarked.

Vilog mentioned additional factors that may have contributed to lower scores, such as arriving early for the F2F examinations and not having a support person there throughout the exam. Despite the discrepancies in the test scores, the master teachers argued that holding major exams in person would decrease cheating and allow for a more accurate assessment of learners’ success over time. “In some ways, doing this will also guarantee their learning, improve their test-taking techniques, and give them greater confidence,” Vilog remarked.

The quick turnaround in getting results of the diagnostic assessments, which the school administered face-to-face this year – a challenge in itself – has helped teachers identify the least mastered competencies and intervene early. “We would love to understand pressed his gratitude to all the attendees for their endeavor in helping the Philippine National Police (PNP) in drug abuse prevention and protection of the environment.

Master teachers recognized as finalists in 3rd SDOQC FIRE

By Michaela A. Marabut

THREE master teachers of Ponciano Bernardo High School (PBHS) were recognized last March 8 as finalists in the 3rd Schools Division Office Quezon City (SDOQC) Festival of Innovation and Research in Education (FIRE).

Flor Abel Vilog, master teacher in English; Cecilia Regala, master teacher in Mathematics; and Berlito Pangindian, master teacher in Araling Panlipunan were acknowledged for their completed basic research entitled “Performance Level of Proficient Teachers in Results-Based Performance Management System: Basis for Proposed Learning and Development for Teachers.” The completed innovation project of Vilog entitled “Project AIDE: Assessment in Distance Education” was also cited.

Around 24 teacher-researchers and innovators participated in the 3rd SDOQC FIRE that took place at Quezon City Science High School.

PBHS allows 100% f2f classes

By Neil Brandon D.L Vildad

AFTER more than two years of forced school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ponciano Bernardo High School (PBHS) allowed 100% resumption of the traditional five days of face-to-face (f2f) classes since August 22.

This was based on Vice President Sara Duterte’s initial order as concurrent secretary of education. Through the Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 34, S. 2022, she issued the directive released on July 2, detailing the calendar of activities for the school year 2022-2023.

Face masks no longer required in PBHS open areas

By Neil Brandon D.L Vildad

WEARING face masks in outdoor areas of Ponciano Bernardo High School (PBHS) is now optional following the new outdoor mask-wearing policy of the national government.

The school made the move a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 3 on September 12, which made voluntary the wearing of face masks in open spaces, outdoor areas, and crowded spaces with good ventilation.

this and to track our areas of progress,” Vilog said.

LRCP... Learner-focused, outcomes-driven, and sustainable programs were crafted to recover learning through interventions in literacy (English), literacy (Filipino), numeracy, and socio-emotional learning (SEL).

Two reading literacy programs were developed, such as Project IRACE (Intensive Reading and Comprehension Enhancement) and Project MAMASUBASA (Mag-aaral ay Matuto Sumaya at Magbasa) for English and Filipino respectively.

IRACE and MAMASUBASA aim to improve the reading proficiency level of Grade 7 learners by at least one grade level above based on the baseline data, increased academic performance from ‘nearly proficient’ to ‘proficient’ and attained culture of reading.

Both IRACE and MAMASUBASA include three essential components, such as the literacy program (Mastering the Big Six), an individual reading recovery program (Helping Learners-at-Risk) and a reading enrichment program (Attaining Culture of Reading).

Meanwhile, Project MFO (Mastery of Fundamental Operations) was proposed to improve the numeracy skills and academic performance of Grade 7 learners identified as “needing support” and to help learners attain at least 75% proficiency level in Mathematics.

Furthermore, Project LIKAS (Ligtas na Kaisipang Sikolohikal) was formulated to address mental health through the provision of mental health services, school-based program to support early identification and prevention of poor mental health as well as integration of psychosocial support and socio-emotional learning to reach vulnerable learners at PBHS.

Sustainability strategies, such as the inclusion of the LRCP in the School Improvement Plan (SIP), Annual Implementation Plan (AIP), and bolstering stakeholder support, among others, are woven into the fabric of the different PPAs.

Despite the fact that learners were already having difficulty mastering fundamental skills prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, School Principal Dominga Cabadin focused on the effects of the prolonged absence of in-person classes on learners’ performance.

Cabadin urged stakeholders to bolster support and intensify the participation of partners in various programs at the school. “It takes a village to raise a child. Together, we can recover,” she said.

The LRCP of Ponciano Bernardo High School was presented to the stakeholders of the school during the 2022 Brigada Eskwela Kick-Off on August 8.

TEACHERS...Held in February, the training on data analytics focused on helping teachers work collaboratively to analyze and utilize assessment data.

Furthermore, the training equipped teachers with strategies for teaching enhancement and practices for uplifting performance dubbed as “STEP UP” project for teachers.

Meanwhile, focusing on addressing competency gaps among teachers, a mid-year review on the implementation of Individual Performance and Commitment Review Form (IPCRF) for school year 2022-2023 was conducted after the INSET.

Follow-up training on data analytics was also conducted by the Schools Division Office of Quezon City (SDOQC)

Some teachers and master teachers of Ponciano Bernardo High School took part in the recently concluded development of division-based assessment tools aligned with the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) framework conducted by SDOQC.

LEARNERS... that can be finished in 40 minutes on a desktop, tablet, or Android smartphone.

The learners were tested on computational skills, which include decimals, fractions, integers, equations, polynomials, systems, and quadratic equations.

TOFAS does not affect the learners’ grades or go on their school form 9 (SF9), rather serving as a tool for teachers to know on which topics to focus or provide extra help.

Maria Isabel Kim from Grade 7 Maagap said, “Ang TOFAS para sa akin ay okay lang sa pangkabuuhan. Hindi nya naaapektuhan yung grades ko at masaya rin pag-aralan ito lalo na tumatahimik ang klase pagdating sa Mathematics. Pero hindi ko masasabi na sumasangayon ako rito o tinatanggihan ito.” (The TOFAS is fair overall. It does not affect my grade, Mathematics class is cool, and everyone is working quietly. I would not say I approve of it, but I am not opposed either).

On the other hand, Carl Parrosa of Grade 10 Mabini acknowledged that he did like the concept of TOFAS but said that it was not the best approach to force students to recall all they had learned and pack it into a test while claiming that it was a gauge of their progress, but everything has room for improvement.