FTAS: Cultivator of STVEP, Producers of New Breed of Agriculturists
The 30th Year Foundation Celebration will be on May 14 to 20, 2021. Activities will be done virtually through the FTAStic group page. See you there!
Distribution and retrieval of Self-Learning Modules and/or Learning Activity Sheets will be announced in the FB page.
Today, May 10, 2021, the Provincial Government through Hon. Governor Manuel Mamba declares MECQ for 14 days starting today until May 24, 2021.
2021 marks a significant event in our lives as a part of a remarkable educational institution, the Felipe Tuzon Agricultural School which celebrates its 30th Founding Anniversary on May 20, 2021 with the theme:” Celebrating Resilience Amidst Adversity”.
Though, Foundation Day for this year will be entirely a virtual experience as we bring together the alumni, staff, students, parents and stakeholders at the comfort of their own home, the celebration will still be made meaningful as it strives to establish resiliency in education amidst the health crisis, we are in. Hence, this difficult time requires a collective effort of every member of the educational community towards excellence.
Therefore, the school with its staff, headed by the efficient Officer-In-Charge, Dr. Jeremias M. Siriban, Jr. encouraged everyone to support and actively participate in the different activities throughout the celebration.
There will be different virtual activities prepared to be participated by the alumni, students, parents, stakeholders and all who had become a part of the institution. These include On-line Quiz chaired by Ma’am Karen, Collection of Throwback Pictures by Ma’am Sarah, FTAS Timeline Display by Sir Satty, 30 Icons (alumni) by Ma’am Elenor, 30 Pillars by Ma’am Evy, Inspirational Stories by Ma’am Sha, Slogan Writing Contest by Sir Zaldy, Face-Shield Decorating Contest by Ma’am Wilma, Mentors All by Ma’am Ann and FTAS Hymn Writing by Ma’am Joy.
The school continues to thrive, succeed, and serve despite of the ongoing health crisis brought by COVID-19. Hoping that this celebration will make a difference in the lives of every FTAStic members.
The Felipe Tuzon Agricultural School was not spared from the adverse effects of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) global outbreak. Just as in other schools, restrictions imposed to prevent the further spread of the virus have caused early suspension of classes during the remaining weeks of school year 2019-2020 and a major overhaul in the education system of school year 2020-2021.
The pandemic crisis has created a climate of fear and has halted academic activities for a while. However, education is not just essential, but also imperative. Education, then, must continue despite the impending dangers and the desperate calls for academic freeze.
The Department of Education could not afford to lose an entire school year idly waiting for the full containment of COVID-19. Thus, it exhausted every possible resource, exerted extra effort, and eventually developed and released DepEd Order No. 12, s. 2020 dated June 19, 2020, titled “Adoption of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan for School Year 2020-2021 in Light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” as a response to the challenges of the present health crisis.
This also prompted the FTAS to draft its own Learning Continuity Plan in support to Department’s battlecry, “Sulong Edukalidad” and mandate to continue education whatever the circumstances may be. The Learning Continuity Plan was anchored on the principles of the BE-LCP and was guided by the standard health protocols provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). And as expected, major adjustments have been made in the teaching-learning process in order to cope with the unprecedented changes in the New Normal. Instructional delivery has shifted from the traditional face-to-face learning to home-based learning experience to comply with the directive for schools to delay face-to-face classes until a coronavirus vaccine becomes available.
Meanwhile, the FTAS personnel conducted home visitation to reach out to the learners who were not able to register online during the online enrollment. Their concerted effort paid off as the number of enrollment has increased by 3. 85%.
Having considered the contexts of the enrollees and the challenges of the new set-up, Modular (Print) Distance Learning Modality was adopted as the final learning delivery mode of the school. It was the top instructional delivery choice based on the results of the survey conducted during the remote enrollment prior to the opening of classes. Blended Learning landed on the second spot, followed by Television, Online and Radio-Based Instruction respectively.
Furthermore, from the the data gathered via DepEd’s National Learner Enrollment and Survey Forms (LESFs), financial constraints, lack of technological devices, and poor internet connectivity were among the key reasons of their modality choice. While the majority has smartphones, only a handful could afford to connect to the internet via mobile data.
Modular learning is a form of distance learning that uses Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) based on the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS) provided by Department of Education (DepEd).
DepEd provides the self learning modules through the teachers. The teachers reproduce downloaded modules from their division learning resource portals, distribute them to and retrieve them from their own respective stations in accordance to the agreed schedules
Students are given an ample time to complete the tasks and submit their outputs at the end of the week. Teachers monitor the learners’ progress through home visits (following social distancing protocols) and feedback mechanisms, and guide those who need special attention.
Prior to the opening of classes, the school personnel identified the geographical location of the enrolled learners and assigned them to the five (5) designated pick-up centers where their parents and guardians could receive and submit the SLMs. Two teachers were assigned in-charge of each pick-up center. Most of the learners walk on foot, so the school personnel arranged it that way to meet them half-way.
Most importantly, the learners as well as their parents and guardians were given copies of their class schedules, contact information of their advisers and subject teachers, their roles and responsibilities and have them affix their signature as a sign of their commitment and support to the learners’ academic pursuit.
The crafted Learning Continuity Plan is still being implemented up to date but is open to changes as the need arises. The school makes necessary adjustments as much as possible in order to cope with the demands of the new education system.
The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” perfectly pictures the academic situation in this time of pandemic. Indeed, educating the young is not a sole responsibility of the teachers or of the schools, but of the whole community. Stronger linkages among school stakeholders are needed more than ever. If teachers, parents and all stakeholders are one in their purpose to provide the learners quality education that they deserve, no obstacle is insurmountable. It may be hard but it is possible only if everyone plays his or her part. In times like this, collaboration is a must for the welfare of our learners. Besides, their triumphs and successes are also ours and so are their failures. /SMAJ
While there is a burgeoning need for schools to slowly shift to online activities because of this COVID crisis, it was a very good plan and decision of the ICT Department to conduct a 4-day virtual seminar-workshop which aimed to educate and demonstrate to school representatives how to design and publish their own school website.
A school website is necessary to address its prospective audiences like the parents, students, alumni and visitors monitoring the school who shall be requiring information, school activities and other undertakings of the institution. Thus, the ICT Department headed by Mr. Andrew A. Taaca together with Mark Kevin Agcaoili, the energetic host, Rexan Campos, Michael Aguilar, Robert Segoro, Xyza Zingapan, Jimkirk James Santos, Kevin Caratiquit, Ruben Dubla Jr., the brilliant speakers, and the technical team, spearheaded Project WEBS on May 6-10, 2021.
It was a very informative, participant-friendly and a productive seminar which involved the school heads, the ICT data management coordinator and the ICT Infrastructure coordinator of all public schools in the Division of Cagayan. It never had dull parts because the organizers declared health breaks and raffle games in between speakers’ lectures. An evaluation at the end of the day was accomplished by the participants to send their feedbacks to the speaker and to the workshop, also, it was a way for organizers to monitor participants’ attendance. It was an effective lecture and demonstration that stimulated the participants’ interest and skills in designing their school website and adding significant content to it. The organizers gave ample time for participants to finish their expected outputs. The Project WEBS (Website for Educational Institutions in the Basic Education System) was the first in the region which prompted schools to have their school website, thus making it a record-breaking one.
The Department of Education never runs out of plans and ideas to cope with the globalization in terms of education. Webinars like these are gateways for employees in the school level to improve their file management, strengthening their online information platforms and to reach out to stakeholders virtually. Soon, the school websites will be readily available for all who have interest to require information and other significant activities of the schools in Cagayan.