HISTORY

Title

The Academic Senior High School of the City of Meycauayan: A Step Towards Academic Excellence and Better Future


Narrative

The Academic Senior High School of the City of Meycauayan is an addition to the growing number of educational institutions in the City of Meycauayan. It is committed to provide quality education and 21st century learning skills to its students. It envisions itself as a portal of the senior high school students in achieving academic excellence and a better future.

The school building made use of six classrooms that originally belonged to Meycauayan West Central School. On the first floor, the two rooms were used for classroom instruction and one room was used as the school canteen. The second floor had three rooms. The adjoining rooms were used as the e-Classroom/ Computer Laboratory and Faculty Room. The third room housed the Principal’s Office and receiving room. Another two-storey building with four classrooms was then under construction in preparation for the plan to offer Junior High School the coming school year and for the possible increase in the enrolment for Senior High School.

About the School and the People in it

The Academic Senior High School of the City of Meycauayan is strategically located at the heart of Barangay Gasak. It caters to students from the four sitios – Kaluwagan, Looban, Labasan and Central. The school also accommodated students from nearby barangays as well as the students from Marilao and Valenzuela who want to try a new haven to achieve academic excellence.

The first school head assigned to ASHSCOM was Dr. Ricardo P. De Guzman – a Senior Education Program Specialist of the Schools Division of Meycauayan City. After just a few months, a new full-fledged school head was assigned as Principal II in the person of Ms. Elsilda P. Bunagan who hails from San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Mrs. Bunagan started as a classroom teacher. She became Head Teacher III in the TLE Department for six years at Carlos F. Gonzales High School in San Rafael, Bulacan. With her excellent performance and dedication to work, she was promoted as Principal I and was assigned at Malipampang Elementary School from 2012-2014 and Gabihan Elementary School in San Ildefonso, Bulacan from 2015 until July 2016. Ms. Bunagan earned 42 units in Doctor of Education Major in Education Management at the La Consolacion University Philippines in the City of Malolos. She finished her Master of Science in Agriculture at Pampanga Agriculture College in Magalang, Pampanga, and earned 18 units in Master of Arts in Education major in Education Management at the Bulacan Agricultural College in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

These are the first teachers assigned to this school:

  • Ms. Realyn D. Barotilla
  • Mr. Michael Franc SD Fresnoza
  • Mr. Perfecto S. Gumatay
  • Mr. Marky P. Osorio
  • Mrs. Maria Virginia C. Panisan
  • Mrs. Ma. Erica C. Peñaflorida
  • Mrs. Lailah Claire U. Ronidel
  • Mr. Cristian B. Suarez
  • Mrs. Ana Liza D. Teodoro

Background

The Academic Senior High School of the City of Meycauayan is strategically located at St. Francis Street, Barangay Gasak, City of Meycauayan.

The school started its operation and full implementation of the Senior High School Curriculum on June 13, 2016. In its first year of operation, it offered only two strands of the Academic Track – ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management Strand) and HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences). This track was offered based on the available resources, population of learners and the needs of the local community. It also implemented the K-12 curriculum which included three (3) types of subjects: Core subjects, Applied and Specialized Track subjects.

During its first year of operation, there were only nine teachers: one Master Teacher, six Teacher III and two Teacher I together with the Principal who were part of the pioneering team of ASHSCOM.

There were only two sections then – one for each strand: 11 - ABM with 33 students and 11 - HUMSS with 47 officially enrolled students. They are housed in the rooms on the first floor of the school building. Each classroom was well ventilated and prepared to be more conducive to learning. The e- Classroom/ Computer Laboratory was provided with 49 computer units, two (2) overhead projectors, two (2) laptops, one (1) printer and one (1) speaker. Two (2) television sets were used by teachers for classroom instruction.

Despite being a new educational institution, the school had already shown an outstanding performance in different competitions. During the 2016 Division Math Competition held on September 8, 2016 at the Meycauayan College Annex, the student representative won second place in the Sudoku Challenge. At the 2016 Division Press Conference held on September 22-23, 2016 at Iba Elementary School, the student representatives emerged as winners in the different categories. Eleven students competed in the Regional Schools Press Conference in TV Broadcasting in Filipino; Copy Reading in English; and Science Writing in Filipino and English. Furthermore, the school proved that its students have leadership qualities and skills. Ane Jesiel M. Trinidad was elected President of the Student Supreme Government (SSG) while Arlhie Shane L. Alcanar was also elected as President of the Division Journalism Guild for school year 2016-2017.

Its location

Strategically located at St. Francis Street, Barangay Gasak, the Academic Senior High School of the City of Meycauayan occupies a two-storey building that originally belonged to Meycauayan West Central School (MWCS)l. Historically, this school was used as one of the garrisons during the Philippine war with Japan, and it became one of the pilot schools in Bulacan. Its proximity to the municipal hall, church and market prompted officials to call it Meycauayan Central School.

Update

As of July 2017, there are now 161 students enrolled at ASHSCOM. 96 students are enrolled in Grade 11 and 65 students in Grade 12. For School Year 2017 – 2018, the school offered three strands – ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management), HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) and GAS (General Academic Strand). An additional teacher, Mrs. Sara Marie B. Baria was assigned to ASHSCOM making a total of 10 teachers. A Principal II, Mrs. JO ANN B. GALANG, was appointed as its new school head since May 2017. Mr. Jonathan Oriel Lopez, a new school clerk was also assigned to help facilitate reporting and recording of school data.

The City Government has given four (4) HRV Action Team to help in the security of its students and properties. They were also assigned to help in the maintenance of the school’s cleanliness and orderliness.

Writer/ Historian

MARIA VIRGINIA C. PANISAN

Teacher III

0927-2959837; virgiepanisan11@gmail.com

Mrs. Panisan is one of the pioneering SHS teachers at the Academic Senior High School of the City of Meycauayan. Aside from being a classroom teacher, she is also the English Coordinator, School Librarian and Assistant Guidance Counselor.

School Head from May 2017 to date

JO ANN B. GALANG

Principal II