March 10 Circular: Culminating Activity and Recognition Day

March 10, 2010

Dear Parents,

HEdcen at TLFH is proud to celebrate its 2010 CULMINATING ACTIVITY and RECOGNITION DAY this coming March 26 in the HEdCen at TLFH campus at 8:00 a.m.

An activity fee of Php 200 will be collected from each undergraduate GS and HS student. This activity fee will include miscellaneous expenses and other logistic costs. Photo arrangements during the event must be made directly with the designated official school photographer on the recognition day itself.

The deadline for the payment of the activity fee enclosed with the accomplished reply slip below shall be no later than Monday, March 22.

Each attending student is allowed to seat TWO (2) guests ONLY. You will be furnished with the invitations and seat tickets, along with other notices important to this event in the following days. We implore that the invited guests grace this special affair in decent semi-formal attire. Extra seats will be provided OUTSIDE of the cordoned area.

The attire for the attending undergraduate GS and HS students is school uniform. The attire for the annual honors is elegant ethnic. School leather shoes are required to be worn by the undergraduate students.

No other accessories (as stated in the student handbook) will be allowed. Regular haircut is required for the men. NO MAKE-UP and HAIRDO.

Assembly time for all undergraduates is at 7:30 a.m. After the formal recognition rites, all students will proceed to their classrooms for their sectional year end program.

The students return to school for the scheduled rehearsals for Recognition Day beginning March 22 until March 25. The schedule to be followed is from 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Please be advised to prepare for your child’s transportation arrangements going to and  from HEdCen at TLFH on the Recognition Day rehearsal dates. Students will be REQUIRED to attend recognition practices in their school uniform. Students are also requested to bring packed lunch and snacks.

For other inquiries, please contact the class adviser through the administration office numbers at your earliest convenient time.

NOTE: The prescribed sablay to be used by the graduating classes for the March 28 graduation rites may be rented for Php100. You may make your inquiries with the school bookstore.

SAMUEL GERONILLA
Principal

EMMA GUTIERREZ
Center Director

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A mother’s letter

You probably don’t know me so I’ll introduce myself. My name is Connie Veneracion. I have a daughter in Year 4 and her name is (withheld).

If you’re wondering why I am posting my letter here, it is because this website belongs to the HEdCen Community which includes me as a mother. I want to share with the HEdCen community a very unsettling experience my family has recently gone through and may still have to go through before the school year is over.

Wednesday, two days before the trip to Mount Makiling, my husband and I brought (withheld) to a dermatologist. For months, she had been complaining about a numb spot below her left shoulder which we thought would go away. It didn’t so we went to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist. A real doctor. A medical practitioner with the distinction of being a “fellow” in the medical profession.

This doctor, Dr. Cynthia Sumulong Caparas, examined (withheld). Because numbness can be a symptom of leprosy, she pierced the numb spot to find out the extent of the numbness. (withheld) flinched and Dr. Caparas scratched off leprosy from the list of possibilities. Next, she asked (withheld) to take off her shirt and immediately noticed the uneven shoulders. Scoliosis, she said, and advised us to see an orthopedic-surgeon for a more proper diagnosis. She appraised us of possible management (there is no treatment for scoliosis) which includes physical therapy, wearing a body brace and, in extreme cases, surgery. She also warned us not to agree to surgery outright because the spine is a delicate thing and any accident could leave (withheld) paralyzed.

But because we didn’t know any orthopedic-surgeon, I asked her for recommendations.

Meanwhile, I told her about Mount Makiling. She advised against it. Her initial findings and recommendations were contained in a medical certificate that was duly submitted to the school.

Still, (withheld) wanted to go. At that time, I had not read up on scoliosis, I did not fully understand the condition, so, the following day, I phoned Sir H, told him I had signed the Makiling form permitting Alex to go. I also appraised him of the previous night’s visit to the doctor and the circumstances that led to it. So long as Alex did not have to carry heavy loads, I was willing to let her go. Sir H, however, was not willing to take (withheld) to the trip because, according to him, the school could not take responsibility for (withheld)’s condition. And I thank him for the foresight to choose the safer course, both for the school and for (withheld), until a more detailed diagnosis could be performed.

The following Monday, Dr. Caparas gave me the name of an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Tonette Gabua, who specializes in non-surgical therapy. I called up Sir H to inform him that (withheld) would not be able to attend classes the following day so we could take her to the doctor.

On Tuesday Morning, we went to the doctor’s clinic at the Veterans Hospital. X-rays were taken and we waited for the results. The x-rays showed that the curvature of Alex’s spine was less than 2o. In short, it did not appear serious to warrant aggressive therapy nor the wearing of a body brace. We were given instructions, however, to make sure that the curvature does not worsen and go beyond 2o until (withheld) turns 18 or until such time that she stops growing, whichever comes first. The doctor wrote her findings in a medical certificate. All of these are borne out by hospital records.

After lunch on the same day, we drove (withheld) to school so she could attend the rest of her classes.

That medical certificate, along with a letter from me (because doctors are not the most articulate people in the world and, for the sake of complete transparency, I felt I had to relay to the school what else was discussed in the doctor’s clinic), I gave to (withheld) to give to Sir H on the very same day. They did not see each other that day. Later, Sir H told (withheld) to give it to Teacher Angie, the school nurse, who refused to take it. She did not take letters, she said, she wanted the x-ray plates.

The thing is, while it has been my intention to provide the school with a copy of the x-ray plates, the SOP in the hospital is to keep the plates and to release only the findings of the doctor. That was what we were told in the x-ray department. The plates, however, are available at the hospital library.

As a parent, I can only be thankful that the diagnosis did not prove to be as bad as we initially feared. I have read up on scoliosis, I am now aware of the difference between structural scoliosis and non-structural scoliosis, and I understand that the condition of (withheld)’s uneven shoulders falls under non-structural scoliosis.

My husband and I could only sigh in relief. Any parent knows what it’s like to be confronted with uncertainty, not knowing outright just how serious the condition of one’s child’s is. Any parent would understand the anxiety, the sleeplessness, the emotional burden.

I was under the impression that the school is our partner in ensuring the well-being of our children. So I was rather surprised to hear that there are certain people in the administration and faculty (you know who you are) who think that what Alex, and my entire family, had gone through was just a lie so she could skip the Mount Makiling trip. If skipping the Makiling trip was all that we wanted, I could have simply refused to sign the permit. That is my prerogative as a parent. Never mind (withheld)’s tears because she so wanted to go and I told Sir H so. It was neither me nor my husband who refused to let (withheld) join the trip.

It does not sit well with me nor my daughter to have a school official deliver “parinig” in public about “quack doctors.” That is more than immature; that is downright sleazy and low. Don’t bother saying it wasn’t directed at her because, in that group, she was the only one who recently had medical problems.

If any school official, or teacher, doubted the medical consultations and procedures that Alex has gone through, and the trauma that my husband and I went through not knowing exactly what (withheld)’s condition was, they should have said it to me and my husband directly so we could have clarified and showed them how utterly misplaced and unreasonable and unfair their doubts were. The school has our home number, our mobile numbers, our home address and even my e-mail address.

Instead, they chose to subject, nay, humiliate, (withheld) — publicly — with their malicious imputations and snide remarks, allegations they cannot prove and doubts that could have been erased if they wanted to. I can only surmise that they want the doubt to remain because, to this day, no one in the school has communicated with us about (withheld)’s condition. And the medical certificate issued by the orthopedic-surgeon was not accepted. To what devious end they want the doubt to remain, only they know.

Perhaps, I can put an end to all the “parinig” by being the adult here and initiate direct communication by publishing this letter. Let me assure you doubting Thomases that I am able, and very willing, to get you in touch with Drs. Caparas and Gabua so you can talk to them directly about what happened exactly as they happened. Nothing gets more transparent than that. Don’t be afraid to be proved wrong when both doctors corroborate my statements. Or are you going to attack their personal credibility aside from their professional reputation and impute that they are liars too as well as quack doctors?

Since the school nurse has refused to accept the medical certificate in (withheld)’s possession, I will take it from her and keep it in our family’s medical records. If the school still wants it, and since it has been offered and flatly refused, the school can send me a written request. Meanwhile, the x-ray plates are available at the Veterans Hospital. If the proper school official wants to view them, let me know so I can give you the contact information of (withheld)’s attending physician.

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March 3 Circular: BOOST Summer Program, Enrolment/Summer Sked, Etc.

March 3, 2010

Dear Parents:

Please be advised of the following important notices:

1. For April 2010, HEdCen at TLFH is launching the BOOST summer program of enrichment classes for currently enrolled and new students to allow progressive opportunities to enliven classroom learning. BOOST classes for the summer starts April 5. Please see the attached form for BOOST’s list of courses/workshops.

2. The HEdCen at TLFH Admissions Office is presently accepting student inquiries, early student reservations, and registration for School year 2010-2011. Please contact the HEdCen at TLFH Administration Office and look for Ms. Racquel Desoyo or Ms. Annie Nacionales.

3. The official enrolment/summer schedule is as follows:

April 5-24 …………………… Pre-School
April 26-15 …………………. Grade School
May 17-June 5 …………….. High School
June 6 onwards …………… Late Registration

*All throughout the given schedule, the indicated levels are prioritized but open enrolment will be maintained. Enrolment for SY 2010 is ONGOING.

Penalty fees for late registration will apply IMMEDIATELY after your designated enrolment schedule so register early to avoid the inconvenience.

4. The official enrolment/summer schedule is as follows:

Summer Enrolment ……………………………………………. Ongoing until April 8
Holy Week Break ………………………………………………. April 1-4
School Supplies Available/List ……………………………….. April 15/April 5
School Uniforms Available/List ……………………………….. April 17/April 7
Text Books Available …………………………………………… April 28
Parents’ Orientation ……………………………………………. May 29 (8:00AM)
Posting of Class Sections/Class Schedule ………………….. June 2
Opening of Classes (GS and HS) …………………………….. June 11

5. The HEdCen Administrative Office will keep regular office hours on March 31, Holy Wednesday. However, from April 1 to 4, HEdCen will join the nation in the observance of Holy Week and will be on break. Regular office hours will resume on April 5.

Thank you for your constant vigilance and cooperation.

SAMUEL GERONILLA
Principal

EMMA GUTIERREZ
Center Director

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March 2 Circular: 3rd Trim Finals, NAT Sked, Recognition and Graduation Days, Etc.

March 2, 2010

Dear Parents:

Please note the following important school announcements:

1. The third trimestral comprehensive final exams are scheduled on March 9-11, 2010. Please complete all requirements and follow up on all pending tuition fee balances so as to avoid inconvenience on these days. The school will effect strictly a policy of NO EXAM PERMIT, NO EXAM.

2. Third trimestral test exemptions for GS and HS will be released this week. Eligibility for the exemption rule esp this year end includes completion of all academic requirements for this school year.

3. Classroom clean-up and the start of clearance signing for all students is on March 12, 2010. Only Grades Four until Fourth Year HS will be required to be in school 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

4. The DEpEd-required National Achievement Test (NAT) for undergraduate classes will be administered in school on the following dates:

March 5 GS Grade Six (regular class schedule)

March 11 HS Second Year (last day of finals moved to March 12)

5. There will be a special schedule for GS, HS this Friday. Please be guided accordingly to accommodate arrangements for your child’s transportation services.

Friday, March 5  Grades 1–4, 6  Regular schedule (NO CLUB)

HS I-IV, Grade 5  Outreach (7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)

Year II   3:30 p.m. dismissal

Friday, March 12  Grades 4  to Fourth Year HS    7:30 a.m. –12:30 p.m.

6. The Grade Six and Fourth Year graduating levels will start their graduation rehearsals March 15. They will be joined by the specially assigned groups (Glee, Rondalla, Ushers, Recognition Day production numbers). The schedule is from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Other rehearsal details will be provided separately.

7. The HEdCen at TLFH Admissions Office is presently accepting student inquiries and early student reservations for School Year 2010-2011. Please contact the HEdCen at TLFH Administration Office and look for Ms. Racquel Desoyo or Ms. Annie Nacionales.

8. All GS and HS undergraduates (ONLY) are required to attend the Recognition Day on Friday, March 26. Rehearsals for blocking for ALL UNDERGRADUATE LEVELS will begin March 22–March 25 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Other important March dates are as follows:

March 28 GS, HS graduation   5:30 p.m.
March 29 Official start of summer enrollment
March 30 Distribution of Report Cards   8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

ANA KAMILA NIGUIDULA
Special Projects

SAMUEL GERONILLA
Principal

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3rd Trim Finals Sked + Calendar Of Activities

From the school’s bulletin board, we have the 3rd Trimester Finals Schedule for March 9 to 11 –

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– as well as the rest of the activities for the current schoolyear up to the opening of SY 2010-2011:

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The Palaro 2010 Photo Gallery

Ahhh, the pain, the joy, the fun of competition! We’ve got them all here, courtesy of Sir Myke.

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For more pictures of the Sportsfest, see the album. (We’ll add even more in the coming days.)

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More From “Music Of The Heart”

We couldn’t get enough of the event, so here we go with more pictures from the recital. (Muchas gracias to Mrs. Protacio for sharing her photos!)

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