Intensifying Honesty, HONESTORE relaunched

To promote honesty among students of Cauayan City National High School Main, the Supreme Student Government (SSG) officers together with Project W.A.T.C.H. Club relaunched HOnesty Nurtured by Engaging in a Sincere Trust-Operated Store (HONESTORE) previously known as Juan Tapat, August 22, 2022 HONESTORE, which is previously known as Juan Tapat is an initiative and sub-project of the overall Project W.A.T.C.H. advocacy in the school.

As students purchase goods from the store, they are encouraged to be honest as they have the option to make the payment through a money box in which they can insert the exact amount of what they purchased.

Every consumer must list their names alongside the items they purchased, the total amount paid, and the date when they purchased the item to keep track of the store’s inventory.

Trust and transparency are also practiced as students shop from the store to show that the store’s main goal is to im- prove the morals and ethics of the buyers, rather than make money. Students are provided with an educational experience through the modes of payment of the store as the mentioned organizations look to continue their mission of promoting honesty inside the school. As the store gains popularity, more students come by often and purchase products they need, as the store also offers school supplies and sanitary products aside from food.

The store continues to offer products as the school year continues; it serves as a store that meets students’ needs as well as encourages them to be honest.

14 million families to benefit from the Solo Parents Act

With the perks brought by the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (RA 11861), an estimated 14-15 million families will benefit from the said act issued by the Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) in order to assist single-parent families due to the price hike and lack of jobs, on November 1, 2022.

The law was signed on September 29, prioritising easing the financial burden of solo parents, specifically single mothers, and making it easier for their children to have equal school opportunities.

Solo parents may show their barangay certificates, financial statuses, supporting documents, and their Solo Parent ID to avail the benefits they may attain from this act.

These benefits include monthly financial assistance, percent discounts on different purchases, such as hospital bills, groceries, housing projects, scholarships, other purchases and exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT) for parents who earn less than ₱250,000 monthly.

More than 500 students from Cauayan City National High School - Main are benefited from this coverage. Students with siblings below six years old are financially assisted through discounts in child care products.

“(We receive) cash assistance of course. Because today, inflation is no joke and my mother’s earnings are not enough. If before we have enough, but now we don’t and the cash assistance really helps and provides our needs,” Rosmin Mogatas, a Grade 10 student from the Special Program in Journal ism, an swered in an inter view when they were asked on what they receive as benefits from the law.

Dela Peña vows to strengthen monitoring of students amid rising concerns over vaping

MOZHIELLE GILO

Cauayan City National High School-Main Principal, Ms. Maribeth S. Dela Peña, under scored the negative impact of nicotine products or vaping on human health, particularly among students caught using these products within the school premises.

In response to this growing concern, Dela Peña expressed the school’s commitment to intensify monitoring students and learners who may be skipping classes to indulge in these unhealthy addictions, specifically nicotine products, such as vapes and cigarettes.

Dela Peña also called on vendors of these products to cooperate and work together to promote the welfare of the students.

On December 5, 2022, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released Administrative Order 22-16 Series of 2022, which imposes strict regulations on the sale and use of nicotine products for the Republic Act 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act. The order mandates the prohibition of selling these products to minors and individuals under 18 years old, with a corresponding fine of Php10,000 or imprisonment of up to 30 days. Moreover, the use of nicotine products in public indoor spaces, including government offices, schools, airports, and even churches, is subject to a fine of up to Php20,000.

This move aims to discourage using these products, particularly among young people and students, and promote a healthier lifestyle.

Cauayan City Gov’t aids school fees of 36k students

With the goal to support and lessen the financial burden of parents and guardians, Cauayan City Government headed by City Mayor Hon. Caesar “Jaycee” S. Dy, Jr. covered the miscellaneous fees of more than 36,000 learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12 of different public schools in Cauayan City, Isabela with the start of the academic 20222023.

Upon enrollment, each student of 79 elementary, 2 integrated, and 15 secondary schools is provided with a ₱435 budget, allocating ₱20M for all students in total, under the budget of the City Government and the guidance of Mayor Dy.

Under these fees covered are the insurances, boy scout and girl scout funds, and newsletters and gazettes of students, aligning with the campaign of DepEd to have no other fees upon enrollment.

“Ang gusto ni Mayor ay wala nang iniisip ang ating mga magulang na maghanap pa ng pera bago mag-enroll

(Our City Mayor aims that parents shouldn’t have anymore enrollment finances to think of),” as stated by Committee

Chair on Education, City Councilor Hon. Garry Galutera in an interview.

All the checks for the school billing are already provided and are currently in the Office of the City Mayor. Through insurance, students also become members of the Philippine Red Cross.

Galutera also mentioned that these benefits and coverage only started with the term of Mayor Caesar Dy, emphasizing the government’s aim to lessen the financial burdens of parents and students in enrollment. Furthermore, the government plans to implement more student incentives, scholarships, and awards for national winners.

Nationalians receive 90% time accordance rate

FIRST THINGS FIRST Officers of the Supreme Student Government marks the hands of the early comers to school at the front gate of Cauayan City National High School. The project STAMP (Strengthening Time Accordance by Monitoring Punctuality) aims to implement a reward system towards the students who are punctual.

Students of Cauayan City National High School Main attained 90 percent time accordance rate from Project STAMP (Strengthening Time Accordance by Monitoring Punctuality), August 22. The lead organizations, Supreme Student Government (SSG) along with the W.A.T.C.H (We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty) Club crafted the said project to increase the level of awareness of the students on time management. Attaining 90 percent time accordance were students among the special programs and BEC whose designated teachers collected the data. The Project STAMP monitors attendance of the early birds by stamping on the hands of every learner who will come to school early at 6:00 AM and not later than 7:30 AM. Sections that fail to comply with the 90% cut-off for punctual students will go through a seminar that aims to imply the vaues of time managemnt and punctuaity, on the contrary, sections that maintain their 90% time accordance rate gets to be awarded for their efforts every month.

City High hosts Brigada Eskwela to ensure safe return to in-person classes

Cauayan City National High School (CCNHS) recently hosted its annual Brigada Eskwela event, which aimed to ensure the safe return of schoolchildren to in-person classes for the SY 2022-2023 academic year held from August 21-26, 2022, this year’s theme was “Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas na Balik-aral”, which focused on the country’s collective efforts to address learning gaps and social issues.

The event saw a massive turnout of students and guardians who volunteered their time to participate in the activity. Even those who could not attend physically still helped by providing donations, such as foodstuffs and cleaning equipment.

Towards Nationalistic Youth and a Country for the Youth VP Duterte Unveils Plan to Transform Basic Education

Vice President Sara Duterte recently delivered the 2023 Basic Education Report, which outlined the government’s efforts to improve the country’s education system. The report, which was released on March 17, 2023, highlighted various programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the learning experience of students and equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in life.

In her speech, Vice President Duterte emphasized the importance of providing quality education to all Filipinos, especially those in remote areas. She noted that education is a key driver of progress and development in the country, and that investing in it is essential to achieving the government’s goal of creating a prosperous and inclusive society. The report showcased several key initiatives undertaken by the government in recent years to improve the quality of education in the country. These included the K-12 program, which has extended basic education to 12 years and introduced new subjects and learning competencies; the creation of more technical-vocational schools and programs to equip students with job-ready skills; and the establishment of alternative learning systems for out-ofschool youth and adults.

The Vice President also acknowledged the challenges faced by educators and students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many schools to shift to online or distance learning. She praised the resilience and adaptability of both teachers and students, and expressed her gratitude for their continued dedication to learning despite the difficulties.

Looking forward, Vice President Duterte said that the government will continue to prioritize education as a key policy area, and will work to ensure that all Filipinos have access to quality education. She called on all stakeholders, including educators, parents, and local communities, to work together to achieve this goal and build a brighter future for the country.

The 2023 Basic Education Report is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to assess and improve the quality of education in the country. It provides a comprehensive overview of the state of basic edu cation in the Phil ippines, and serves as a roadmap for future policy and program devel opment. With the Vice President’s leadership and commitment, the government is ex pected to contin ue making strides in providing quality ed ucation to all Filipinos.

The event highlighted various partnership engagements in the local and national levels, complementing the efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure quality basic education.

Brigada Eskuwela is an annual school maintenance activity that prepares campuses and other public schools for reopening by cleaning, repainting, and doing necessary repairs.

Over the years, the program has evolved to include additional initiatives such as Brigada Eskwela sa Paghahanda, Brigada Eskwela Plus, and Brigada Pagbasa (BP). Brigada Eskwela Plus focuses on reducing dropouts while increasing learner participation, while Brigada Pagbasa is an after-school program that aims to make every learner a reader. Despite the ongoing threats of COVID-19 and other diseases, the program was implemented with precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The unwavering support and effort of numerous stakeholders made the project possible, which improved the school’s facilities and fully prepared the school for the opening of classes, providing a better learning environment. Through events like Brigada Eskuwela, CCNHS aims to strengthen relationships through the core essence of Filipino culture - bayanihan. By working together, the school and its stakeholders can provide a safer and better learning environment for all students.

Philippines rank 2nd to worst in Grade 5 students’ reading, math skills in South-east Asia

- January 2023

Dela Peña to boost security, mental health efforts

Cauayan City National High School-Main is set to boost its security and mental health interventions following reported incidents of school violence. Secondary School Principal II Maribeth S. Dela Pena affirmed the school’s commitment to addressing these issues and providing support to learners.

Dela Pena revealed that the school administration is currently coordinating with all stakeholders through the guidance office to develop programs and activities that will support learners’ mental health and prevent further violence.

The school will also seek the expertise of professionals to enhance its mental health programs. Gaius Julius Bete, the school’s guidance counselor, added that they are intensifying their efforts in response to violence related to mental health concerns. They are committed to seeking aid from experts and advocates to ensure the proper and effective implementation of their programs.

In a related development, legislators are also taking steps to protect the mental health and well-being of learners in schools. The House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 6574 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act on its second reading. The proposed legislation mandates the hiring of mental health professionals and the establishment of mental health offices in all schools.

The move to promote mental health and well-being in schools is a timely response to the increasing cases of violence and mental health concerns among learners. With the school’s commitment and support from experts and advocates, learners can look forward to a safer and healthier learning environment

SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE 0966-351-4518

National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline

DPWH to pro- vide rain water collectors

LOELYNE TUPPAL

Officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) visited Cauayan City National High School-Main JHS to inspect buildings for the provision of rain water collectors in the school, September 5.

“Rain water collectors are important innovations in conserving water resources in school,” Principal II Maribeth S. Dela Peña said.

The DPWH officials are still conducting inspections to the different schools in Cauayan City to identify the recipients of the said rainwater collectors.