ISA a Model Sino Language School Says PROC Overseas Chinese Office

A news article published on the Chinese Education Web (www.hwjyw.com) on 31 August listed the names of the 46 schools offering Chinese language curriculum from 14 countries: the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Australia, Argentina, Germany, the Netherland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Canada, and USA, to be conferred with the title“Chinese Education Model School” by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of China. ISA is among the 3 schools in the Philippines to be conferred with the title. Representatives of these schools will receive the plaques in Xi’an City, China on 30 October 2011.

The first batch of 55 schools from 21 countries worldwide were awarded with the same title in 2009. Four schools in the Philippines, namely, Philippine Cultural College, Chiang Kai Shek College, Sacred Heart School in Cebu, and Tay Tung High School in Bacolod, were named. From what we have gathered, the selection process went through three tedious stages: verification, authentication, and evaluation of the documents submitted to the Office of the Overseas Chinese Affairs, PROC.

ISA was founded by a group of civic-minded Chinese-Filipino Ilonggos in 2004. Ever since, ISA has been consistent in channeling its limited resources to foster a dynamic and sound academic program. It managed to make its presence felt by winning more than 300 awards from various inter-school competitions to date. ISA has also been a consistent top performing school based on the results in the NAT, NCAE, and APSA evaluation tests. The fact that its achievements are recognized internationally is not only a badge of honor to the ISA community, the glory belongs to the Ilonggo community as well.

ISA is HSK Test Center 260 ISAers Take the Test

HSK stands for Hànyù Shùípíng Kàoshí the transliteral equivalent of , or Chinese Proficiency Test. HSK is China's only standardized test of Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers.

	The HSK test approximates the English TOEFL, and an HSK certificate is valid without any limitation in China. The test aims to be a certificate of language proficiency for higher educational and professional purposes.
	By 2005, over 120 countries had participated as regular host sites and the tests had been taken around 100 million times. The general count for outside China is stated as being around 1.9 million.
	This year, ISA was designated as one of several hundred test centers worldwide.
	Aside from the 281 registered examinees from ISA (260 actually took the test) ranging from level 1 to 5, 30 ICCHS high school learners took the levels 2 and 3.

ISA Joins Int’l Story-Telling Day Mayor Mabilog Graces the Affair

Twenty-five Grade 3 ISAers were in SM City last 19 July between 10 am to 12 noon to participate in the celebration of the International Story-Telling Day. The other group of elementary learners came from Bolilao Elementary School in Mandurriao.

The superintendent of the DepED Iloilo Division, Dr. Erlinda Gencaya, delivered her opening remarks, and, 

	Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog together with a manager of SM enlivened the children with their stories.
	ISA Executive Director, Mr. Peter M. Chan, and several ISA parents were present in the celebration.

A TOAST TO GOOD HEALTH

“He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.”
Last 9 July, ISA celebrated Nutrition Day 2011 for the elementary and high school department. Free medical and dental check-ups were conducted.

	ISA invited three physicians, Dr. Suzette Labrador, Dr. Eva Ong, and Dr. Ma. Theresa Crisanta Lim-Anayan, and three dentists, Dr. Alma Sy, Dr. Lilybeth Andaya, and Dr. Ma. Amy Gallos.
	The high school learners prepared puppet shows and video clips related to healthy living in order to entertain the viewers of the half-day event.
	Several activities were conducted during the said event. Immunization of flu vaccines for the learners and the facilitators was administered at a minimal cost by Dr. Advincula and Dr. Evelyn Divinagracia.
	Likewise, there was an assessment of the nutritional status of the learners through their Body Mass Index (BMI) by the team of Dr. Suzette Labrador. In addition, an evaluation of the antioxidant level was conducted through the use of a Biophotonic Scanner which was operated by E-Creations Book Station.
	The celebration of the Nutrition Day, which was the first activity of ISA for this school year, was not only participated by the ISAers, parents and facilitators also took part for the success for this event.

Parents’ Orientation 2011

A school year’s onset will never be complete without the assembly of parents. 

	Though ISA has been doing this annually, this year’s parents orientation is considered something of great importance considering the fact that ISA now has a new home, with new awaiting challenges.
	Facilitators, geared up with the necessary tools in facing another demanding and rewarding school year, introduced their subjects requirements and expectations.  To make the classroom learning experience well-monitored and the feed backing more efficient, facilitators prepared checklists. Vital issues were also raised such as e-ID system, online library access, and cyber grading system. FL

ISA celebrates Buwan ng Wika

ISA celebrates a week long Buwan ng Wika, with the theme “Wikang Filipino: Ilaw at Lakas Tungo sa Tuwid na Landas”, last August 22-26.

The celebration started with the poster making contest on a Monday and was participated by the selected learners from all levels. Declamation and character impersonation contests were held in the following days.  

This celebration reminds the ISA community, especially the learners, of the importance of Filipino language.  It is a reminder that knowing a language does not only stop merely by knowing it, but by using it properly for the improvement of our future. MCB