ISA Camping ’07 advocates learning by enjoying

On February 8-10, 2007, at Anhawan Leisure Camp, the Iloilo Scholastic Academy learners and facilitators alike discovered that there are a lot of things that can only be learned outside the classroom. Learners-turned-campers from grades 4 to 3rd year enjoyed in the many activities that the ISA Camping ’07 brought them.

The three-day camp, the third since 2004, started early Thursday morning with an opening program. ISA Executive Director Mr. Peter Chan declared the Camp officially open and at the same time recognized the four competing teams —Red Yankees, Blue Titans, Yellow Tigers, and Green Raptors in their cheering competition.

But the competition did not stop there. Having played –and for some, having won—in the initial parlor games and obstacle race, the campers had just started their longest, most exciting day ever.

After lunch some of the learners gamely volunteered to be the dummies when a Red Cross volunteer talked about First Aid pointers such as how to apply a splint and how to treat an open wound. More games followed the lecture, such as the Clash of the Warriors, a modified game of sikyu wherein the objective of the game is for one team to capture the flag of another, making sure that the players would not fall captive to the enemy. Later there was the water movement synchronization, the ISAers’ version of synchronized swimming. The spectators oohed and aahed as each team performed their gracefully choreographed moves in the Anhawan pool accompanied by their choice of music ranging from the whimsical to the funky.

The coming of dusk saw the campers gaining more vigor and enthusiasm as they battled in their Talent Showdown.  Members of each team (coming from various levels) sang, danced, chirped soap opera dialogues and acted out action hero moves to the amusement of their fellow campers and facilitators. The night ended with Bingo and other indoor games such as Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, Uno Stacko, and Scrabble. At lights off, it’s off to the tents.

On the second day, Friday, the learners woke up to another sunny day of activities. Starting off with the morning exercises, the day commenced with the volleyball games and soon after, the Cooking Contest. The cooking contest is a new add-on to the camp activities and by just looking at the students’ eagerness in chopping the ingredients and building the fires as well as the judges’ gusto in tasting the various dishes, one could say that it was definitely successful.

Later on, visitors from the Iloilo Mountaineering Club taught the campers the basics of camping, such as how to pack their backpacks, which backpacks to carry where, and even how to carry those backpacks. The mountaineers cum lecturers also stressed to the learners the motto that they live by: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.” Then the teams once again went into battle with their artistic skills in Art Attack, and their wit and intellect in Ranger’s Game and Survival of the Fittest, a series of mind games and puzzles that players need to solve in order to collect the most number of treasure cards.

In the evening, the Search for Miss ISA and the Awarding of Prizes to the winning teams served as the finale with the members of the ISA Board of Trustees gracing the event. Parents, guardians and friends also came to witness the pageant, which was also the first since the school had this annual camp in 2005. The campers not only witnessed their beautiful schoolmates strut onstage but they also gleaned the importance of nature and the environment from the informative interview portion.

After all, the learners came to Anhawan to learn the values of team building and camaraderie and at the same time learn to appreciate nature—the beach, the sun, the sand –something they can never do in the confines of the classroom.

2nd Year ISAer Clarissa Tan Tiu will represent Region 6 to National level competition

Iloilo Scholastic Academy second year learner Clarissa Joyce Tan Tiu won first place in the -first Regional Speechfest On-the-spot Poem Writing Contest (Secondary level) sponsored by the Private Secondary School Administrators Association of the Philippines ( PRISAAP) held at Punta Villa, Iloilo City on 8 February 2007.

Before Clarissa was qualified to represent the three divisions of Iloilo City, Passi City and Iloilo Province, she had to win first place in the Iloilo City division level and beat the topnotchers of the other divisions in the province of Iloilo.

The Iloilo Division level competition was held in St. Joseph School, Mandurriao, Iloilo City last 10 January. Clarissa won first place and represented Iloilo City to the next level contest held in St. Catherine Parochial School in Leon last 29 January. She again emerged winner and qualified as the sole representative of the Iloilo province and cities to compete with the first placers of the other provinces and cities in Region 6.

Having captured the highest honor in our region, Clarissa will represent Region 6 to the First National level PRISAAP On-the-spot Poem Writing competition this year.

In the Elementary category of the PRISAAP Division level On-the-spot Poem Writing contest, Grade 5 ISAer, Michelle Louise Nace, was adjudged first placer. Like

Clarissa, Michelle represented Division of Iloilo City in the provincial level contest and tool home the highest honor. She represented Iloilo province and cities to compete in the regional level. Michelle won third place in the regional competition.

Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge
1st and 2nd Year ISAers Won Awards

ISA First year and Second year high school teams brought home the bacon after they participated in the “2007 Metrobank–Math Teachers Association of the Philippines-Department of Education Math Challenge” Team Competition, Division of Iloilo City level held last 27 February at Iloilo Central Elementary school, Iloilo City.

Jan Jarnel Geyenne Tiu, Hester Joyce Coo of second year team won second place while James Eduard Chiu, Karl Francis Chan of first year team got third place.

The team competition was by year level. Only top 10 schools that were qualified during the elimination round last 26 January joined the Division match.

Heart’s Day Soirée

Last 23 February 2007 at Emillion Function Center, the Juniors, their invited partners and guests celebrated the junior’s prom through a fine dining event entitled Hearts Day Soiree. The learners were able to apply what they learned from a lecture on fine dining etiquette held 2 days before the said event.

Overnight it appeared that these teens had transformed into young ladies and gentlemen in their cocktail attires. Fritzie Gayle Diez and her partner Marcelo Cacho were hailed Queen and King of Hearts and the Couple of the Night; while Stephanie Rae Fernandez and Andy Kim were hailed Princess and Prince of Hearts. Angelie Ong was declared the Dancing Queen. The Best Actress Award also went to Fritzie. The Head Turner was conferred upon Stephanie Rae, and the Most Dramatic Transformation was awarded to Jennifer Kate Chan.

ISA Kids Toured M/V Malaysia

On 8 February 2007, Kinder I and II learners joyfully trooped to Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City to explore the passenger ship Malaysia of Trans Asia Shipping.

The children experienced many first in this unique encounter with a gigantic vessel. They were so overwhelmed by everything they have seen that they could not stop asking questions. With the ship personnel patiently guiding them, they saw different quarters of the ship, such as the deck, and the “Bridge” or control room. The captain himself conducted a brief lecture. He introduced the apparatuses like the compass, wind detector, steering wheel.

The children were very happy to pose inside the Tourist Class bedroom for pictures. Snack was specially arranged for them at the canteen.

But the most important thing is that they were able to relate their lessons on transportation and parts of a ship to the reality. This helps make them realize that knowledge they learn inside the classroom is but a reflection of what is happening in the real world. More so, they were taught to be more disciplined and learn to respect other people they meet.