The hardwork and perseverance displayed by the leadership and teachers that constitute DepEd Bataan-Limay Annex and Limay Elementary School in putting up its very first Special Science Elementary School (SSES) have come into fruition after the Schools Division of Bataan Validation Team gave its green light to implement the said special curricular program starting School Year 2022-2023, Limay E/S Science Laboratory Room, July 13.

Limay E/S is the first SSES in the said District and fourth in SDO Bataan after Cabcaben E/S in Mariveles, San Ramon E/S in Dinalupihan and Orani North E/S in Orani town.

“Ngayon po, uusbong ang panibagong bukas, ang panibagong pag-asa para sa mga mag-aaral natin dito sa Limay Elementary School dahil sa tinatayo natin at sisimulan nating panibagong hakbang na kanilang tatahakin. Ito ay isang hakbang na makamit nila yung kanilang inaasam sa buhay,” said DepEd-Bataan OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Roland M. Fronda during the SSES Division Validation program.

Apart from OIC-SDS Dr. Fronda, the said SSES ceremony for the presentation of documents, validation and announcement of result was graced by Municipal Mayor Nelson C. David, Education Committee chair Councilor Remegio S. Tayag, Jr., DepEd SDO Bataan-Limay Annex Supervisor Ms. Elma P. Dizon, MAPEH Education Program Supervisor (EPS) Maria Teresa C. Perez, Filipino EPS Mila C. Calma, and TLE EPS Evelyn V. Mendoza.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Headed by Dr. Edwin R. Bermillo, Science Education Program Supervisor (EPS), the validation team inspected the documentary and facility requirements presented by Limay E/S to check its capacity to offer and implement SSES.

The presentation and inspection of the pertinent requirements were followed immediately by the presentation of the result where the Division validation team, through the formal announcement made by Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Dr. Milagros Peñaflor, approved Limay E/S’ SSES application.

“Upon careful analysis, no more technical assistance to be lent. So that means 100%.The body, our SDO Bataan is approving the Special Science Elementary School for our elementary school (Limay ES). So you can now proceed with the posting, screening and testing of our applicants so you already have the training since nakapag-orient na tayo kasama si Dr. Bermillo and our principal (Ms. Padua),” Dr. Peñaflor announced after the final validation activity.

As the school embarks on its SSES implementation, Dr. Peñaflor advised the screening committee to be fair in checking and accepting qualified SSES pupils.

“Pero ang ipagbibilin ko lamang sa inyo, this is your fresh start, sa evaluation natin (of the pupil-applicants) walang dapat maging bias, number 1 iyon. Nagkakaroon kase ng favoritism iyong mga nag-i-screen. Iyong iba anak. Siyempre hindi niyo maaalis iyon kaya hangga’t maaari dapat hindi tayo bias. Meron tayong criteria na sinusunod, dapat bantay tayo sa screening. Fair lang dapat kapag mag-screen kayo,” exclaimed Dr. Peñaflor to the implementers about starting the SSES program right.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦?

“Why apply for SSES? It is a response for the growing importance of Science in having gifted pupils with high aptitude for Science and Math. Limay Elementary School would like to take, accommodate those learners. Our school would like to offer a learning environment to the gifted and talented pupils through special science and Math curricula which recognize multiple intelligences of the learners,” stressed Joan DC. Padua, Limay ES Principal, during her presentation of the school’s documents for its SSES application, citing the objective of the said special curricular program that is anchored at DepEd Order no. 57 series of 2011.

Moreover, Dr. Fronda expressed his thoughts regarding the objectives of SSES implementation, saying that “Dito natin itatanim yung mga butil ng kaalaman tungkol sa Siyensya, Matematika, Engineering, at Information and Communication Technology dahil kailangang matuto ng ating mga mag-aaral , hindi lamang ng mga basic concepts sa mathematics, science, engineering and technology. Hindi basic kailangan natin, we wanted them (students) to be the future analytical thinkers, creative thinkers of the future.”

An offshoot of research and development project that eyes to develop Filipino pupils who have high aptitude in Mathematics and Science, SSES was launched in 2007 with only 57 schools and had expanded through the years.

SSES curriculum and instruction were primarily designed to enrich learners’ scientific and mathematical competence and knowledge. Due to this, SSES classes have more contact hours with the teachers of Science, Math and English (70-80 minutes) compared to the regular class and SPED pupils.

Investigatory project is a must for SSES students starting Grade 3, while their learning of scientific and mathematical skills are encouraged to address community-based challenges.

Interested pupils may qualify via school-based diagnostic test and determination of desired character traits using the interview session. The implementing school shall identify the top 30-35 applicants who will constitute an SSES class.

𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

The story of Limay District’s SSES journey commenced via Dr. Bermillo’s aim of adding more SSES schools in the Division of Bataan.

“Matagal na proseso po ang SSES. Magsimula noong araw na na tinanong ko si Ma’am Elma kung anong elementary school ba ang mairerecommend niyo para sa Special Science Elementary School , walang kaabog-abog po, ang mabilis na sagot ni Ma’am Elma ay ang Limay Elementary School po ang kaniyang napupusuang maunang mag-establish ng special curriculum program in Science sa elementary,” Dr. Bermillo narrative during his statement of the purpose speech during the pre-validation program.

Dr. Bermillo furthered that they conducted orientation to all District Offices in case there are intentions of applying for SSES. Once the intention is confirmed, the Division Office extends technical assistance to the applicant in readying the documentary and facility requirements

“Nagkaroon po kami ng orientation sa lahat district na may intention na magkaroon ng special curriculum program para alam po nila ang prosesong pagdadaanan at ang mga basic requirements po nito. Hanggang sa dumating po doon sa technical assistance na kailangang ibigay sa mga district natin, kay Maam Joan, hanggang sa pagtanggap ng Division Validation. Bago po iyon ay nakapagsubmit ng makakapal na documents ang Limay…Mula doon ay kailangan kong icheck at magbigay ng Technical Assistance sa kanila kung ano pang mga documentary requirements na kailangang macomply based on DepEd Order no. 57 series of 2011,” Dr. Bermillo explained.

After all the technical assistance given, the District Office conducted their own validation before its final phase with the team from the Division Office.

𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲: 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Funded by the Municipal Government of Limay, Limay ES will soon house 21st Century classrooms which is the highlight of infrastructure and facilities upgrade for SSES.

Currently in the pipeline, the 21st Century classrooms include science laboratories, Mathematics room, E-library, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory and guidance office.

“Noong pumunta ako sa Science Education Institute, nakita ko po doon kung papaano inestablish ang 21st Century classroom. Ang una ko pong nasa isip ay ang Limay. Hindi dahil mayaman ang Limay kung hindi dahil nakita ko kung papaano ang mga pinuno ng pamahalaang lokal, at ang mga teachers, at ang mga resources na puwedeng gamitin, kasama na ang mga bata,” said Dr. Fronda on Limay’s capability of building a modern learning edifice.

“Kung di nga po nagkapandemya ay itong building (21st century building under construction) na ito ay matagal nang tapos. Yan po ang 21st Century classroom. Iyan po ay nakapattern sa Department of Science and Technology na magiging 21st Century Classroom kung saan ang mga mag-aaral natin ay makakaranas ng 21st Century learning opportunity,” Dr. Fronda added.

According to Department of Science and Technology-National Science Institute (DOST-NSI), a 21st Century classroom is a “classroom setup strategically equipped with facilities designed for mobility and connectivity and which aims to develop the learners’ 21st century skills.”

The first batch of 21st Century classrooms, coined as 21st Century Learning Environment Model (CLEM), in the Philippines was unveiled at five schools in Lipa City, Batangas in 2018.

REPORT: 𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗖. 𝗚𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗻, DBTV Publicist

PHOTOS: 𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗠. 𝗔𝗟𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗢

via: https://www.facebook.com/depedbataantv