Very Important Announcement

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VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Dear SLCS Parents,

Amidst the current restricted community quarantine, kindly take note of the following reminders:

1. SLCS office will still be closed next week, in observance of the quarantine being implemented. However, for those who want to transact via online banking or bank transfer, please contact Ms. Dhez, SLCS cashier at 0908 6761383 so you can be assisted (inc. your chosen section for next school year)

2. As of DepEd order 42, s 2020, and in consideration that the SLCS school calendar for SY 2019-2020 is about to end and all competencies are covered,

  • The 4th QT will not be administered to students
  • Dep Ed order 8, s 2015 will still be followed, however the basis in computing the 4th QT grades of learners is based on class standing (composed of written works and performance task)
  • This way, students will be able to finish their current level of this school year. This will also be the basis of year end academic awards

3. Schedule of recognition and graduation day will be announced soon, and will depend on the country’s health situation

4. We request everyone to please follow the guidelines of the restricted home quarantine set by the government

5. SLCS students, although examinations will not be administered anymore, set a good balance on your daily schedule. This is a good time to read a book, help in chores, learn a new exercise or skill, moreso preventing you from spending too much time on gadgets

6. Grade 6 students, please prepare for Grade 7 entrance examination by doing daily review drills

7. If you have questions or clarifications, please inform your advisers or coordinators. We are always ready to assist you.

Lets continue to practice good hygiene and all other precautions. Most importantly, let’s pray that this challenge, that we are facing, will end soon. We all want to go back to how things were, and its also a moment to make the most of what we have, as this virus does not only challenge us but gives us life lessons as well.

PLEASE stay safe.

Sincerely yours,

Teacher Kay Ravago
SLCS Program Director

Let’s Manage Our Time Properly

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Although our gadgets are available, it should NOT be about these gadgets all the time.

We ask the SLCS parents to please MONITOR the gadget time of their children (no matter how tempting and “peaceful” if children will just indulge all day). It is better if clear routines are established where time for indoor exercise/indoor motor games as well daily “study periods” are still incorporated as if they are still in school. These are ways to help students who will spend a lot of time at home.

Thank you and keep safe!

DepEd Memorandum No. 42, S. 2020

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Good day!

Our school already got a copy of Dep Ed order #42, S 2020

To avoid confusion, we will thoroughly review the Dep Ed memorandum and our school through your advisers will give you a feedback this week.

If you wish, you may also download DepEd Memorandum No. 42 s 2020, Guidelines for the Remainder of School Year 2019-2020 in Light of COVID 19 Measures, issued last March 15, 2020

Thank you

Teacher Kay and Kids

Behaving With Children

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By: Kay Ezekiel T. Ravago, OTRP, LPT

As parents, we are very much concerned of our children’s behavior. The truth is, however, we should also be concern of OUR own behavior towards them. This is something I further realized as an educator and as a parent. We cannot say “Do not follow the mistake that I have done” or “Be patient” or “Please wait”, when as adults we are frustrated a lot over adjustments in our waiting time. Truly, ACTIONS speak louder than words. I recently read a book entitled “How to Behave So Your Pre Schooler Will, Too”. This is written by Sal Severe, Phd. Like myself, he also had experience with kids (esp. those who need to improve behaviors in school and at home).

While we cannot always monitor intensively, I have listed below quick tips on how to “behave” ourselves so that our kids can too.

  1. We are models for our kids. ALL the TIME. ALWAYS. As previously mentioned, the family is the cornerstone of the society and provided the primary influence to children. My advice is to always “catch ourselves” on how we behave during challenging situations. For example, expressions like “S___!” can be something that can be picked up by kids. The worse is, they think its totally acceptable because mama and dada used it. Yes, potty mouth may be affected by television and popular media, but it can also be influenced by the people around our children (inc. our yaya, househelp, kids in the neightborhood, etc.)
  1. Acknowledge that affect (emotional being) CANNOT be “happy” all the time. I love using the Pixar movie “Inside Out” for this. While JOY is essential in life, other emotions such as sadness, fear and anger are inevitable. We must teach our kids how to “handle” it in more acceptable ways. For example, if our child gets upset, we do NOT really need to reprimand him/her if there is really something to be upset about. Instead, we can teach them to verbalize their wants (instead of whining), let them cry (if it really hurt them) and then assist them to moving on and finding a better behavior. It is really a different scenario of course if for example a parent would curse and fight a fellow driver amidst a parking problem. This goes back to tip number one, we acknowledge the negative emotions, and we find ways to MANAGE and SHOW more acceptable behaviors ourselves.
  1. Avoid DEGREGATORY remarks to kids. It damages their self esteem and self worth. And when they become adults…(consequences——) Your child breaks something, your child made a mistake in her reviewer, your child spilled it again, forgot to put it back… a myriad of mistakes. In this regard, our FOCUS must be on the ACTION and what MUST be DONE to improve the action next time.

Words like

“That was a stupid thing to do”

“That is a dumb thing and answer”

“What’s wrong with you and your head”

Statements such as above pose more harm than good. It teaches the kids how incapable and unworthy they are, instead of what must be done. It is easier said than done though. As a parent, you will really have MOMENTS that you will lose it. And when this happens alongside other stressful events in your life , one will really lose it! I am no expert in this as well. As a parent for 10 years and counting, I am also a work in progress- DAILY, EVERY MINUTE—to MASTER MY OWN emotions and be tactful not just to my kids but to everyone. As previously mentioned, my kids are ALWAYS watching!

This is related to the next item—

  1. Manage your anger. Our emotions have a profound effect on their well being and our kids’ consequent behavior. We are always an “influencer” in our kids’ lives, may it be consciously or not.
  2. Create a POSITIVE routine. Parents sometimes wonder why kids tend to “behave better” in school. I say its because of the ROUTINE (structure) that is expected during classroom time. (ex: settling down, prayer, study time, break, study time, group activities, going home ). Now that technology is a distraction, setting a particular and REGULAR “gadget time”, “study time”, “meal time” and “sleeping time” (at specific schedule) are very helpful in helping kids do and master EXPECTED behaviors in each particular situation.
  1. Talk with your child and PRAY together. This for me is the MOST important tip. I always inculcate with my kids the value of putting GOD FIRST. This is the most important POSITIVE routine of all, for them to put their faith and trust to God to help them with their wishes and goals, and to help them become the best version of themselves.

For me, that is one of the things I pray for (to be a constantly better parent). Becoming a parent doesn’t automatically make us the BEST parent. Parenting is a daily learning experience, no matter how many kids you are able to teach, or how many childhood and parenting books you read. If God entrusts us the privilege to be a parent, then we must more so entrust to HIM the grace and the parenting ability—esp. in knowing how to behave so that our kids will too!

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SLCS Reaches Out to the Aeta Community

Some of the virtues promoted in SLCS are generosity and love for our fellow Filipinos. Last December, 2018, SLCS launched its charity drive entitled “Handog para sa Mga Kapatid na Aeta”, in partnership with Road Patriots Corporation. SLCS students and their families donated books, school materials, toys, medicines, and old clothes to benefit the Aeta Community in Pampanga. Through these activities, SLCS students were taught to apply these important virtues. Students also made simple dedication notes for the Aeta students.

Meanwhile, SLCS teachers volunteered in teaching preschool and grade school Aeta students. Some of the activities include pre reading and reading comprehension activities, mathematics, storytelling and art activities.

Hi everyone. We have uploaded the RPC video of our Aeta outreach last year. You may view the video in our FB. Thank you!

Posted by SouthLearners CreativeSchool on Sunday, November 24, 2019
SLCS Reaches Out to the Aeta Community

parenting

Parenting in A Gadget Driven World: YouTube, Facebook, Online Games… how do we deal with our kids’ digital life?

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By: Kay Ezekiel Ravago, OTRP

I am an educator, an occupational therapist and a mother of three. I am very aware of the different behavior modification practices, the different parenting styles, the importance of education and collaboration of education stakeholders. I am a mother to a nine year old, a three year old and an 11 month old. As the school’s program director, I get to be the “mother” of our pre school and grade school students too.
Yet, despite of all these supposed background knowledge and experience… I still ask myself the question—“WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH KIDS AND GADGETS”?

Some say its ‘the generation thing’. Kids nowadays are called “digital natives”, as they spend a considerable amount of time in a specific gadget, may it be for entertainment, socialization or education purposes.
We did a research study in our school (South Learners Creative School, Las Pinas) among our Grade 4-6 students, and we found out that almost 87% of them use social media. This does not include younger children who may be allowed internet time, may it be watching kid-oriented shows in the internet or even playing games.
Now, for me to fight the data is futile, and the next step is to manage the inevitable.
I cannot track anymore how many times I am asked the question—“Should we allow gadget to our child”?

I am a believer of moderation. I grew up in a disciplined, authoritarian parenting style. Although it worked for me, I do not think it will work very well for the children in this generation.
YES, I will allow gadget time, but like what I said—it is just a “gadget time”.

  • I enforce a ‘gadget time’ to each child. It is not more than 2 hours per day for Sophia (3 years old), and only on weekends for Summer (9 years old), but for 2-3 hours per day. Although there may be circumstances that I give “bonus time”, especially to my 9 year old, I make sure she understands that this is just a part of our reward system.
  • I make it clear that gadget time is a privilege, and can be taken away once expected behaviors are not met.
  • I make sure I AM THERE TOO. They cannot do their gadgets in private. This way, I can see what they are watching.
  • For some sights (especially educational ones), I watch with them, and ask them about the content they saw.
  • I do not allow them to have Facebook accounts (yet). What is the point? I, as a parent, will gauge and train my child towards responsible social media use. Until I have educated and guided them, there is no need to have any Facebook account. Further, aam seeing so many young children, already with social media accounts.
  • Regarding the screening time: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not more than one hour of screen time for children 18 months to 5 years old.
  • If your child has a speech delay, or other behavioral concerns, talk with your developmental pediatrician and therapist/s about your rules and stand regarding screening time. It has to be

  • Make sure there are other activities in the house. How about group games, art time, free reading, food preparation, getting a pet, drawing, clay and other activities? Free time (with no gadget) will not hurt anyone.
  • PRACTICE setting your rules regarding screening time. BE FIRM. BE CONSISTENT. As I always say, we are the parent here… we are the adult here. Mind check: Do not forget these.
  • SAFE BROWSING BY AGE
    I am not YET practicing these to my kids, but safe browsing guidelines are always helpful. These are some tips from Parents Magazine (December, 2016)

a. For kids under 5 years old: Build a “list” of sites that will be allowed
b. For kids 5 to 8 years old: Use a kid friendly browser. Disable the browser (Safari, Chrome, etc) then replace it with a kid friendly browser. (Ex: Mobicip)
c. For 9 years old and up: Go with Google Safe Search—Go to google.com/preferences, click “Turn on Safe Search”and then “LockSafeSearch”. On a mobile device, go to google.com, click “Settings”, then select “Search settings” and choose “Filter explicit results”.

  • I am a MEDIA MENTOR. If I am in my gadget most part of my day, what kind of example am I setting to my children? Yes, I DO NOT NEED to be online everyday. The rest of the world does not need to know what I ate or what I did today. Some feelings and experiences must be private.

I hope these tips are helpful. In the end, what will work for your child is what counts. As a final reminder, there are so called “digital disabilities”, which may happen because of too much gadget time. Examples are stress injuries, hearing and eye problems, possible speech delay, among others. Again, it is about moderation and what works for your household.

Too much of a good thing is bad… more so with gadgets.