Posted by Teacher Ygy on July 21st, 2007 in Special projects, Photo gallery, News bulletin, School activities

Afternoon activity



Sir H talks about teamwork



The Juniors in their rendition of John Mayer’s “No Such Thing”



The buddy circles share a cozy dinner



Enjoying the feast




——————–
June 26, 2007 marked the official launching of Patar-Ari week for the HEdCen High School Department. Patar-Ari is a Mangyan term which translates to “brotherhood,” and for the high school students, this term said it all.


Adapting the principles of Patar-Ari into the HEdCen High School community was implemented early in the school year in order to achieve the following goals: (1) welcome the freshmen into the High School family; (2) foster unity among the different levels; (3) encourage an environment of “mentorship” between the lower and upper levels; and (4) instill the values of sensitivity to the needs of others, as well as develop in each student a sense of accountability for one’s peers.


Patar-Ari Week was then a means to introduce the four-way buddy system which spanned across all four high school levels. The implementation of the buddy circles was the key instrument in promoting teamwork and camaraderie among the students. Each circle has members from all levels, and the students are not allowed to switch buddies with the other groups. During the course of Patar-Ari Week, all the buddy circles were required to eat or do activities together during recess and lunch to encourage interaction among the different buddies within the circles. As a fun and spirited way of welcoming the freshmen, the seniors gave them some harmless tasks which served as a “rite of passage” that each student has to undergo upon entering high school. The students were given meticulous guidelines in giving out and handling tasks, as the activities within the circles were also closely monitored by the TICs.


Patar-Ari Week ended with a bonding activity held last Friday, June 29 from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. In order to make the event meaningful for the high school student body, various talks, games and team-building activities were led by Sir Henry Calilung, the HS Coordinator, and Mrs. Annie Nacionales, the school’s guidance counselor. The day ended with a simple salu-salo wherein the members of each buddy circle shared food, drinks and tokens for each other. The get-together also featured entertaining song performances from the students of Year II and III as a way to set the mood of the gathering.


With the culmination of Patar-Ari Week, the students were made to understand that it does not end there. The buddy circles are encouraged to be operational throughout the school year, in the hopes that the program will indeed be true to its goals. For the HEdCen High School Department, Patar-Ari Week was just a launching pad in working towards the higher thrusts of the buddy system, and it is hoped that this activity will be a channel in achieving cooperation and camaraderie within the different levels of the High School Family.

# # #