BSF Retains Over-all Championsip in CLAPVII Regional STEP

Bataan School of Fisheries maintains the Over-all champion rank among the region's fishery-related vocational schools in the Regional STEP Competition for Tech-Voc Schools at Sto. Domingo National Trade School, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija held last October 13 and 14, 2009 with the theme: "STEP Upgrading Skills, Improving Lives."

The said competition was participated by different Tech-Voc schools in Region III. There are three categories in the contest namely Arts and Trades, Agriculture and Fisheries.

BSF contestants with their awards are as follows:
Jerico Mateo -- 1st place in Fish Deboning
Raymark Tiambeng -- 2nd place in Fish Pond Lay-out
Dexter Salvador -- 2nd place in Fish Meal Formulation
Ricardo Donu -- 2nd place in Gill Net Weaving

Their coaches are Mrs. Shirley Labrador for Fish Deboning, Mrs. Marivic Labrador for Fish Pond Lay-out, Mr. Jason Angeles for Fish Meal Formulation, and Mr. Rodel Mariano for Gill-Net Weaving.

Jerico will represent the region for the upcoming National STEP competition to be held at Naga City in Bicol late this November.

DepEd Boss Cancels Sembreak , Cuts Xmas, Summer Vacations

With the week-long suspension of classes brought about by tropicalstorm “Ondoy” and super typhoon “Pepeng,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus yesterday said they had cancelled the semestral break for elementary and secondary levelsand shortened the Christmas and summer vacations to make up for the number o lost days.

“Wala ng sembreak , may pasok ang mga estudyante para mapunan ang oras na nawala dahil sa pagkakansela ng klase bunga ng bagyo,”Lapus said.

The Department of Education calendar says the school year shall begin on June 1,2009 and end on March 31,2010.

There shall be 54 class days in the first quarter, 48 in the second, 51 in the third and 51in the last quarter, Lapus said.

He added holding make up classes is necessary to attain the required 204 classes are usually held on Saturdays and semestral breaks.

“Double shifting must be employed and covered courts should also be used when necessary to augment class contact. Modularized instructions for home study may also be utilized to make up for the loss class hours,” the education chief said.

Lapus instructed DepEd National Capital Region Director Teresita Domalanta and other regional directors to provide the guideliness for the holding of make up classes.

Meanwhile, the education chief said that it is back to school today for most students.

Lapus said in general classes will resume today, except in areas which remain inaccessible due to floods brought by Ondoy or where schools are still being used as evacuation centers and areas where classes were ordered suspended by local authorities due to by bad weather.

“In most parts of these areas,schools are still being used as evacuation center and many homes are still submerged in floodwaters and,,worse,,mud which would make it very difficult for students in these places to go to school,”Lapussaid.

Record show 16,328 famlies from three regions ,including Metro Manila,temporarily sheltered in 204 schools.

School Enrolment Increased

The Bataan School of Fisheries’ enrolment for the school year 2009-2010 showed an increase as compared to last year’s enrolment.

As per record showed by the Administration Office, this year’s enrolment is 1,296 while that of last year was 1,240

An increase in the enrollment of first year students is the valid reason of the administration to have an additional section to lessen the number of students per section in the first year level.

According to surveys, students prefer to enroll in the aforementioned institution because of the opportunities to participate in worthwhile activities and skill-training while acquiring quality education at the same time.

Also, BSF’s facilities have improved a lot. Projects like new buildings, and classrooms were built for the convenience of the students.

A comparative table was shown below to showcase the increase in enrollment.

School Year	1st year	2nd year	3rd year	4th year	TOTAL
2007-2008	357	334	283	266	1240
2008-2009	417	329	288	262	1396

Seniors Take NCAE

The fourth year students took the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) at Bataan School of Fisheries, August 26.

The NCAE helps the upcoming graduating students to choose their future course. This examination also assesses fourth year students as per academic and vocational skills and evaluates the students, individual performance, personal interest and intelligence to help them choose the career vocation that fits their skills.

The test was divided into two, Part 1, which is the Examinee’s Descriptive Questionnaire or EDQ and Part 2, consists of Reading Comprehension, Manipulate Skills, Mathematical Ability, Clerical Ability, Scientific Ability, Verbal and Non-Verbal Ability and Entrepreneurial Skills.

Teachers from Mariveles National High School Poblacion served as watchers.

Examinees were given five hours and fifteen minutes to answer the 300-item test question.

Earthquake Drill Conducted

An earthquake drill was conducted in observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month at Bataan School of Fisheries Covered Court, July 24.

This activity aims to heighten the awareness of the students, teachers, staff and the whole populace on what to do before, during and after the earthquake.

Meanwhile, a short re – enactment on how to apply first aid treatment was presented by the select students.

Furthermore, Miss Leonora Espada, the Head of the Vocational Department reminded the students to be ready at all times and to share the information to the family members at home.

BSF – BPSU Consortium Program Continues

To encourage the students to pursue a degree, Bataan School of Fisheries (BSF) continues to adapt the consortium program of the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU).

Bataan School of Fisheries is one of the branches of BPSU which offers some courses that are offered in other campuses.

Miss Leonora Espada, the Consortium Director, explained that this program aims to give an opportunity to those college students who can’t affort to study in Balanga City or in the main campus and to improve skills and knowledge that they could use in the near future.

As of press time, the school offers Bachelor of Science in Fisheries (BSF) and Associate in Computer Technology (ACT).

BSF I is under the supervision of Mr. Joel Cayabyab and the BSF II adviser is Mrs. Cristina C. Chua. ACT I is supervised by Mrs. Lolita Lorenzo and ACT II class adviser is Mrs. Nerissa Acuña.

‘Wish Ko Lang’ grants fisher’s wish

The afternoon show of GMA channel 7, “Wish Ko Lang” brought surprises to Marco Paghubasan, a technical student of Bataan School of Fisheries (BSF), Sept. 24.

Marco, also known as Mackoy, 30, resides in Capunitan Orion, Bataan and currently taking Dress Making Course at BSF was surprised by the staff of “Wish Ko Lang” when he was called to grant him the presents and his story was aired Sept. 26.

At first, he had no idea that the interviews conducted are for the said show because the questions that were usually asked were all about his physical features.

He explained that his condition is not ordinary because he had a growth hormone deficiency that’s why he looks younger than his actual age.

Aside from his height, many people are also confused with his gender. He looks like a woman and his voice sound like that of a young girl.

Meanwhile, at the conference room, the staff of the show prepared the gifts which include high speed sewing machine, edging machine, different types of fabrics, threads, machine needle, shears, trimmer, tape measure, materials for making rags, and a magnifying glass.

The magnifying glass was used by Mackoy to trace the continuation of their surprises and he was asked to read something in the paper which told him to go to “Lord Be”, a tailoring shop located in Orion Public Market; where he was first asked to sew something.

After sewing, he was given a certificate of employment by the owner of “Lord Be” that at anytime he wants to work there he will be hired.

Moreover, the family of Mackoy was invited to go near the shore of Lusungan and there they were given one motor boat which could be used by his father in fishing since this is the occupation of the latter.