step by step-Stipendiatenprogramm in Cordova und Kamagayan:

Theater-Workshops, Tutorentraining und Aktivitäten der Elternbildung:
3. Quartalsbericht 2008

This report covers the 3rd quarter of 2008 or specifically from July 01, 2008 to September 30, 2008.

In the Philippine school calendar, the months from July to September covers a portion of the first grading period and the second grading period. As mentioned in the past reports, the Philippine educational system has four grading periods.

To recall, we have a total of 63 scholars sponsored by step by step during the school year of 2008-2009. 51 are from Cordova and 12 are from Kamagayan. step by step also funded the studies of the 4 HRM-Cruise Line Service Operations and Management scholars from Cordova.

Project Activities

(1) Tutorials

The tutorials had been continuously conducted in Cordova and Kamagayan this quarter by Erlee Adrian, the Scholarship Officer. So far, he has been faithfully doing this activity to the delight of the children and the parents. He is there even if it is raining because according to him the children are waiting.

The tutorials in Cordova have taken a different path this quarter with Erlee's introduction of the multi-grade approach in teaching where children are grouped according to grade levels and are given activities appropriate to their respective levels. This is done because children attend the sessions even if it is not their scheduled day. We also cater to other children who express interest to join.

(2) Theater Arts Workshop

A three-day theater arts workshop was conducted last August in one of the resorts in Cordova for the scholars. The activity aims to develop the skills and talents of the children in theater. A local community theater artist was invited as facilitator to the activity. Erlee Adrian assisted him with the help of the other Scholarship Officer of JPIC, Elaine May Saripada. The participants are the Grade 5, Grade 6 and those in High School.

There were 15 children who actively participated in the workshop. During the workshop, the children were introduced to the different elements of artistic expression & to perform such. They were also taught how to make a "tableux" and how to perform it. Lastly, the facilitator taught them to write a script and to make a backdrop for the story. The output was a mini stage play about the life of the fisherfolks entitled, "Ang Kinabuhi sa Mananagat" which the children themselves had conceptualized and acted out.

A Phase 2 of the theater arts workshop was likewise conducted during the quarter. The activity aims to further polish and enhance the mini stage play of the children with the help of the facilitator and assistance of Erlee Adrian. This was going to be presented during the JPIC and University of San Carlos Partnership Night in September. The children will represent the JPIC Scholarship Program during the presentations portion of the program.

(3) Volunteer Tutor's Training

The volunteer tutors of JPIC covered communities have been trained on how to conduct a tutorial session and lesson plan making. The facilitator and/or resource speaker of the activity was Erlee Adrian together with the other Scholarship Officer of JPIC, Elaine May Saripada. In Cordova, one of the College scholars, Careihm Inoc, attended the activity. Careihm serves as Erlee Adrian's assistant during the tutorials in Cordova at least three times a week as part of her training or during Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. Two members of the Education Committee also attended the activity because they usually help Erlee in the conduct of tutorials for the children.

Cordova Education Committee members, Roning & Sabeth, during the JPIC-IDC Edcom Assembly

Careihm Inoc introducing herself during the JPIC-IDC Volunteer Tutor's Training

The Cordova scholars together with the facilitator during the Theater Arts Workshop

The Scholars from Cordova performing during the JPIC-IDC and USC-CES Partnership Night

The staff of the JPIC Scholarship Program during a monthly meeting at JPIC - left side is Erlee Adrian, right side is Elaine May and center is Mimi Egot, Program Coordinator

(4) Parents' Meeting

This quarter, the Scholarship Officer, Erlee Adrian, had regularly conducted a parents' meeting once a month in Cordova and Kamagayan. The schedule of meetings in Cordova is every last Tuesday of the month, while in Kamagayan it happens every last Sunday of the month. During the meetings, Erlee updates the parents about the activities of the children and the parents' role in the studies of their children. They also discuss some concerns about the requirements to be able to get the funds needed for school projects and contributions and how to fulfill those. They also talk on the improvement of the study center.

(5) Values Formation Sessions

A Values Formation Session is conducted for the children in Kamagayan every Sunday before the tutorial session. This is a one-hour session about people of the Bible and what we can learn from them facilitated by one of the College Scholars of JPIC who is taking up Religious Education at the University of San Carlos. The sessions started last August and will run through until the second week of October.

(6) Children's Participation in the JPIC and USC Partner's Night

To build up the confidence of the children and to widen their horizons, they have been chosen to represent the entire Scholarship Program during the presentations portion of the JPIC and the University of San Carlos Partnership Night. They have presented their mini stage play that was the output or showcase during the Theater Arts Workshop Phase 1 and 2 conducted in August and in September respectively. The 15 participants performed well that night and were well received by the audience. Erlee Adrian was also a revelation that night with his leading the children and playing the flute as part of the sounds for the play.

(7) General Cleaning of the Study Center

The children during their group activity session and with the help of the Education Committee had conducted a General Clean-up of the Study Center. The Education Committee and the parents plan to improve the center through the putting of decorative plants around the area and to build a movable fence so that there will be a little bit of privacy during tutorials.

As an update about the need for an electric lamp for the center, the Scholarship Officer with the assistance of the Community Association and Education Committee in Cordova was able to connect to one of the houses with electricity. There is now available light during nighttime and therefore there is no more need to buy the rechargeable lamp that was proposed last quarter. We bought a fluorescent bulb instead.

Project Administration

Conduct of Monthly Meetings

A monthly meeting of the Scholarship Program staff has been conducted each month during the 3rd quarter. During the meetings we discussed the activities conducted in the communities, issues and concerns encountered, and planning of activities for the next month. Aside from the monthly meeting we also had preparatory meetings before the conduct of any scholarship related activity such as the quarterly assembly of the Education Committee members, Parent's Orientation, and others.

Education Committee Assembly

A quarterly assembly of the Education Committee or Edcom members in all JPIC covered communities including Cordova and Kamagayan was conducted in July. All communities have been represented during the assembly. The Edcom members and the key officers of the community associations in each of the covered communities were made to report on the activities they have undertaken for the scholars in their respective communities such as helping facilitate the distribution and purchasing of school opening benefits in the form of school supplies, shoes, bags and school uniforms. They also had a planning workshop during the assembly as to the activities they will undertake for the whole school year.

Staff Performance Evaluation

Last July was the third month of Erlee Adrian's tenure with JPIC as Scholarship Officer and therefore as per JPIC Human Resources Manual of Policies he was due for a Performance Evaluation. The process involves the self-evaluation of the employee and then the supervisor will evaluate him/her once it is submitted. Erlee's performance is quite satisfactory at the period of 3 months considering that this is his first job, however, as his supervisor I think another 2 months was needed to check if he can be consistent with his very satisfactory performance before recommending him for a regular tenure.

As of reporting time, I think Erlee Adrian is able to show consistency of his past performance and he has also the heart and passion to teach children in impoverished conditions. He has even learned to do the directing of the mini stage play during the presentation. Aside from that he was able to sustain the interest of the children in his tutorial sessions through his interesting way of presenting the lessons to the children. Hence, I highly recommend him for a regular tenure.

Purchase of Reference Materials

This quarter, the Scholarship Officer, Erlee Adrian, has purchased some reference materials for the tutorials and which the children can use for their lessons in school and additional knowledge as well. These are, Tell Me Why?, Tell Me How? Tell Me What?, Tell Me About? and Tell Me Where? The books talk about Science, General Knowledge, Geography and History.

So far, the children were quite happy with this development because according to Erlee they were so hungry for knowledge and also need some interesting books that are easy to read and understand. So that everyone can get hold of the books, each child is given a day to bring the book home and return it afterwards for the others to use. The parents also read the books when their children bring it home for the day.

Project Concerns and Action taken

Concern: A few parents in Cordova are not regularly attending the monthly meetings.
Action taken: Asked the assistance of the Education Committee to contact these parents and inform them of what was discussed during the meeting.

Concern: The children in Kamagayan requested for an extra notebook for their values formation session.
Action taken: They were provided with a notebook and pen as well.

The following are the planned activities for the next quarter, October-December 2008:

1. Continue the tutorial sessions.
2. Install movable fence in the Study Center tent.
3. Participation of the children to the Fun Run for Children's Month in October.
4. Conduct Christmas activity in December.

Prepared by: Mimi M. Egot, Education Program Coordinator