How many times have you passed by Cadiz West II and simply ask yourself “what’s with this school that made it the ‘most effective’ of all the schools in the city?
When I was applying for a position in the Division of Cadiz, it was really a dream to be a part of this simple yet prominent school. Maybe because I was enticed by its façade, not just pure old buildings, but furnished with various living things, unusual for most of the schools I’ve seen in the place. Or maybe because I was rapt by its gray-haired, dignified and respected school head. Now I reckon my perception of the school hasn’t failed me. Well, I don’t want to sound like I was lifting our own chair, but the school auspiciously bagged most of the awards in the recent school evaluation in the division.
Quadruplets.
For two consecutive years, Cadiz West II had been the consistent winner for the Search of the Most Effective School in the whole division. For this year, it succeeded to obtain the Most Effective Teacher - Mrs. Jocelyn Dominguez, Most Effective Principal – Mr. Joelito V. Oberes, the Most Outstanding Principal’s Office and for the third time, The Most Effective School in the second largest city of Negros Occidental. It’s like hitting not just two, but four huge birds in one stone. Isn’t that a great mark to leave behind?
What does it take to be an effective school?
Getting the ‘victor’s palm’ is far from a tour passing through a smooth boulevard driving the most comfortable, sleek and latest model of Porsche. Being the most effective school doesn’t mean that it’s a perfect school, or close to it. Let’s just say that Cadiz West II has its own “Best Practices” to adhere and pursue through the years. Practices that don’t only concern the school itself, but focus on the benefit of all the stakeholders involved in the educational process.
The school aims to have well-balanced academic and non-academic activities to be properly acquainted with life. So aside from actual classroom activities and to get in touch with the community, it has the AMLIG DUHAT (Amligan Duta, Hangin kag Tubig) Organization which involves volunteer teachers and students. The group caters environmental concerns, like Adopt-a-Shoreline Program, wherein quarterly coastal clean-up is performed, tree planting and Dalanon ko Tinluan ko to name a few. Waste management is also firmly implemented: Material Recovery Facility is present and 2 trashcans each room to separate the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. Papers are regularly collected and sent to the BJMP, (which is also adopted by the school) to be used in making paper charcoals to replace the use of charcoal in cooking their foods, thus minimizing their expenses inside the detention center. Plastics are sent to the Solid Waste Management in exchange for noodles which are then used in the feeding program for severely wasted pupils in the school.
Another advocacy of the school is the “OPKU” or “Oplan Kulob”, a dengue brigade to screen the rooms, cover all containers and pour oil to the gutters which are possible places for mosquitoes to inhabit and reproduce.
To augment lots of operating expenses, the school has income-generating projects like the cafeteria, poultry and quail egg production, Container Vegetable Garden (VGC) and Gulayan sa Paaralan among others.
The ‘Heart’ of the Educational Process
The admirable and good performance of the pupils in and out of the school and the results of examinations affect a great deal in winning this award. The increasing result of the National Achievement Test significantly boosts the rating of the school in the evaluation.
But though the academic aspect of the educational process is vital, the school doesn’t just focus on this. It hones pupils’ minds and abilities through various activities and incentives to motivate learners to love learning, somehow reduce the dropout rate and meet the laudable challenge of developing multiple intelligences. Remarkable pupils who top the class, helpful, and behave well inside the classroom are awarded during the Star of Excellence which is held quarterly or after every grading period. The Speech Fest is another program for those endowed with good facility of the English language. The school also organizes Science Fair during Science Month which showcases an informative range of Flora and Fauna. OPRHA or Operation Reading High Ability is another program of the school which occupies almost an hour of the whole day schedule and involves remediation for pupils who have reading difficulties.
The Indefatigable League of Mentors.
Doing the common things in an uncommon way might be one of the qualities of teachers in this school. Other teachers might be happy if they won’t be given a part in a program and grumble if given responsibilities, but in West II, it might sound odd, but if somebody’s name’s not in the programme, you might hear them say “diin di ngalan ko ya?ngaa wla ko di ya ulubrahon?” Everybody is indispensable. Everybody is utilized to work on something, as if work has become part of the sizzling blood kicking in their veins. Everyone is relentlessly doing the job delegated to them, with or without the Head. If work is needed, then you’ll have much more than what you want. I have been in this school for less than a year, but I’ve seen with my two eyes how educators passionately and diligently fulfill their duties as significant part of the institution.
Gray Hair Signifies Wisdom.
A school without a Head resembles a ship without a captain, a vessel with no apparent destination. Being a candidate for the Most Effective Principal is far from having a hassle-free life. But a hard-working and God-fearing individual can definitely outshine the others. A short moment with the Man-of-Action made me admire his personality more. Having the “desire to follow the footsteps of his model, Jesus, and always using the word of God as a reference” is one of the qualities he possesses. Despite all his accomplishments, I found out that he “still has the desire to keep growing, learning and changing.” Like a skilled juggler, he still manages to balance four fragile crystal balls in his hands: time with people, time for work, precious time with his family, and sacred time with the Almighty. Assured with his subordinates, he is “being visionary that every person has the capacity to perform exemplary duties and service” to the school as a whole. This well-regarded Westonian Principal is no other than Mr. Joelito V. Oberes.
When asked about his ‘secrets in winning’, he simply smiled and disclosed some of them: “know the people whom you’re working with, empower your teachers and appreciate their performance, be creative and innovative, apply reward system to all performing pupils, apply win-win solutions to every conflict, consistent overtime, fair dealings to all stakeholders,” and the main key is to “always depend on God and have a daily special time with Him through His Holy Word.”
The Essential Guiding Principles in Winning
As you enter the Most Outstanding Principal’s Office, you can’t help but be astounded by the delicately constructed “Core Values” that the Westonians adhere to:
C -ooperation for the Holistic Pupil Development W -illingness to Serve
A -dvancement for Growth E -quipping Stakeholders for Excellence in Culture
D -iligence for Completion of TASK S -ustainability in Achieving Quality Education
I -ntegrity in All Endeavors T -enacity for Hard Work
Z -ealousness for Human Development 2 Elements for Credibility
Character plus Competence
Being the most effective school doesn’t end there, you will grasp the secret that after the long hike in an enormous hill, you will only find out that there are many more hills to climb and endure. But as Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “Is there anything in life so disenchanting as attainment?”
