A Day in the Life of the School Principal

Being a school principal is a twenty-four hour job because the school is constantly in your thoughts. It has to be because, as the leader, you are responsible for faculty, staff and most importantly, the students. In many ways you are always “on the job” even when you are not in school. You must make every effort to delineate work from home.

Ms. Carmelita "Melit" A. Gustilo is the school principal of St. Francis of Assisi School of Silay City.

Ms. Melit (as everybody calls her) starts her day by waking up at 4:30 in the morning, take a brisk, quick shower, fuels herself with a cup coffee, leaves the house before 6 A.M. and makes sure that no matter what happens, she’ll have a nice day. Usually arrives in school around 6:15 A.M., she would go into her office to get settled before the day begins, check email from the administrator and makes sure that all class would run smoothly throughout the day, goes home around 5:30 P.M. and gets some rest to gear up for the  following day.

“The simplicity of our lifestyle hooked me here in SFAS” shared Ms. Melit. Serving the school for 35 years and still counting, despite the offers to work in other schools, both private and public, she never had a doubt to leave St. Francis. "Teaching here makes a big difference because it’s an hacienda school. I am serving the poor children and I believe they deserve quality education, too.”

Every day is different for a principal, but what is the same is that you are the leader of that institution and everyone looks up to you for everything. It is an exciting, rewarding, and exhausting job, but it is one that most principals love doing because there is no other job quite like it.

First Day High!

It's back to school in SFAS last June 10, 2013. Students were streaming into the school from all directions - some looked confident, like they had done this for years, some looked eager, and some looked lost.

When Remijims Andrada and Jan Rey Capa were asked how they were feeling about the day, "excited but a lot more nervous" they answered as both came from Mambag-id Elementary School and Hawaiian Philippines Company Elementary School, respectively. “It’s my dream to study in SFAS” Jan Rey added.

“I transferred because we were paying so much in Don Bosco and there is also the proximity of the school from our house" shared Dien Carlo Altaya.

SFAS has 59 Freshmen students this new school year:  28 are new students coming from different public and private schools and 32 are scholars of the Tapulanga Foundation. 

To all the FRESHMEN, embrace the high school life
and welcome back to school! 

Brigada Eskwela Kicked Off in SFAS

St. Francis of Assisi School had its Brigada Eskwela last June 3, 2013 in preparation for the new school year 2013-2014.

Brigada Eskwela, also known as Bayanihan sa Paaralan, is a school maintenance program, a voluntary endeavor among stakeholders such as parents, students, teachers and staff in preparing the school for the opening.

Parents happily shared their time and effort during the Brigada.

"It is an important program as preparations are undertaken such as setting up of classroom, transferring of books and cleaning such that students will already be concentrated on classroom discussion and feel convenient when school opens. I am motivated to be part of Brigada because I want to be a role model to the students also," Lina Gabino, fourth year adviser said.

"The Brigada has a good impact for us students since we are taught how to keep our school clean as it is our second home. It is my last year and I am excited to be part of Brigada because I know in my own little way, I can make a difference," as shared by SFAS Student Affair Council president, Kyle Barnuevo.

According to Winnie Tahanlangit, a father of a Grade 4 student, who took a time off from work just to get involved in the said activity, "It is my contribution to the school and I want to make sure that classrooms are all set for the students."

Students doing a lot of weeding and gardening work!

THANK YOU to ALL who supported this initiative 
especially to the parents who tirelessly served and pitched in 
their time and effort to prepare the school 
to become conducive for learning 
in time for the opening of classes on June 10.