Date: 5 November 2015
Weekly Memorandum No. 2015 – 11.1
TO: AdZUHS Community
FROM: Father Principal
1. Principal’s Message:
Welcome back to school, my dear students and teachers. I hope you are so energized and ready to begin (and continue) the 3rd quarter.
As has always been the case, the third quarter is a very short period, considering the many interruptions in the school calendar (AtFest, Christmas break). Thus, the need to use time wisely.
To students who had no failing marks during the first two quarters, continue the good work you have started; the game is not yet over. And for those who received unsatisfactory remarks, learn from your mistakes and shortcomings, but do not dwell much on them. Learning is not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we’ve changed because of it. We learn what we can take away from the experience – something that we never had before – and apply it to other games. Use those mistakes as a stepping stone to have a better performance in the next two quarters.
2. Characteristic of Jesuit Education (CJE).
While it respects the integrity of academic disciplines, the concern of Jesuit education is preparation for life. Formation of the individual is not an abstract end; Jesuit education is also concerned with the ways in which students will make use of their formation within the human community, in the service of others “for the praise, reverence, and service of God”. The success of Jesuit education is measured not in terms of academic performance of students or professional competence of teachers, but rather in terms of this quality of life.
3. Student Updates
a. 9th National Conference of the School Press Advisers Movement held at Mambajao, Camiguin, on October 27 – 29, 2015.
i. Collaborative Publishing
1st place: Joshua Rommel Vargas, Aeryne Chloe Cabahug, Mykeel Anne Tatel, Rey Bautista, Joey Castillo, Kyle Alfonso Oyong, Zacchary Masamayaor
2nd place: Anthony Godwin Jandusay, Sharfa Abbie, Adrian Lance Lagumbay, Ahmad Panduga, SheriemikeGadin,FlorenceMidel, AlgeneMarheeAmiruddin, Myca Dane Sapitula
ii. Graphic Story
1st place: Stefan Dela Cruz
iii. Digital Photography
2nd place: Joshua Rommel Vargas, Sharfa Abbie
iv. Editorial Cartooning
3rd place: Kyle Alfonso Oyong
v. Lead Writing
2nd place: Myca Dane Sapitula
4th place: Zacchary Masamayor
vi. PambansangPampautakangPampahayagan
6th place: Aeryne Chloe Cabahug
7th place: Adrian Lance Lagumbay
vii. News Editing and Headline Writing
5th place: Anthony Godwin Jandusay
b. Mindanao Peace Games 2015 held in Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro on October 25-29
i. Badminton Girls : (Silver medal)
CJ Bondoc (Gr. 10 Jerome)
ii. Football Girls: (Bronze medal)
AubreyroseFrancheskaEustaquio (Gr. 10 Garnet); Sharfa Abbie (Gr. 10 Evans)
Chiara Pauline Mendoza (Gr. 10 Garnet); Ma. Beatriz Mendoza (Gr. 8 Regis); Sidra Abbie (Gr. 9 Realino); MarieClarizzeChastineEustaquio (Gr. 9 Realino)
LemerieAcebron (Gr. 10 Garnet); MuzhaheedaIsmi (Gr. 9 Pignatelli)
Joyce Ann Hamja (Gr. 8 De Britto); Fatima Mariam Tawasil (Gr. 10 Evans);
Reeza Jell Sakaluran (Gr. 10 Evans); Sophia Ruth Maizo (Gr. 9 Pignatelli);
Tomirose Cayla San Juan (Gr. 10 Kostka); Mariel Nicole Dimaano (Gr. 10 Kostka);
Rania Nasilin (Gr. 10 Evans); AlliyahJhaneAbdulkahal (Gr. 9 Pignatelli);, and
Russel MaeiCada (Gr. 10 Ignatius)
c. Hans Xavier Wong, Carlo San Agustin and Robert Aldwin Fernandez will attend the annual National Youth Congress (NYC) at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City on November 14 – 16, 2015. The convention aims to acquaint the students with the basic economic concepts as can be applied and seen in today’s context. Mr. EspiridionD. Atilano Jr. will accompany the AdZUHS delegation.
4. Faculty Updates
a. Transfer of Unit. Mrs. Sheila L. Tiongand Ms. Ruth R. Guerrero have been transferred to other units at the beginning of the second semester. Ms. Tiong will in the College Guidance and Counseling unit, while Ms. Guerrero will work at the Social Development Office.
A new guidance counselor will be hired within the second semester to replace Ms. Tiong. On the other hand, Ms. Sheirhana A. Salialam, an NSTP formator, have been appointed to replace Ms. Guerrero. Hana is an AdZU Bachelor in Elementary Education, major in General Education (2012), and a 2013 LET passer. Her initial involvement as a professional is with the Social Awareness and Community Service Involvement Office as FFP-NSTP formator.
We thank Ma’am Ruth and Ma’am Sheila for their several years of dedicated service in the high school and wish them all the best as they continue to practice their profession and expertise in another workplace within the Ateneo. We welcome Ms. Hana to the High School community.
b. Extension of term. We thank Ms. Rosie M. Hong who has extended her term as concurrent AP Academics and MAPEH chair until 31 March 2016.
c. Resignation. Ms. Ailyn G. Enojarda ended her contract with Ateneo de Zamboanga on October 30, 2015. We wish her all the best as she embarks on another journey of her professional life.
d. Mrs. Brigida E. Olivares will attend a seminar on “Regulation Update and Compliance regarding Environmental Health and Safety” on November 12- 13 at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Intramuros, Manila. The seminar offers Science Laboratory Technicians an information health issues, safety practices and trainings to enhance laboratory skills.
5. Activities and Events for November 9 – 14, 2015.
a. November 9, Mon. * Morning assembly sponsor: Individual and Dual/Team Sports Club
Moderator:Ms. Aiselle Jane A. Gasoh and Mr. Erwin Pelayo
* Launching of Peace month
* 7:30 – 8:30 AM Group Guidance Session: “On Cyber Addiction”
AVR 1: Grs. 7 Daniel, Chabanel, and Colombiere
AVR 2: Grs. 7 Faber, Canisius, Southwell, and Berchmans
* 4:30 – 5:30 PM2nd Quarter Deliberations: Grs. 9 (Xavier, Pignatelli, Lewis, Realino)
b. November 10, Tue. * 4:30 – 5:30 PM 2nd Quarter Deliberations: Grs. 9 (Briant, Borgia, Ogilvie)
c. November 11, Wed. *7 AM Gr. 7 St. Canisius Class Mass Moderator: Ms. Lea Bilbar
* 4:30 – 5:30 PM 2nd Quarter Deliberations: Grs. 10 (Brebeuf, Kostka, Evans, Garnet)
d. November 12, Thu. * 4:30 – 5:30 PM 2nd Quarter Deliberations: Grs. 10 (Rodriguez, Ignatius of Loyola, Jerome)
e. November 13, Fri. * 8AM: Community Mass (Renovation of Vows of Fr. Gil Donayre SJ, Fr. Arnel Ong SJ, Bro. Carlo Lacang SJ, and Bro. Eric Esteba SJ)
* Day 1 Start of Gr. 8 Edmund Arrowsmith Overnight recollection
Moderator: Ms. Mary Joy B. Alvarez
f. November 14, Sat. * Day 2 End of Gr. 8 Edmund ArrowsmithOvernight recollection * 8:30 AM PTA Monthly Meeting Venue: AVR 1
* 7:45 AM to 12 nn: Outreach activities for Lunzuran Elementary Pupils for 9 Student Organizations (YASEd, SocMAt, ITS, ACIL, Blue Eagle, La Liga Atenista, ADC, Animo Aguila, Book Lovers Club)
6. Teach us to Pray: Dryness in Prayer
Fr. James Martin, SJ
When the letters of Mother Teresa were published in 2007 as Come Be My Light, many were stunned by what they read. After a series of mystical experiences that led her to found the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa felt an absence of God in her prayer for the rest of her life. Over time, she came to see this darkness as a way of identifying with the abandoned Christ on the cross and with the poor, who often fell abandoned.
Dryness in prayer is not unusual. In fact, it is to be expected. Nearly every saint reports it. As in any relationship, there are times when it feels like not much is “happening.” Sometimes when you close your eyes to pray, you might sit quietly for an hour and feel . . . nothing.
What to do? St. Ignatius Loyola suggested three things: pray more, take on some penances, and remind yourself that prayer is also a gift. Also, in these times it’s essential to look for God in your daily life – not inside but outside. One of Mother Teresa’s spiritual directors once told me a story now widely known: After Mother Teresa had shared her feelings about God’s absence, her spiritual director witnessed a young boy run up to Mother Teresa and throw his arms around her. Her wise director, “Mother, that hug is God’s presence, too.”
In time, things change, and prayer again becomes satisfying. But even if you feel like nothing is happening, something always is – because any time spent in the presence of God is transformative. “I will be with you always,” says Jesus, and he is. Even if you can’t tell.
James Martin is a Jesuit priest and author of “Between Heaven and Mirth”, “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything”, and “My Life with the Saints”.
