Date: 4 September 2015
Weekly Memorandum No. 2015 – 9.2
TO: AdZUHS Community
FROM: Father Principal
1. Principal’s Message:
Here’s an interesting anecdote about Albert Einstein on the relation between Science and Faith. I have read this story in the Reader’s Digest, but I forgot the year of publication. It runs thus:
A New York Grade 6 wrote Einstein whether scientists prayed, and if so, for what.
“I have tried,” said Einstein, “to respond to your question as simply as I could. Here is my answer.”
“Scientific research is based on the idea that everything that takes place is determined by laws of nature, and therefore this holds for the actions of people. For this reason, a research scientist will hardly be inclined to believe that events could be influenced by a prayer, i.e, by a wish addressed to a supernatural being.
“However, it must be admitted that our actual knowledge of these laws is only imperfect and fragmentary, so that, actually, the belief in the existence of basic all-embracing laws in Nature also rests on a sort of Faith. All the same, this faith has been largely justified so far by the success of scientific research.
“But, on the other hand, every one who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe – a spirit vastly superior to that man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.”
2.Characteristic of Jesuit Education (CJE): Jesuit education relies on a spirit of community among teaching staff and administrators.
As far as possible, people chosen to join the educational community in a Jesuit school will be men and women capable of understanding its distinctive nature and of contributing to the implementation of characteristics that result from the Ignatian vision.
3.Student and Faculty Updates
a. AdZUHS qualifies for the 2015 National Science Olympiad.
John Louize F. Guban, Lee Alec C. Salasa, and Hans Xavier W. Wong of Grade 10 St. Ignatius Class qualified for the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (PSYSC) Science Olympiad National Finals to be held at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon Cityon September 26, 2015.
To qualify for the National Finals, the three student-contestantshurdled the national elimination round for Region IX at Dipolog Pilot Demonstration School last September 5 to 6, 2015.
The PSYSC is the umbrella organization of the thousands of science clubs in the country. It conducts relevant activities to further emphasize the role of the science clubs to the issues concerning science, technology and environment today, among others. This year’s activities are anchored on the National Science Club Month (NSCM) theme “MateREALIZE: Synthesizing Ideas. Extracting Knowledge. Forging Science Clubbers as Agents of Innovation.” (reported by Mr. Jeffrey Barrera)
b. Environmental Summit. The Ateneo de Zamboanga University Social Awareness and Community Service Involvement (SACSI) Office through its Advocacy and Environment Program will have the Social Involvement Month (SIMO) with the theme “SINERGIA SALVA Y PROTÉGÉ DI ATON ENERHIYA” this September. One of the highlights of SIMO is the Environment Week.
SACSI has invited AdZUHS to send student leaders, club moderators and teachers to attend in their Environmental Summit dubbed as “School-Based Environmental Education: Focus on the Protection of Wild Life Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation” to be held on September 15-16, 2015 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Fr. Eusebio Salvador, SJ Campus, La Purisima, Zamboanga City.
The following student leaders and teachers will attend the said summit:.
Teachers (Club Moderator/Science Teacher):
Ms. Renz Erika T. Santo (Science Teacher), and
Mr. Jeffrey O. Jalani (COL Moderator).
Student Leaders (Student Government, Science Clubs and Social Sciences Organizations):
Nikko A. Marcos of 8 St. Campion (YASEn),
Riane Beatrice D. Sontillano of 8 St. Campion (YASEn),
Gerald Ace B. Wee of 9 St. Xavier (YASEd),
Robert Aldwin L. Fernandez of 9 St. Xavier (COL), and
AntonetteFeliz A. Calimot of 10 St. Ignatius (COL)
(reported by Mr. Jeffrey Barrera)
c. Mr. Jeffrey O. Jalani will participate in the 2015 International Research Conference-Workshop and Biennial Convention with the theme Expanding Science Education Horizon Through Research and Application on September 16- 23, 2015 in Iloilo City. The event is organized by the National Organization of Science Teachers and Educators (NOSTE) of which Mr. Jalani is a member.
d. Mr. James B. de Los Reyes and Mrs. Rosie R. Ledesma will be at SMX Convention Center, MOA Complex, Pasay City on September 17-18forthe 2nd National Conference on Technology in Education. The said event will provide a space for learning, exchanging ideas and networking. It will highlight the trends, development, practices, and issues in the educational technology to meet the global issues in education and to create competitive schools and cooperative classrooms.
e. Father Principal will be on leave on September 17 – 19 to preside at the wedding of his nephew. He reports back to work on September 21, Monday. Ms. Rosie M. Hong is OIC while Fr. Principal is in Manila.
4.Activities and Events for September 14-19
a.Sept. 14, Monday * NO Class/Office Day (except for agency workers)
b. Sept. 15, Tuesday * Recollection for Grade 9 St. Lewis
c. Sept. 16, Wed. * 7:30AM Mass: Class sponsor: Gr. 8 Campion
Moderator: Mrs. Virginia Guiñabo
* Recollection for Grade 9 St. John Ogilvie
d. Sept. 17, Thursday * 8AM – 12nn Visit of Pakistani Muslim Scholar, Sohail Ahmad Raza, to HS.
8:30 Conversations with ADZU Basic Ed reps (HS/GS admin,
HS Formation Team, HS/GS CM, Peace coordinators, CLE & Social Studies teachers, Dialogue Club moderator) Venue: HS Principal’s Conference Room
10:00 Conversations with ADZU HS students (members of HS Dialogue Club, members of G10 Peace & Dialogue thematic team, 5 reps per G9 classes)
Venue: AVR – 1
11:30 Sambahayang (Muslim kids) Venue: HS lobby (this is still a proposal)
12:00 Lunch for Ms. Sohail Ahmad Raza,with some HS representatives
* 1:30 PM Administration Cluster meeting.
Agenda: Revisit of Office Strategic Plans;
Identification of Priority projects/activities;
Preparations for 2016-2017 budget.
* EnviroScience Quiz Bee Year 3 (c/o YASEn), HS AVR 1
* Recollection for Grade 9 St. Joseph Pignatelli
e.Sept. 18, Friday * 1PM – 4PM: Senior High School Philippine Aptitude Classification Test.
* Overnight recollection for Gr. 8 St. John de Britto (Day 1) * 7:30AM Mass: Class sponsor: Gr. 8 Claver
Moderator: Ms. Marilin Bentoy
f. Sept. 19, Saturday * Induction of PTA Officers (cf. announcement from the PTA Coordinator)
* Overnight recollection for Gr. 8 St. John de Britto (Day 2)
g.Weeklong activities: (14-18,Monday to Friday)
* 7:30 – 8:30 Kumustahan Session for Students on Probation (AVR 1)
* Grade 7: CIA: Chemistry in Action Chemistry Lab * Grade 8: Space Centrum HS AVR 2 * Grade 9: InnoPlay (Innovations in Display) Physics Lab * Grade 10: Peek and Peep Thy Blueprint Biology Lab
* 4PM – 5PM Win-It-In-A-Minute (Open to all) HS Lobby
5.Teach us to Pray: Prayers of Petition
Fr. James Martin, SJ
Many people tell me they feel guilty asking for things in prayer. The fear it’s selfish. “Why should I ask for things when so many people have it worse than me?” they say. Or “Am I not supposed to accept God’s will?
It’s true that many people are worse off than we are; and ultimately we are indeed invited to accept God’s plans. But before that comes honesty. God wants us to be honest in prayer, because God wants us to be ourselves. That means asking for help when we need it. For if we say only what we think we “should” say in prayer, our relationship with God is bound to grow cold. Part of being honest is admitting when we need help
Besides, Jesus invites us to ask God for help, giving us the parable of the persistent widow who keeps asking and asking (Luke 18). “Ask, and you shall receive,” after all, presupposes asking. Jesus also counsels us to ask for “our daily bread,” which is another form of petitionary prayer. And notice that in the Garden of Gethsemane, in Jesus’ own hour of need, he said to the Father, “Remove this cup from me” (Luke 22:42). Jesus did not wish to die. But when he realized it was the divine plan, he accepted it. But it all started with his honest prayer to the Father.
We don’t’ always get exactly what we ask for in prayer: that’s obvious. But as human beings we must ask, because God desires our honesty. In a sense, such an intimate relationship with God is the answer to our prayers.
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”.
