The Lighthouse Diary Entries 2022

It's already March and it's only now that I had the time to roundup entries in the Lighthouse Diary. Well, better late than to have none at all.

The Lighthouse Diary #34 - The Research Design Cycle 2022

We kicked off Research Season this month of February with a day devoted for the Extended Essay and Senior Project. Students in grade 11 had orientation sessions while grade 12 students had a write-shop. The library, being an integral component of the research process in general, and a valuable learning support system for senior high school students in academic writing is always given a schedule to introduce the Research Process and library services in support of research.

The Lighthouse Diary #35: What I Learned from Being an Impresario for the Library

Of course I enjoy organizing literacy and bookish events for the  learning community! 

These activities and events are in part relevant to school library programming. Last November, we had an Author Visit and this February, we will have a POP Talk. From these experiences, I learned to respect the author's and the content creator's work. One of the things I added in the process of organizing a library event is the Author/Content Creator Agreement.

The Lighthouse Diary # 36: When Language Expands and Limits Our World

There is a favorite quote I have of Uncle Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender. He said this to Zuko while teaching him how to bend thunder: It is important to draw wisdom from many places. If we take it only from one place, it becomes rigid and stale. This quote comes to mind at the heels of two teacher trainings and professional growth activities at work and in my learning communities. By the later I mean the BTS fandom known as ARMY. 

The Lighthouse Diary # 37: Back to Beacon on Hybrid Learning

Last Monday, we started hybrid classes on campus. 

It means several things. One, students who chose to go on campus for face to face learning have a space in the classroom and in school, in general. Two, students who chose to stay at home for online distance learning have access to learning experiences and resources. Three, the Academy has put in place a thorough adherence to health protocols following DepEd guidelines and WHO research based protocols. Previous to this, the school leadership had FGDs with all the members of the community; consultations with stakeholders, lawyers, doctors and medical practitioners; and countless meetings with the team assigned for this transition of ODL to Hybrid Learning. Needless to say, the school leadership made sure that they can be trusted and that this movement to Hybrid Learning is a shared responsibility.

The Lighthouse Diary #38: Take What You Need

It has been a month since we went back to on-site work. WOW. A lot has happened since then. 

We have had an online visit from librarians of St. Scholastica's College. We had three days of orientation and easing into hybrid learning routines that included the strict compliance to health protocols. We have identified work to prioritize in the library with the new working arrangements. And, given our practice of close shelf library procedures, we are getting continuous book requests and reservations for online consultations from teachers and students.

The Lighthouse Diary #39: Review and Evaluation

While the Academic Team is wrapping up the remaining tasks and requirements for Academic Year 2021-2022, my staff and I are preparing for summer in-service training, an inventory work that is two years in the making and the design of instructional plans for hybrid learning in AY 2022-23.

The Lighthouse Diary #40: The Brilliance of Youth

We had our 10th Commencement Exercise last June 9, 2022. It was a hybrid set up, of course. Many of us, faculty and staff were present on-site attending the graduation rites. We were able to achieve this milestone with grit, resilience and teamwork. 

The Lighthouse Diary #41: Back in BA! Virtus et Ars!

We are officially back in the Academy.

The week began with an assembly headed by our Head of School. For the past two years, we have done this ritual online and reverting to face to face work made this experience bitter sweet and meanungful indeed. This school year, we are focusing on the theme of SHARED RESPONSIBILITY giving emphasis on how the pandemic has greatly affected our lives, our relationships and the ways we view the world.

The Lighthouse Diary #42: Welcome Home, Griffins!

We welcomed back our Griffins this week. We welcomed them back home.

We are in the middle of our Foundation Day this week and the nervous excitement is palpable. We are all coming out of the pandemic with mixed feelings. One thing is for sure, we are ready to teach, to learn and to grow depsite the loss and the trauma brought by COVID-19. Meeting the students on the first day back, especially my advisees was bittersweet. I have had two library orientations since yesterday and man, I missed it so much! Tomorrow, I will be giving another session with the grade 10s plus, a scavenger hunt! 

The Lighthouse Diary Entry #43: Research Month at the Academy (1 of 2)

September begins with a research session for our grade 12 and grade 10 students. 

The Personal Project, a requirement for the 10s as they complete the final year in the MYP, kickstarted during the Founday Day for which the library was  given a half day orientation with the MYP students. We value academic research as well as the development of skills building. The library plays an important role in this journey.

The Lighthouse Diary Entry #44: Research Month at the Academy (2 of 2)

Taking note of three wonderful things that happened last September regarding research skills instruction.

1. My student whom I supervise in writing the Extended Essay took the long way round in her research journey. We kicked off the term unsure of a topic to explore and her research question needed to be revised. In this case, I made her review her notes and the research plan she drew up last months ago. It was like leading a horse to water. With patience, she came back with an annotated bibliography that reflects her understanding of the topic of investigation and the required analysis specific to the subject.