Typhoon Goring has probably dampened the excitement of most Lasam students to go back to school as classes on both August 29 and 30 were cancelled in the entire province of Cagayan. But the cancellations or suspensions were for the safety of the entire education sector. The town’s K-12 schools are finally welcoming students this Thursday.

In retrospect, the SY 2023-24 school opening is still a far cry from last year when there were doubts or fears in going back to the schools after these were closed down for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The town’s private learning institutions: the Good Samaritan School, Lasam Academy, and San Lorenzo Ruiz Educational Institute (SLREI) opened their doors two weeks earlier, while CSU-Lasam will do so on Monday.

Brigada Eskwela

The Brigada Eskwela team of Lasam East Central School was led by barangay and school officials/personnel

Teachers of newly converted Magsaysay Integrated School spearheaded the Brigada Eskwela in their school.

As a tradition, Brigada Eskwela was conducted in all elementary, high school, integrated schools, and also at the Cagayan State University Lasam campus.

Parents of Peru ES pupils spruce up the school garden.

The Brigada Eskwela exercise enjoins community participation to prepare the school buildings, facilities, and grounds for another year of learning.

CSU-Lasam students during their own Campus Brigada (photos from CSU Ripple)

WCSAT Adopts No Plastic Policy

In an effort to eliminate the use of plastic bottles, Western Cagayan School of Arts and Trades (WCSAT) is starting the school year by requiring students and personnel to bring their own water container or tumbler.

On the school Facebook page, WCSAT shared the per grade level and section lists of its SY 2023-24 enrollees from Grade 7-12.

WCSAT’s all male Grade 12 enrollees for TVL Automotive Servicing track—with a SHS diploma, NC II Certification, and enough exposure hours to the job, these future automotive servicemen may eventually fast-track their employment with ever-growing mechanized or transport industries.

Mayor Agatep Convenes the Local School Board

Mayor Agatep with the LSB members composed of DepEd leaders and LGU officials.

In the Local School Board meeting presided by Mayor Dante Dexter A. Agatep last August 23, 2023, the LSB budget for SY 2023-24 was the main agenda.

Public Schools District Supervisors Francisco S. Conag and Wilson F. Constantino also apprised the Board on: the conduct of Brigada Eskwela in every school of both Districts; decluttering of classrooms based on the order of Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sarah Z. Duterte; research undertakings; and new policy on sports competitions.

New Appointments, Promotions
PSDS Conag also informed the LSB on the latest appointments and promotions in the Lasam school districts, among these are:

* Viga ES School Head Arnel D. Llaneza, reassigned and promoted as Principal I at Nabannagan West ES;
* IBJ ES’ Sylvia S. Castillejo, promoted as Principal II;
* Nicolas Agatep ES’ Raquel B. Jurado, promoted as Master Teacher II;
* Tagao ES’ Jenil U. Moises, promoted as MT I; and
* New Orlins ES’ Catherine T. Digap, promoted as Head Teacher III.

Relatively new in their posts as Public Schools District Supervisors: Mr. Francisco S. Conag (3rd fr R) for East District/all Lasam HS; Mr. Wilson F. Constantino (2nd fr R) for West District/LWCS Principal; together with Mr. Joseph Danao (rightmost), the new School Head of Magsaysay IS, made a courtesy call to Mayor Agatep. Also with them are Info Officer Renato Paat, Jr. and Budget Officer Jose Rebultan, Jr.

Natalged Reading Caravan to Continue
The Local Chief Executive also informed the District Supervisors of the continuance of LGU’s “Feed the Body, Feed the Mind” program.

With the recent launching of the “streamlined” Matatag K-10 curriculum which puts emphasis on functional literacies including reading in the early grades, the DedEd officials expressed support for the Natalged Feeding, Reading, and Storytelling Caravan.

Natalged Reading Caravan Session 2 Intermediate participants in Alannay

The Caravan is tentatively scheduled to return to Alannay this coming September 22, and to Callao on the 29th.

Literacy Coordinating Council to be Formed
Morever in the LSB meeting, Mayor Agatep informed the body of the need to create a Local Literacy Coordinating Council.

Also to be chaired by the the Local Chief Executive and co-chaired by the Deped District Supervisors, the Council is tasked to oversee literacy programs in the Municipality.#

— A. Ursua