7. School: General Information and Academic Administration

1.1 School Profile

• Mission Statement

The mission of the UST Junior High School is to prepare students for Senior High School, to form them in faith, and to mold them with the identities of a true Thomasian – competent, committed, and compassionate, dedicated to serve God, the nation and the global community.

The mission is defined by the following goals:

   1.   Integral formation of our students;

   2.   Cultivation of Christian values necessary for the formation of a right social conscience;

   3.   Development of professional sound expertise in guiding, counseling, and nurturing our students’ passion for knowledge;

   4.   Appreciation, preservation, enrichment, and propagation of Filipino cultural heritage rooted in a sense of history and tradition;

   5.   Recognition of the role of individuals in the University, local, community, country, and the environment.

•      Vision Statement

The UST Junior High School envisions itself as a leading Junior High School in the country, committed to the holistic formation of its students and the cultivation of their potentials.

•      School Objectives

It is the aim of the UST Junior High School:

   1.   To mold the students into total human persons by providing them the best educational program possible in an atmosphere conducive to intellectual, spiritual, moral, social, cultural, and physical development.

   2.   To provide the students with the necessary education in order that they may become well-disciplined persons whose deportment is in harmony with Christian ideals and teachings.

   3.   To help the students develop a sense of Christian leadership and service whose primary concern is the welfare of others.

   4.   To cultivate in the students a genuine and fervent nationalist sense.

   5.   To provide the adolescent students an all-around, sound, balanced and challenging curriculum, not only suited to their talents and abilities, but also determined to bring out the best in them and make them responsible adults in the future.

1.2 Academic Support System

• Facilities

The facilities of the UST JuniorHigh School include:

USTHS Library

USTHS PE Room

USTHS 2 Audio-visual Rooms

USTHS Benavides Auditorium

USTHS Canteen

USTHS Multi-Purpose Room

USTHS Prayer Room

USTHS Music Room

USTHS Drafting Room

USTHS Computer Rooms (3) with Internet service

USTHS 2 Physics and Chemistry Laboratories

Air-conditioned classrooms with two (2) ceiling Fans, white boards, bulletin boards, blackboards, LCD Projectors, speakers and podiums

Livelihood Education Function Rooms

Student Council Office

UST CAT Headquarters

The Aquinian Publishing Room/Office.

Likewise, the school provides the students with guidance and counseling and spiritual consultation. The faculty staff is available for academic consultation to the students and parents at designated dates and hours in the Faculty/Conference Room.

• Co-curricular Program

The co-curricular program of the High School covers matters regarding clubs and organizations. All the students are required to join one club of their interest and choice. Students can join two or more clubs but there has always been problems and conflicts about this matter regarding competency to multi-task in the clubs and organizations these students have joined.A scheme for grading honors students of the third and fourth year levels has been continuously used as a way to determine the awardees for graduation. The total grade of honors students is composed of 70% on academics while 30% on co-curricular. For those who are not vying for honors, they get an equivalent letter rating from the club with which they are in. This grade is shown in their report cards. This is also done for the honor students but the scheme mentioned is being used.

• There are 31 recognized clubs and organizations in the High School.

Student Council

Speech Club

Association of Students for Academic Competition

Math Club

Natural Science

Young Scientists' Club

English Forum

Samahang Kulturang Filipino

Social Studies Circle

Young Community Stewards

Liturgical Ministry

Dominican Network

Student Catholic Action

UST CAT Golden Corps of Cadets

UST CAT Cadet Officers

Honorary Corps of Sponsors and Escorts

Arts and Crafts Club (formerly TASC)

Culinary Arts Club

Music Society

Glee Club

Music Ensemble

Golden Scouts

Boy Scouts of the Philippines

Girl Scouts of the Philippines

Cultural Dance Troupe

Pep Squad

Athletics Club

Digital Arts Club

Information and Communications Technology Club

Drama Guild

1.3 Teaching system

The University of Santo Tomas Junior High School, as it continously adheres to the relentless innovations in teaching and learning, embraces Brain-Based Education. BBE has emerged and has been conceived as an essential facet in generating authentic and life-long learning. It highlights the learners’ cognitive development and the ability to process information leading to the creation of new knowledge. BE likewise recognizes learners’ uniqueness and innate intelligences in which every educator must discover.

UST Junior High School, as it faces a new milestone in the field of education, uncreasingly subscribes to these changes by adjusting and adopting to worthwhile scientific studies and research-based theories which promote development of authentic skills. Every Thomasian educator equipped with the idea of learners’ diversity in mind, aims to continuously promote effective learning in class through quality instruction.

-How will BBE be implemented in UST Junior High School

The school has taken initial steps in the implementation of Brain-Based Education (BBE) New learning plan format is crafted which ensures a more organized execution of the target lesson objectives. Trainings for teachers were conducted in order to introduce suitable effective instructional strategies and methodologies which in turn be utilized in class.

- What benefits can students get from the new design framework

Brain-Based Education is the purposeful engagement of strategies based on principles derived from solid scientific research. Brain-Based Education emphasizes how the brain learns naturally and is based on what we currently know about the actual structure and function of the human brain at varying developmental stages.  Using the latest neural research, educational techniques that are brain friendly provide a biologically driven framework for creating effective instruction (Wilson 2001)

The new design framework primarily aims to enhance learners capacity to adopt in any given situation displaying skills in creative thinking problem solving, and critical thinking. In addition, every Thomasian adolescent gets to enjoy a different level of learning experience in class taking advantage of his or her abilities to generate new knowledge through the teachers innovative approaches and expertise.

1.4 Materials and other learning sources

Courses for Grade 7

Filipino 7 - Ibong Adarna and Retorika at Balarila

English 7 - Philippine Literature and Grammar & Composition

Math 7

Elementary Algebra

Intermediate Algebra

Geometry

Statistics

Science 7

General Science

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Earth Science

Christian Living 7 - Old and New Testaments

Makabayan 7

Araling Panlipunan (AP) - Philippine History

Musika at Sining (MS) - Introduction to Music Concepts

Edukasyong Pangkatawan at Pangkalusugan (EPP)

Teknolohiya, Edukasyon Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (TEPP) - Electricity and Drafting

Homeroom

Courses for Grade 8

Filipino 8 - Florante at Laura and Retorika at Balarila

English 8 - Afro-Asian Literature and Grammar & Composition

Math 8

Elementary Algebra

Intermediate Algebra

Geometry

Statistics and Probability

Science 8

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Earth Science

Christian Living 8 - Roman Catholic Church and Sacraments

Araling Panlipunan (AP) - Asian History

Musika at Sining (MS) - Philippine and Asian Music

Edukasyong Pangkatawan at Pangkalusugan (EPP)

Teknolohiya, Edukasyon Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (TEPP)

Computer History, Microsoft Office Basics, and HTML Basics

Cooking

Homeroom

Courses for Grade 9

Filipino 9 - Noli Me Tangere and Retorika at Balarila

English 9 - Anglo- American Literature and Grammar & Composition

Math 9 - Advanced Algebra and Geometry

Science 9 - Chemistry

Christian Living 9 - Christian Ethics and Morality

Makabayan 9

Araling Panlipunan (AP) - World History

Musika at Sining (MS) - African and Asian Music

Edukasyong Pangkatawan at Pangkalusugan (EPP)

Teknolohiya, Edukasyon Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (TEPP) - HTML, PHP, and Adobe Flash

Homeroom

Courses for Grade 10

Filipino 10 - El Filibusterismo and Retorika at Balarila

English 10 - World Literature

Math 10 - Trigonometry and Calculus

Science 10 - Physics

Christian Living 10 - Social Issues

Makabayan 10

Araling Panlipunan (AP) - Economics

Musika at Sining (MS) - World Music

Edukasyong Pangkatawan at Pangkalusugan (EPP)

Teknolohiya, Edukasyon Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (TEPP) - Adobe Flash and Visual Basic

Citizenship Advancement Training

Homeroom]

1.5 Measurement and evaluation system

-Content Standards

1. These covers a specified topics within each learning strand, domain, theme of component

2. They answer the question “what should learners know?”

-Performance Standards

1. These describe the abilities and skills that learners are expected to demonstrate in relation to the content standards and integration of 21st century skills

2.They answer the following question:

i. What can learners do with what they know?

ii. How well must learners do their work?

iii. How well do learners use their learning or understanding in different situations?

iv. How do learners apply their learning or understanding in real life contexts?

v. What tools and measures should the learners use to demonstrate what they know?

-Learning Competencies

Learning competencies refer to the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes that learners need to demonstrate in every lesson and/or learning activity

1.6 General Curriculum        

K to 12 (also K-12) is an education system under the Department of Education that aims to enhance learners’ basic skills, produce more competent citizens, and prepare graduates for lifelong learning and employment. “K” stands for Kindergarten and “12” refers to the succeeding 12 years of basic education (6 years of elementary education, 4 years of junior high school, and 2 years of senior high school).

At present, the Philippines is the last country in Asia and one of only three countries in the world with a 10-year pre-university program.

K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM

The K-12 program offers a decongested 12-year program that gives students sufficient time to master skills and absorb basic competencies. Students of the new system will graduate at the age of 18 and will be ready for employment, entrepreneurship, middle level skills development, and higher education upon graduation. The K-12 program accelerates mutual recognition of Filipino graduates and professionals in other countries. Kindergarten is mandatory for five-year-old children, a pre-requisite for admission to Grade 1. The new curriculum gives students the chance to choose among three tracks (i.e. Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; and Sports and Arts) and undergo immersion, which provides relevant exposure and actual experience in their chosen track.

1.7 Teaching plan of my major