The long-term project, Lugud 2.0 continues to benefit the schools in the South A District on January 31, 2025 (Friday) at Sapang Tagalog Elementary School. Many valuable insights have been gained from the attentive and cooperative teachers and principals involved in the project. The esteemed principal of Sapang Tagalog Elementary School, Dr. Nancy F. Gacula, delivered a heartfelt opening remark to kick off the event.
Dr. Joanne Marie I. Escalona, a faculty member of TSU-COED, commenced her presentation by referencing the Disney film "Inside Out," which served as an engaging introduction to her topic: "Learning to Read the Heart: Nurturing Emotional Literacy Among Children." The film's exploration of various emotions including joy, anger, disgust, sadness, fear, and the recently introduced emotion, anxiety aligned perfectly with her focus on the importance of understanding and effectively managing children's emotions, ultimately contributing to their holistic development. To engage the audience, Dr. Escalona introduced an interactive game titled "Guess That Emotion," which received enthusiastic participation from both teachers and principals. As the discussion progressed, she shared valuable insights gleaned from her dual experiences as a mother and preschool teacher. The participants also shared their valuable experiences and insights as educators, with a strong emphasis on their work with very young children. Her reflections highlighted the critical need for mental health awareness and stress management for both children and educators, enhancing the participants' comprehension of these essential issues. Dr. Escalona concluded her presentation by emphasizing the crucial role that nurturing emotional literacy plays in educational environments. She provided the audience with a comprehensive understanding of its significance, reinforcing her message with two insightful quotes: “Emotional literacy is not just a skill but a lifelong gift we give to children” and “It’s a journey, not a destination.”
The second presentation, “Management of School Finance Amidst Limited Resources,” was delivered by Dr. Norbina Genever M. Castro from TSU COED. The session commenced with Dr. Castro engaging attendees in a thoughtful discourse regarding their perspectives on stakeholders. She subsequently delineated several challenges confronting educational institutions, particularly the inadequate availability of chairs, tables, and necessary facilities to cater to the burgeoning student population. As the discourse progressed, Dr. Castro provided a comprehensive analysis of the disproportionate distribution of financial funds between rural and urban schools. She underscored the paramount importance of adhering to the guidelines about the school’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), which serve to inform educators about the benefits conferred by the government and to emphasize the necessity of judiciously maintaining these resources, particularly when devising programs to ensure their effective utilization. The presentation also addressed the limited availability of resource solutions, highlighting the imperative of safeguarding the materials provided by government entities. Dr. Castro encouraged participants to optimize the use of environmental resources, such as plants and repurposed/recycled plastic bottles, to enhance resource management practices. Approximately midway through the discourse, attendees were invited to partake in light physical activity to reinvigorate their concentration. Dr. Castro concluded her presentation by outlining strategic approaches for the effective management of resources. She also introduced an engaging activity titled “Think of Innovative Ways to Reduce Scarcity of Resources,” which was designed to encourage creative thinking based on the insights shared during the session.
The entire event was conducted under the expert supervision of Dr. Maria Agnes P. Ladia, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the overall project head. The session concluded with the awarding of certificates, followed by closing remarks from Dr. Nancy F. Gacula, the school principal. To commemorate the successful seminar, which highlighted the collaborative partnership between TSU and DepEd, participants gathered for a group photo.
