Both seasoned and “unsalted” teachers of Montessori De Sagrada Familia (MDSF) helped each other perfect dishes assigned to their grade levels and units in the elementary campus’ canteen yesterday, June 5.
This cooking session was part of the activities welcoming 23 new teachers and formators to MDSF’s elementary department during their onboarding event, “ElemPower: A Family SEL-ebration.”
Masters of ceremony Clarisse Glem Dela Cruz of the Office of Student Affairs and Jahna Carmela Galvez of the Academic Council led the morning with activities like getting to know each other’s unique traits, love languages, and talents, as a Zumba-inspired “Pantropiko” remix played in the Pre-Elementary Hall.
Vice Principal for Academic Affairs Jomar Dela Cruz kicked off the program with an inspirational speech emphasizing the importance of kindness and the concept of giving and receiving help in the workplace.
“Let us continue our past successes and forge new connections to achieve our dreams for this school year as one department,” Dela Cruz said.
While the newly appointed Vice Principal for Student Affairs Christian Anthony Valino highlighted the three powers educators possess: their words, their lives, and their ability to teach the unwritten curriculum, which shapes student behavior.
Each grade level and office unit then participated in a guessing game, identifying ingredients inside various boxes. The emcees revealed the dishes to be prepared, such as adobong manok, fried tilapia, grilled liempo, buttered shrimp, lumpiang shanghai, rice, and coffee jelly. A traditional “boodle fight” followed at 12:30 p.m., where the department shared the meals they had prepared.
Afternoon sessions further integrated SEL through various games led by the Academic Council and the Office of Student Affairs, synthesized by subject supervisors Dan Angelo Bagadiong and Melchor Cruz. The activities focused on the five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making.
The day concluded with the entire department enthusiastically chanting the year’s theme: “Dream Bigger, Do Better, and Soar Higher,” adding “Elempower” as one unified voice geared to take on the school year ahead.
By: Reinlois Felipe