PEARL program

The students of De la salle Santiago zobel school from batch 2016, the sophomore level, are under the pearl program. The pearl program is the intensive use of iPads as substitutes for text books and notebooks. The question really remains, is the use of iPads better? Or is it just an instrument blocking us from our education.

Our batch, batch 2016, was used as a model to test the PEARL program. The test has showed different results, especially when viewed from different perspectives. In the perspective of the student, it is a great device. The iPad can be used as a gaming device, an organizer, a portfolio. Basically, our lives are within the reach of the iPad. For the teachers, it shocked them on how students can manage to keep using their iPads all the time. They have no self discipline when it comes to using the iPads.

Different problems root from the use of the iPad. Losses, damages to iPads are common encounters in this new time we live in, where an iPad is a book, a notebook, and and organizer. The use of the iPad shows how people can be responsible. It measures how much students put much attention or how responsible students.

written by TJ Ong

No Exemptions

This is really controversial among the many who really strive hard to be exempted, but unfortunately, that won't happen anymore. To give leeway to the new KPUP grading system, exemptions are no longer need because the grade for the 3rd term final exams is needed to satisfy the whole grading chart the the teachers needed to fill up. Or else, that would just be a 0 if so. So with that being said, all students moaned and even cried about the announcement of no exemptions, and to my point, we should all strive hard to get the high grade, because it's for our own good, and for our future.

written by Jonah Delgado

Why LEAP is unfair

Zobel Athletes represent the school in various school competitions and tournaments and because of this they train after class and compete in different schools at certain times they may miss class just to compete in a competition. A program named (Learning experience athletic program) has been made to cater review classes for these Athletes considering that they may miss class due to competitions or lack time to study and review due to training time. LEAP is like a review class that is strictly only for athletes teachers of a specific subject are selected and they are assigned to teach after class in a selected classroom.

I honestly find this unfair because other students like Org officers,musicians,performers,
and SRCC officers they also miss class for their activities,and they also compete and represent the school outside of Zobel yet they dont get any review classes? If the point of LEAP was for the students who represent the school athletically to be able to catch up with their studies what about those who represent the school through leadership? Performing? Academics?

The Athletes may be representing the school but that isn't enough of a reason for them to be the ONLY ones to receive special review classes . I believe that other students who represent the school may it be in Academical contests,Performing arts and Leadership activities should also receive review classes after all athletes aren't the only ones representing and making the school proud.

Hopefully in the future review classes would be made to cater not just Athletes.


written by Nikki Bagatsing

Thoughts on KPUP Grading System

 As we all know, the new KPUP grading system is composed of four different parts: Knowledge, Process, Understanding, and Performance. Knowledge covers the facts and information taught. Process tests how students assess or process the knowledge taught to them. Understanding is how the students understand and explain the lesson after processing it. Performance is the product or outputs of the students. As changes are added, we should expect some effects as well. Being a second year high school student myself, I have experienced the good and bad sides of this grading system.

  First of all, it had a good effect on the students in terms of giving effort in academics. Why? The answer is simple. All the graded seat works, quizzes, and long tests are now called assessments, and therefore they carry the same weight in terms of grading. This will enable students to study more and be  more conscious about their grades.

  On the other hand, it may also affect many people like me. Since seat works are given to students very often and they weigh a big part of our grades, it tends to stress the students out because it is just like having a quiz every other day. Another thing is that the process and understanding parts of the assessments can be subjective to some people. It did not affect me directly, but it did to some of my classmates. It is hard to get a concrete answer to those questions because not everyone has the same opinion and way of processing knowledge on a certain topic. Therefore it can give some students a hard time to adjust.

  In addition, school work just doubled this school year. A lot of students are already stressed out due to the amount of projects they have. I personally think that KPUP is affecting this indirectly. As the number of projects increase, the risks of not submitting them on time will also increase. What happens if no output is submitted? Students will have to say good bye to the 30% of their grades. Therefore, I think there should be a balance between the KPUP grading system and the amount of work given to the students, especially because this is just the first year of implementing KPUP.

written by JP Lee