Last February 23-27, 2008 were very memorable days to 87 Upper School students, 10 parents, 5 Faculty members and the school owners. Reedley ventured into its first official Educational Tour to the Lion City, Singapore.

The days were very tight and hectic with the first day visit to explore the natural wildlife at the Night Safari. The next day, after attending their respective church services the group trotted to the Science Center for an experiential learnind g of the concepts we learn in science and watch in the first 4-D Cinema in Asia.

The third day was a very important visit to the Singapore Management University where the students learned not only the different scholarship opportunities in the university but also studying and being independent away from home, straight from other Filipinos studying there. During that afternoon, the group visited the National Museum of Singapore that showcased a thorough explanation of the history of Singapore prior to the arrival and discovery of Singapore by the prince until the current ways hey celebrate the National Day of Singapore.

The fourth day was a very long and exciting day at the Sentosa Island where the students not only got to see the view of the entire city but also were able to enjoy the different rides at the theme park. The day ended with a nice light show near the beach. All these memories had to end as the next day
was devoted to packing their bags, buying last minute gifts to friends and relatives who were left in the Philippines. Truly this event is one of a kind and ought to be repeated in the coming years.

Reedley prides itself with a unique curiculum which adopts the best practices of different systems of education. In line with our commitment to excellence, faculty and staff are sent to different trainings and seminas to enhance experience and knowledge as well as to keep abreast with the latest technology in the field of teaching.

Following the group of teachers sent to Indonesia and Singapore for an assessment seminar, selected English teachers attended a weekend seminar on Language Leraning in the Classroom Strategies K-12 Classroom, Language and ESL Teachers organized by the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) at the International School Bangkok. The workshop provided the teachers with materials on better classroom strategies specifically for English as second language learners. Most importantly, the participants from different international schools worldwide were able to share best practices and create bonds.

Living up to its commitment to promote literacy in the Lower School this school year, the Grade School Department has expanded the annual Show and Tell event to a bigger affair. Students did not just deliver a speech, but they had to undergo the complete writing process first to develop and create their own pieces.

With the theme “The Reedley Show and Tell-evision Network”, this activity focused on showcasing the fruits of the pupils’ hard work on stage as they delivered their self-written speeches Thus, it aimed to enhance their writing and speech skills, to build self-confidence, and to develop their spontaneity and language fluency. It also promoted the Good Reesian’s values of Perseverance and Independence.

The Show and Tell was held in the Lee Kuan Yew Hall on November 7, 2007. Parents expressed their amazement, joy, and pride in their children’s performances.

Reesians were encouraged to step out of their normal shoes and become a different person for a day for their annual Outreach Program.

Last November 23 and December 3, 2007, US 1 and US 2 students acted as older brothers and sisters to the children in the Assosacion Damas De Filipinas Orphanage in Manila. The children of Assosacion took to the Reesians like they had known each other forever. The Reesians and their partners danced, played games together, with the students only too happy to tag around their partners. The kids at the orphanage further endeared themselves to Reedley students and teachers alike, when they presented their impressive dance moves, which were performed to the tune of local novelty songs.

Meanwhile, US 3 students were environment stewards for the day as they grabbed brooms and dustpans for a clean-up day at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Manila last November 9, 2007. The students endured the heat and the hard work very well, cleaning as a team or individually. By the end of the day, the students were all proud of a job very well done.

Last December 8, Saturday, was a red - letter day for the Lower School students. Or should we say, read ¬- letter day? Students from Grades 1 to 4 showcased their talents in recitation, voice projection, and choral reading during the Reading Recital held at the Lee Kuan Yew hall, from 1pm to 3pm. Entitled, "Celebrating the Reedley Spirit of Christmas," the program aimed to remind students about the traits they should exhibit as good Reesians in Spirit: perseverance, independence and being peace - loving.

Apart from these traits, the Reading Recital is also a celebration of the cheery holiday season, with the Christmas-themed reading pieces and the LKY hall replete with Christmas decors: even Santa Claus, his reindeer, and his elves were in attendance! Truly, this is an event filled with purpose and meaning that reminds us how a good Reesian should act not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year, as well.

As the pre-college–related pressure intensifies throughout the high school years, Junior year is no exception. Students are always intent on scoring high on their college entrance exams, and the Junior’s Review Program (JRP) aims to give them the confidence and equips them with the proper tools to do so.

This school year’s JRP kicked off last November 16, several months shy of scheduled national (and international) college entrance tests – giving students ample time to prepare for exams given by UP, Ateneo, UA&P, De La Salle and UST in particular. Headed by Mrs. Flor Male, the JRP lessons are supplemented with handouts containing detailed notes for Science, Math, English, IQ and Filipino. Mock-exams accompany every session, effectively enforcing the subjects reviewed in each lesson.

To further highlight the importance of being well-prepared, the results of every practice exam, sans IQ, are included in the seatwork components of students’ grades. So stop twiddling those thumbs! Catch JRP every Friday and be entrance exam-savvy!

Call it a sport, a workout, or even a dance – whatever you decide to name it, this Afro-Brazilian tradition is both rigorous and refreshing, and the RIS Upper School students got to experience it firsthand in their third quarter PE classes.

Capoeira is a marriage of disciplined martial arts techniques and fluid, graceful dancing. Enslaved Africans in 16-century Brazil created it to remedy slavery and injustice with culture and art. Though it faced some problems post-slavery, Capoeira has stood the test of time – ultimately summoning the Reesians to try their hand at this challenging-yet-stimulating sport. Players, dubbed “Capoeristas”, would form a “roda” – and it is within this circular formation that trademark moves such as the Ginga, Esquiva, Bencao, Aú and Ponte were showcased.

After warming up with several drills, students learned basic techniques from the talented Capoeria instructors. Soon, their inner Capoeristas were released as the Reesians put their newfound knowledge to the test by having their own matches.

Despite the sweat, blood and tears, Capoeira lessons were an invaluable experience. Capoeira not only supplied students with improved endurance and muscle strength, but with bonding time and enjoyment as well. That said, it also enforced what can sometimes be a difficult lesson – that buns of steel don’t come cheap.