Blue Heights

LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IN EVERYONE’S HEART
By  Paola Anne Torres, Alyssa Castro & Rexanie Martizano

St. Scholastica’s Academy Marikina not only pursues academic excellence but also instills the Benedictine values among the students.  These Benedictine values - integrity of creation, truth, justice and peace - when translated into action can bring positive changes into the community, affect goodness to others, and hopefully become an instrument of the country to attain unity.
Directress Sister Ma. Roseve Balagat, OSB said that Scholasticans must not detach themselves from the marginalized people because it is in this situation that their presence as Benedictine children are needed and felt.
Under Sister Roseve’s administration, SSAM has seen its uphill climb in terms of faculty and curriculum deve-lopment, buildings and infrastuctures, and spiritual growth. 
Here is a transcript of our interview with our dear Sister Roseve.
Blue Heights: As the school directress, Sister, what do you love most or what are the best features about our school?
Sister Roseve: I think there are many things that I love about this school. These are our school grounds and gardens, the varied activities of the community, the teachers, the staff and the students, and the institutional Holy Masses.
Blue Heights: What have been the major accomplishments under your term, Sister?
Sister Roseve: We have reconstructed Gates 1 and 3. To avoid accidents, we also had the rewiring of both GS and HS departments, the rip rapping near the HS AVR to prevent erosion, and the change of leaking roofs. To give way for more learning in the field of arts, we have turned one satellite room into an Art room for the HS students and we have constructed a Craft Room for the juniors’ use   during their TLE project-making to avoid disturbing other classes. We have also built a new Sewing Room for the GS students since their old machines are no longer working.
We have just constructed a two-storey Store Room building near the Sister Joaquina Dining Hall to house the Repair Room for the IT and the Storage Room for the book sale and other materials. I have also noticed the technical difficulties in the SICC so we added the Control Room at the opposite side of the stage. This can be of great help during presentations. To add more beauty to the surroundings, we also developed a Japanese garden near the shop.
Blue Heights: Having achieved these accomplishments, what other improvements would you like to have?
Sister Roseve: For the formation of all our employees, we will convert the Personnel Office into a Human Resource Center. Also, in response to the challenge of technology, I would like to have an E-learning center, one for the GS and another for the HS, in order to have different devices that can be used in digital teaching. And because of the K+12, the SECC will be converted into a four-storey building to accommodate the 14 additional classrooms we will need.
Blue Heights: The K+12 issue has been the talk of the town for quite some time. What is your opinion about this?
Sister Roseve: I suppose that this is not the first time that the government has planned to have a change in our     educational system. But this is the only time, under the Aquino administration that they finally had to have the political will to implement K+12 in order to enhance the education in the Philippines. This new development will be demanding more financial support and manpower. But I believe that with the help and cooperation of everybody, we can manage to accept this change.
Blue Heights: When will the K+12 Program be implemented in SSAM?
Sister Roseve: Just this school year, we have converted all prep classes to kinder. Next school year, there will be a new curriculum for the incoming grades 1 and 7 students.  Grades 7 to 10 will be called junior high while grades 11-12 will be senior high.
Blue Heights: Lastly, Sister, what is your message to the whole Benedictine community especially the students, faculty and all the staff?
Sister Roseve: I hope that you will all remain faithful and loyal to the vision and mission of the school, and continue to live out the Benedictine values.  Love the poor by trying to make your outreach activities more creative and meaningful. I hope that the Rule of St. Benedict will always be your guide.