XDXAVIER Daily

FRESHMEN SPECIALSY ’12 -’13

ONE PRIDE ONE GLORYFebruary IS

SUE 1

PhP 100

FRESHMANyear was not EASY...

... but it sure is something

WORTH REMEMBERING

XDISSUE #1 Fourth Quarter Sy 2012-2013

1/ Grade School to High School 2/ Role Models 3/ Whatʼs Up? 4/ Kuya! Kuya! 5/ High School Survival Guide

GRADEschool HIGHTO school

Rhenz Aaron T. Tee, H1A

" GRADE SCHOOL. The place where I had everything figured out. My study habits got me good grades. I knew the teachers; the teachers knew me. I had lots of friends. I joined many clubs. You see, it was perfect!

" But then, I had to graduate. I had to leave all that I had worked for behind. I had to leave it all and start from scratch. Leaving the Grade School was one of the most frightening and dreadful thing I experienced. I was scared of the teachers; having heard that they donʼt teach as well. I was afraid of the curriculum; knowing that it would be way harder. I was worried about the assessments; seeing my older brothers struggle with ʻHell Weekʼ. I was really not ready for High School.

" Then the first day of school came. I remember seeing my classmates for the first time. Choosing a seat in class. And I definitely remember a weird song being

played. “Luceat, Luceat Lux!... Luceat, Luceat Lux!...” This song (which I later discover to be the ʻXavier School Rapʼ) really lifted the tension and the mood that I earlier felt.

" ʻThis isnʼt so badʼ I thought. There were many things that remained the same. My friends were still there. The lockers remained. The classrooms looked familiar. The teachers were different but they were still friendly. And so I started to relax and actually enjoyed myself. ʻThereʼs nothing to worry aboutʼ.

# Then our class adviser started explaining the changes of High School. The 7-day Cycle. The limit of Extra-Curriculars. Letter Grades. The grading system. The prolonged periods ʻWHAT IS THIS?!ʼ I tensed up again. I just sat in my seat hoping that I would survive this Freshman Year.

" As the days passed, I understood all my lessons and had the same study routine

as Grade School. I also met my subject teachers. I think I made a good first impression on them all. Well, all except one. My Math Teacher; Ms. Joanne Casanova. She was the first teacher ever upset with me in High School.

" It all happened when she asked to collect our Math notebooks. On our first meeting, she specifically asked us to use a Math notebook (the one with grids on the pages). But, I didnʼt have one of those. And my filler notebook already had one Filler reserved for Math. So I used that notebook instead of those Math notebooks. I copied notes there, solved problems, did seat works there. Everything.

" And when the time she collected the notebooks of the class to check whether they had copied notes or not, I passed my filler notebook. And when I approached her to submit my notebook. She gave me the ʻDeath Stareʼ. “Why did you use this notebook? Didnʼt I tell you to use a Math Notebook?” I started explaining myself but she wouldnʼt accept it. “No. No. You pass a Math Notebook or you get an S for effort.”

# That recess period, I ran down to the bookstore and bought a Math notebook and transferred all my notes onto that notebook. At lunch I ran up to the workroom and submitted

the Notebook. Ms. Casanova accepted it but I still felt that she had a grudge.

" As the weeks grew on, I did well in all my tests and I ended up receiving and A+ in every test. Luckily, this improved my initial bad reputation with my Math Teacher. She eventually became one of my favorite teachers of H1. One that I will never forget.

" So I guess you could say that I had adjusted pretty well to High School... WRONG.

As the final weeks of the First Quarter approached, the assessments started piling up. The requirements for each subject all started multiplying. The number of things I had to do grew and grew! There was something due everyday! I had sleepless nights finishing the assessments due the next day. I submitted all on-time but I had to pay a price.

" The results of these projects were pretty good but I had to cram and tire myself out for them. As I ended the First Quarter, I swore to myself that I would manage my time better the following quarters. I had to. Or else I would never survive High School...

ROLE MODELSRhenz Aaron T. Tee, H1A

" The stereotype of teachers are that they are strict. They are old. They hate students. Teachers deliberately make their students lives a living hell. But the teachers in Xavier prove all of these wrong. Especially the ones in High School.

" From what Iʼve heard, the teachers in High School do not teach very well and they are very strict. This got me a little worried for High School. But on the first day, when I met our class adviser and our class mentors, all those worries went out the window. " I immediately liked my teachers. They were (mostly) fun. They all had this sense of authority that a teacher has. But they also kept that atmosphere of friendliness. Their lectures were engaging. And they were always

approachable. Not only inside the classroom, but also outside. And because of this, I became fast friends with my teachers.

But aside from being cool teachers, all my teachers have another side to them. All of them can be strict when the class needs it. On more than one occasion my class has been too noisy or rowdy or disrespectful. This would lead to the teacher to lose temper and scold the class. I personally donʼt see anything wrong with this as I can see why these actions are taken.

" But the most admirable thing I have seen in all my teachers is the way they all have something outside from work. They are not only teachers. They have sports or something else they do. They can balance their duties as an educator and balance their free time to have fun.

"

" I can see them in the classroom, all serious teaching us about Algebraic Fractions and then seeing them later playing Volleyball with other teachers.

" I can see my Social Studies teacher talk about the history of the Philippines and then seeing her play expert Frisbee just hours after.

" Even with all the papers they have to check or the presentations they have to make, they still find time in between all of these to have fun and play.

" Befriending your teacher is something only a few people can grasp. But luckily, we Xaverians have the chance to do it every year.

WHA

T’S

UP?

Rhenz Aaron T. Tee, H1A

" High School gives more Extra-Curricular Activities compared to the Grade School. Here in High School, the teachers really let the students take care of the big events of the school. This allows the students to really be a part of the school.

" As a High School student, you can be part of the Appreciation Day Committee, the Christmas Committee, the Gentlemanliness Committee, the Fair Committee, the Voice of the Youth Committee (VoYC), etc. These committees take care of an important event in the School Year. They are in charge of anything concerning that event. They have to plan for it and make it happen.

" And donʼt think because itʼs planned by students that the actual thing turned out bad. No! The whole day looked as if teachers had planned for it. The thing was full-blown and all-out. There were performances, decorations, food, EVERYTHING! This shows how much our students can do and it also show how much trust our teachers give us.

" So this year, the different events weʼve had are the Appreciation Day; where the teachers had a whole day dedicated to them. The Christmas Party; when the whole day became a day of giving and fun. EXScalibur, the school fair; where the whole school was transported back to the medieval times full of fun and laughter. Shift, the Variety Show; a night filled with loud music and talent.

" But these were not the only things happening throughout the school year. We had the Buwan ng Wika and the Literacy Week. And towards the end of January we had the Chinese New Year Festival. Where the Dragon Lion Dance Team of Xavier performed a spectacular show.

" This yearʼs performance was not their ordinary performance. The person of ʻDragon Ballʼ was on skates while leading the whole Dragon Team. The Lions had a cute extra pair added as two baby lions entered with the traditional four.

" After their performance, the Grade 1 boys had the spotlight. Dancing away. As the Grade 1 exited, the students from Xavier Nuvali came in dancing in our quadrangle for the very first time. But the real highlight of this day, the one everyone is anticipating, is the performance of Dance X.

" The members of Dance X kicked it off with an energetic number which was followed by the Middle Schoolers then the High 3s then the High 2s. They were followed by the number of the High 1s and finally the High 4s. After the individual groups, the whole lot grooved to ʻCrazy Right Nowʼ as the Lions and the Dragon join in.

" This year has really been one eventful year. This year that was full of fun and excitement. This year, the year of the Golden Age.

“KUYA! KUYA! ”" The Kuyas of Xavier are kind people. They did things

we havenʼt, they know things we donʼt, they have more experience. But that doesnʼt mean that we have to be scared of them.

" We just need to get to know them, join clubs, committees to get meet them. They are not scary, they do not treat us as inferior student they treat us the same way as they treat their friends. We are all equal, no one is better no one is worse we are all the same.

" Clubs like YCLC and Production Crew are examples of Seniors and Freshmen friendships. Do not feel weak because there are older students that are better than you in anything.

" Just remember they had more time than you to practice, you still have time to practice. They need to show what they have practiced over the years.

" Age makes differences, but age doesnʼt define you, it doesnʼt bring you down. You can achieve anything just set your mind to it. The Seniors are your big brothers, they help you, they are there for you, when you need them they will be there for you.

" The Juniors are the next in line after the Seniors. They are not so different, they are older, smarter, and bigger than us but they are not mean. They do not have fun while making people suffer; they feel bad if people suffer.

" Soon, we will become Seniors. It will be our turn to help our younger brothers, we will have past many obstacles, and we survived high school, our next step college. We cannot act the same way as

we did when we were freshmen. We will have more responsibility then. We will not be bad role models. Our seniors were good role models and we cannot let them down.

" We will always strive to be the better man, our light will shine brighter and brighter each day. Every day we grow older and older, stronger and stronger. Even if we fall sometime during our journey to success, we will always stand back up! Because we are Xavierians! One Pride One Glory!

Ker

win

Joh

nson

Tan

HS Survival Guide

Kerwin Johnson Tan

High 1 is a time for new experiences, a time to goof around and get punished for it, a time that should leave a mark in your head that you will never forget. As for me, my class left a big mark in my head that I will never lose. We did things that you cannot imagine, but enough about me.

Now for the tips I can give you to live through High 1...

Tip #1: Make everyone your friend. You don’t want

an enemy in the class; you don’t know they might eventually become your best friend.

Tip #2: Be a good student, listen to your teachers, and

just listen and you will understand everything your teacher will teach you.

Tip #3: Be creative, be different, Have a good time

make mistakes, live your life to the fullest. There is a difference between living and living your life.

Tip #4: NEVER CRAM. Always finish your assessments ASAP. As soon as you receive

them, start working on it! You’ll never know when other requirements will start piling up!

Tip #5: Always COPY. It helps to listen in class and take down notes. It helps you

remember things during the test (SAVES YOU STUDY TIME). Plus your notes can help you remember any forgotten info!!

Tip #6: Make every moment

count, make memories, have fun. High school only comes ones in a life time! You better make good use of it!

H1 SURVIval guide

GOOD LUCK IN HIGH SCHOOL!

ONE PRIDE ONE GLORY