Teachers from three academies gathered at ZPM compound on July 15 for the teachers’ orientation.
Caldwell Adventist Academy and Guppah Mission Adventist Academy are both ZPM-run academies while Diplahan Adventist Academy is a church-run academy.
“I praise God for ZPM,” Dr. Alevir Pido, SWPUC Education director, enthused, starting her inspirational. “ZPM is one of the fastest growing school systems in Mindanao. ZPM’s strongest feature is its presence in each of its learning institutions. All the schools have the emblems of the mission as part of their emblems. And my counterpart, Sir Victor Palin, has been a very strong and supportive partner in the ministry.
“You now belong to the second largest church education system in the whole world, second to the Roman Catholic church,” Dr Pido said, addressing the teachers. “While running a school is difficult, you are not running it alone. We are operating as a system, so our need for oneness and inclusivity. How we feel for and treat each other in the ministry is crucial. We find collective solutions to our problems.”
Speaking on the theme “Educating for Mission,” Dr Pido stressed the importance of educating the mind, nurturing the mind. This mind is very important because when we nurture the mind we open the mind to the realities of life and to the truth. We allow the mind to embrace and cherish the sublime truth of the Second Advent. Educating for mission is grooming individuals to be intelligent, enabling them to think critically, creatively, and open-mindedly.”
“Educating for mission is preparing our students for service, volunteer work for the community. That’s why we have Kids for Mission in elementary schools and Youth for Humanity in academies. We allot one week for these programs. Our Pathfinder program should not only prepare our students for tactical inspection but also for leadership in community service.”
Our schools adhere to the four aspects of education, according to Dr Pido, the physical, mental, social, and spiritual. But the foundation of these areas is spiritual. We don’t separate our spirituality from the intellect. We treat the other aspects from our spiritual background.
“This is the direction of SWPUC—we are for the mission. Our schools are created for the church, and the church is created for mission. All students who come to our portals will be honed to be missionaries. Not only thinking of themselves going to heaven but bringing people with them to heaven.”
Dr. Pido gave out the following programs to be implemented this school year 2024-2025: 1) Access to online e-books and journals 2) PPH textbook writing workshop 3) Simultaneous evangelistic effort of academies and colleges 4) Youth for Humanity 5) Annual report of the SWPUC Education department 6) SSD-wide Pathfinder Camporee 7) Unionwide high school achievement test 8) SSD-wide teachers convention 9) Unified PE uniform and school uniform for elementary schools, and next year, school uniform for academies 10) 150th year celebration when JN Andrews was sent as the official missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 11) Placement of textbooks 12) Strengthening student services training (clinic, guidance, library) 13) Installation of the AAA seal.
Meanwhile, Pastor Ronald Hazel Ramos, ZPM treasurer, reviewed the essentials for AAA evaluation and accreditation. He also explained the medical and educational policies. He explained in detail the educational subsidies of dependent and qualified children of separated parents, and the schools they attend for them to receive the subsidy.
Sir Victor Palin, ZPM Education superintendent, discussed the education acts implemented by the DepEd and the code of ethics of professional teachers. To top them all, he reviewed the SSD education policies and the Adventist values we adopt in the classroom.
Pastor Ranny de Vera led the midday devotional with Pastor Ronald Hazel Ramos bringing the meeting to a close with a prayer of commitment to God’s service by all attendees.
