Its once again the start of the semester, we all have to go back to our books and lessons .Though for some it might be the start of your nursing care management subjects and to some this semester means you are nearing the end of being a full time student.

My father used to say that “student days” are the happiest times of your life probably the most meaningful and eventful in your young adult years. For one, your only responsibility will be to care for your own and your studies and nothing else.
Maybe that is the reason why I always go back to school, I have spent at least 15 years of my life going to school and earning 4 degrees to my name. Up to now, I am still in school and this time giving back knowledge to those who are eager and willing to learn.

There’s no sure formula that is applicable to everybody that can guarantee passing the course, but I can share to you some of how I did it. I took my last two courses when I was already a mother, wife and working at the same time.

Of course, one has to have a compelling reason why you are taking such a course. You should like it meaning you are enjoying what you are doing. In going to class, specially your 7 am class, never skip breakfast, physiologically you have to be prepared. One has to have a study time everyday, FOCUS AND FOCUS , when studying. No cell phones, MP3’s, IPod’s, chat etc. Try to focus for least 30 minutes to 1 hour and its enough for the day’s lesson. DO this everyday. Study from Monday to Friday and by weekend, take time out for yourself, meaning leave your books and enjoy the weekend. One should have patience and perseverance day by day.

With the availability of different study resources, such as the internet, Xerox copy of notes, online dictionary/ lectures, videos , easier communication with classmates, all sorts of notebooks and pens , popular editions books and of course the ever reliable laptop with most schools being WIFI zones, its much easier to study and learn anything.

“ You retain more when you read , write and recite”

Kris has been into many controversies especially regarding love matters. She has become one of the highest paid actresses both in TV, print, movies and advertisement endorsement. Three years ago, I consider her the queen of EDSA since her billboards were all over the stretch of EDSA from EDSA Extension to Monumento. In very intersection, for sure she has an advertisement.

What I admired about Kris is her role as a mother to Joshua. Everybody knows that Joshua is a special child. Not knowingly, Kris has been a role model to mothers who have also a special child. Now, looking up at Kris’ way of handling the condition of Joshua, mothers would have this inspiration from Kris that it is all right. Silently they watch Kris, her activities with Joshua and featuring her activities with Joshua in their out of town family gatherings in her K magazine. She has the courage to tell the world how Joshua is. This gave the other mothers with special child the confidence to show off that having a special child is just all right and one has to go on with life.

Notes on Special Education:

The Department of Education (DepED) has several Special Education Centers In cities and municipalities in the different regions of the country. The center aims to provide basic education among children with special needs namely / the gifted, talented, the mentally retarded the visually, hearing impaired, orthopedically handicapped, the learning disabled, the speech defectives, children with behavioral problems, the autistic children , and those with health problems.

You can check the locations of SPED Centers in your place, there are several here in Metro-Manila. The SPED center is usually a part of a public school, no high tuition fee, just the basic contributions of a public school.

For more information about DepED SPED Centers visit this site. http://www.deped.gov.ph/quicklinks/quicklinks2.asp?id=34

...Teacher Anna...

Pocketful of Kids , the very first toy village in the Philippines is opening on October 25, 2008. The toy store carries only top-of-the-line developmental toys from reputable American and European brands.

Learning Resources, Educational Insights (Hot Dots pens, Playfoam and GeoSafari), Alex, Tatiri,

Melissa & Doug (Number One in wooden educational toys in the US)

Pocketful of Kids allows children to try out and experience the featured branded toys; there are also books (from Fully Booked), health food section, and playground with a “Know It All Tree” (a lighted talking tree).

From 0 to 99 years old, from simple colorful blocks to complex puzzles, Pocketful of Kids would have something for you! Pocketful of Kids toys can enhance a child to be :

Word Smart , People Smart, Music Smart, Nature Smart, Picture Smart, Number Smart, Body Smart

POCKETFUL OF KIDS encourages children to wonder, discover and learn through play.
POCKETFUL OF KIDS PLAYING AND LEARNING PUT TOGETHER!
Visit 15th Floor Strata 2000, Emerald Avenue, Ortigas
Tel # (02) 634-7888 or (02) 634-2888.

Store Hours: 10:00 AM - 7 :00 pm
email : pocketfulofkids@yahoo.com

Notes on Play:

Play, often described as “ the work of children”… is any voluntary activity engaged in for the purpose of enjoyment… it is not something a child does when he or she has nothing else to do , it is something the child has to do.
-Adele Pillitteri, PhD, RN, PNP
Author of the Maternal and Child Health Nursing

From being an infant, toddler, preschooler and school-age children, play is as an integral part of their life. Even if one reached adulthood, we want to play, we always feel at ease after we play. How can one forget his or her first toy? I will always remember my first “walking doll” given to me by my “lola”. Up to this time I would always recall how I played with it, how I used to change her dresses, combed her curly hair etc.

A blood donation project was held successfully at Arellano University Pasay Jose Abad Santos Campus last October 3, 2008. The blood donation program is an annual activity organized by Level II Student council officers with the objective to encourage every AU student the benefit of voluntary blood donation.

The project was also made possible with the backing of Red Cross Pasay Chapter, Mr August Manzon, Ms Jen Mesde both AU faculty and under the guidance of Ms Ditas Hernandez, Level II coordinator and Arlene Blaise Cortez, Dean of the College of Nursing.

The project, dubbed as “Alay Mong Dugo, Karugtong ng Buhay Ko” was held at the AU Pasay Lobby, wherein 122 blood bags were collected from volunteer AU Pasay nursing students and then deposited at the Philippine National Red Cross.

For more information on how to donate blood visit:
http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/NBC/donateblood.aspx
http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/NBC/FAQs.aspx

The 4th Capping and Candle Lighting Ceremony for Level III students of Bachelor of Science in Nursing course of Arellano University Pasay Campus was held at Fiesta Pavilion,Manila Hotel, on 29th July 2008.

With a candle-lighting ceremony and the recitation of the Florence Nightingale Pledge, 480 student nurses marked the successful completion of completion of nursing students’ sophomore year. In the capping ceremony, they receive the nursing pin, female students also receive the traditional nurses’ cap, for which the ceremony originally got its name.

Presided over by Mr Francisco PV Cayco, President and CEO, Arellano University and the chief guest who gave an inspirational talk was Leah Primitiva S. Paquiz, National President, Philippine Nurses.

The chief guest emulated to the students the values of integrity and commitment to the nursing profession. She also emphasized that success is a choice. As nurses, one should have a vision and mission, work hard and focus on the path that we have chosen to take.

Mr Francisco PV Cayco, President and CEO, Arellano University also addressed the students. He told the students it was an honor to be able to help them celebrate the accomplishment of having made it this far in their journey to becoming a nurse. He called Arellano nurses as nurses of the world, hoping to see and hear more Arellano nurses excelling in the filed of nursing around the world.

Also present during the ceremony were Ms Mildred A. Atendido, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean Arlene Blaise Cortez, Dean College of Nursing AU Pasay, Chief nurses of Base and Affiliating Hospitals.

It was a solemn and symbolic ceremony witnessed by the student’s parents and relatives especially when they received the lighted candle of Florence Nightingale. Near the end of the ceremony, the students took a pledge with a candle in the ceremony, which reaches back to Florence Nightingale, known as the “lady with the lamp.” As a tribute to Nightingale’s dedication, the lamp icon became symbolic of nursing.