EDITED NEWSLETTER VOLUME 5 A.Y. 2024-2025 (3)

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The Song of their Lives: SISC Hosts Annual EF Song Interpretation Contest

Lexine Laraño

Grade 12 representative Hannah Grace G. Nixon emerged as champion in the Southville International School and Colleges

(SISC)

English

Department’s annual

Song Interpretation Competition held at Monarchs Park on January 24, 2024. With the theme “Soundtrack of Our Lives,” the event showcased performances from Grades 7 to 12, each sharing personal stories through music.

“Music isn't just a collection of sounds,it's the soundtrack of our lives,” said Ms. Junessa Lumbres, the deputy principal, in her welcoming remarks. The welcoming remarks was followed by an opening musical number of Mr. DJ Caraan and Ms. Karen Joy Intano.

The competition started off with the first contestant, Liam Engelbrecht, who performed the song “All I Ask of You” from the classic hit musical “Phantom of the Opera”, which discussed themes such as commitment and romance between two characters. He was then followed by Sasha Jansein Felicitas Ong who performed “Someone You Love” by Lewis Capaldi which is seen as a song for mourning the loss of a relationship.

After Sasha, Onozato Soken then sang a romantic ballad that talks about the singer’s wife whom he knew since childhood. The song was “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Gabby Hermosilla then took the stage and performed "Feeling Good" by Michael Bubble and was accompanied by a couple of backup dancers.

Shin Hyejeoung sang “This is Me” from the movie-musical “Greatest Showman” which is a song that talks about finding strength in the face of criticism. With an almost similar theme of standing up for oneself, Queenie Monalisa Ragay came after and sang “Speechless” from the live-action version of “Aladdin”.

Neil Castro then came up on stage and sang the heartfelt ballad, “Hopelessly Devoted” by Olivia Newton-John from the 1978 film “Grease”. Hannah Nixon followed after him and sang “Wizard and I” from the musical “Wicked”.

Maria Samantha Villanueva sang the hit song “What a Wonderful World” written by Bob Thiele and lastly, Marcus Javier Rosal sang “Waving Through the Window”, a song that talks about isolation and yearning for connection, from the musical, Dear Evan Hansen.

After all the performances had finished, the hosts took the stage once again and invited Sir Ian Aguinaldo to give the certificate of appreciation to the panel of judges.

From Questions to Guidance: SISC Welcomes Parents to Grade 12 Coffee Chat

Margeaux Louise Chebat On September 20, 2024, Southville International School and Colleges’ (SISC) Basic Education division held its annual Grade 12 Coffee Chat at Luxembourg Hall. The forum, conducted both online and in person, gave parents an opportunity to ask questions, learn about the upcoming school year, and hear updates on new initiatives and events.

Parents were briefed on the requirements and deadlines for their child’s P.A.S.S. (Personal Academic Student System) papers throughout the year. K–12 Basic Education Principal Nessie Lumbres delivered an opening speech, sharing updates and words of encouragement for both parents and students. She was joined by Basic Education Student Council President Kim “Charis” Minyoung and Vice President Kim “Martin” Kimoon, who highlighted upcoming events, student protocols, and other key matters.

After the presentations, parents were guided by student council members to different areas according to their child’s chosen academic strand: Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM), General Academic Strand (GAS), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In the final segment, parents received detailed information on P.A.S.S., including deadlines, a Gantt chart-style calendar, and an introduction to their child’s assigned P.A.S.S. adviser.