Post Arrival Orientation Seminar for School Children, a New Program Under Paaralan sa Konsulado

Association of Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA) Board of Directors member and teacher Rena Pedaria briefs the families who attended the first ever Post Orientation Arrival Seminar on 13 July 2019 at the Philippine Center in New York. (New York PCG photo)

NEW YORK 30 July 2019 — With the aim to establish support mechanisms for newly arrived Filipino school children in navigating the American school system, the Philippine Consulate General in New York added the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) to its “Paaralan sa Konsulado” (PSK) program last 13 July.

Association of Filipino Teachers in America (AFTA) Board of Directors member and PSK teacher-volunteer Rena Pedaria briefed the newly arrived families on programs of the New York City (NYC) Department of Education and guided the students through the NYC school system on family welcome centers, and enrollment, school life, summer city programs, special education and other support systems for immigrant families including how to access government benefits, and apply assistance relating to immigrant status, healthcare, social services and civic classes.

The PAOS session was preceded by a talk on Anti Bullying by NYC Department of Education (DOE) Office of Safety and Youth-School Culture and Climate Program Senior Program Manager Brendan Lang. 

Mr. Lang encouraged the students to share their thoughts and experiences at their respective schools in identifying and addressing bullying and bias-based behaviors in schools and communities.  He also delved on cyber-bullying which is, according to him, prevalent and a serious concern among the youth.

The students also enjoyed the traditional classes during the day, including the Kwentong Pilipino for the youngest group led by Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate who amused the children with the story “Ang Pagong at and Matsing”.

Other traditional classes were Filipino Modern Heroes by teacher Ramil Buenaventura; Life of Jose Rizal by Olive Abarquez; Philippine Dances by teachers Catalino Arca, Sheridan Lambert, Cheruby Inot and Josette Ticzon; Arts by Doreen Casas and Josephus Reynes; Conversational Pilipino by teachers Nellie Gabatino, Rolita O’Meally and Lourdes Reynes, and; TuklasTalino facilitated by AFTA volunteer Carol Tanjutco. END

Deputy Consul Kerwin Orville Tate amused and engaged the Paaralan sa Konsulado (PSK) Group 1 students as he told the story “Ang Pagong at ang Matsing” during the Kwentong Pilipino class at PSK Day 3 on 13 July 2019 at the Philippine Center in New York. (New York PCG photo)

NYC Department of Education (DOE) Office of Safety and Youth-School of Culture and Climate Senior Program Manager engaged the students during the Anti Bullying Session at PSK Day 3 held on 13 July 2019 at the Philippine Center in New York. (New York PCG photo)

Group 3 Paaralan sa Konsulado (PSK) students deliberate about modern heroes at the class facilitated by teacher Ramil Buenaventura. (New York PCG photo)

Students write their essays about the Philippines  which will be considered for the TuklasTalino competition to be awarded on the Culminating Day of the Paaralan sa Konsulado. (New York PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.