Learning Resources – Nova Schola Tanauan Blog https://blog.nst.edu.ph All About NST Thu, 21 Mar 2024 01:55:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-NST-Favicon-47-32x32.png Learning Resources – Nova Schola Tanauan Blog https://blog.nst.edu.ph 32 32 204382147 Join the Movement: Earth Hour https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2024/03/21/join-the-movement-earth-hour/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=join-the-movement-earth-hour https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2024/03/21/join-the-movement-earth-hour/#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 01:49:26 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=950

Every year, millions of people around the globe come together to observe Earth Hour, a symbolic event that signifies our commitment to the planet. This year, on March 23, 2024, join the movement and make your mark in the fight against climate change.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as a simple lights-out event to raise awareness about energy consumption and its impact on the environment. Since then, it has grown into a global phenomenon, with individuals, businesses, and communities from over 190 countries participating.

In the Philippines, Earth Hour holds special significance as we face the challenges of climate change, from rising temperatures to more frequent extreme weather events. By taking part in Earth Hour, we not only show our support for environmental action but also inspire others to make sustainable choices year-round.

Earth Hour Infographic

So, what can you do during Earth Hour? Here are some ideas:

  1. Turn Off Non-Essential Lights: Join the millions worldwide by switching off non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM local time. Gather your family or friends and enjoy the beauty of a candlelit evening.

  2. Unplug Electronics: Reduce your electricity consumption by unplugging electronic devices that are not in use. This simple action can save energy and lower your carbon footprint.

  3. Go Outdoors: Take advantage of the darkness and spend time outdoors. Organize a stargazing session, have a picnic under the moonlight, or simply take a leisurely walk in your neighborhood.

  4. Have a Sustainable Dinner: Prepare a meal using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Opt for plant-based dishes to reduce your ecological footprint and support sustainable food practices.

  5. Raise Awareness: Use your voice to raise awareness about environmental issues. Share posts on social media, participate in virtual events, or engage in discussions with friends and family about the importance of protecting our planet.

Remember, Earth Hour is more than just turning off lights; it’s about sparking conversations, driving action, and inspiring change. Together, let’s make every hour Earth Hour by adopting sustainable habits and advocating for a greener, more sustainable future for all.

Join the movement this March 23 and show your commitment to the planet!

]]> https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2024/03/21/join-the-movement-earth-hour/feed/ 0 950 Proactive Preparedness: Safeguarding Communities near Active Volcanoes https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2023/06/09/proactive-preparedness-safeguarding-communities-near-active-volcanoes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=proactive-preparedness-safeguarding-communities-near-active-volcanoes Fri, 09 Jun 2023 07:43:04 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=829

Located in close proximity to the iconic Taal Volcano, Tanauan City faces unique challenges and responsibilities when it comes to preparing for volcanic activities. As one of the areas most susceptible to the potential hazards associated with volcanic eruptions, the residents of Tanauan and neighboring municipalities must be vigilant and well-prepared. Understanding the significance of proactive measures, such as developing emergency plans, staying informed about volcanic activity, and having readily accessible emergency kits, is crucial to safeguarding lives and minimizing the impact of volcanic events. By actively engaging in preparedness efforts, the community of Tanauan can enhance their resilience, protect their well-being, and effectively respond to the dynamic nature of Taal Volcano. Preparing for a volcanic eruption is essential to ensure your safety and minimize the potential impact of the eruption. Here are some steps you can take to prepare:

  1. Stay informed: Keep track of updates and warnings from local authorities, volcanological agencies, and emergency management organizations. Follow their instructions and stay tuned to news broadcasts or emergency alerts for the latest information.
  2. Create an emergency plan: Develop a detailed plan for your household or community, including evacuation routes, meeting points, and communication methods. Assign responsibilities to each family member or group member, and ensure everyone understands the plan.
  3. Prepare an Emergency Disaster Bag: Assemble a well-stocked emergency kit that includes essential supplies such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, personal hygiene items, a battery-powered radio, protective masks, and any necessary medications. Store the kit in an easily accessible location.
  4. Evacuation planning: Identify safe locations away from the volcano where you can evacuate to if necessary, such as shelters or the homes of friends or family in unaffected areas. Determine the best routes to reach those locations and alternate routes in case of road closures or other obstacles.
  5. Protect your home: Take measures to safeguard your home from volcanic ash and potential damage. Seal windows and doors with plastic sheets and duct tape to minimize ash entry. Clear gutters and drains of debris to prevent blockages. Consider installing air filters to improve indoor air quality.
  6. Stay aware of volcanic activity: Familiarize yourself with the signs of an impending eruption, such as increased seismic activity, gas emissions, or ground deformation. If you observe any unusual or suspicious changes, report them to the appropriate authorities.
  7. Develop communication plans: Establish multiple communication channels with your family members, neighbors, and emergency services. Share contact information and establish a designated out-of-area contact person who can relay messages between separated family members.
  8. Stay away from danger zones: Understand the danger zones defined by authorities and avoid them. These areas typically include the vicinity of the volcano, areas downstream from potential lahars (mudflows), and regions prone to pyroclastic flows.
  9. Stay calm and follow instructions: During an eruption, remain calm and follow instructions from authorities promptly. Be prepared to evacuate quickly if advised to do so, and avoid panic or risky behavior.

If you find yourself in an area affected by smog, which is a type of air pollution characterized by a mixture of smoke and fog, it’s important to take certain precautions to protect your health. Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Stay indoors: If the smog levels are high, it’s best to stay indoors as much as possible. Keep windows and doors closed to minimize the entry of polluted air. Use air purifiers or filters if available, or consider using a DIY air filter with a fan and a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
  2. Wear a mask: When going outside in smoggy conditions, consider wearing a mask or respirator rated for particulate matter (such as N95 or N99) to reduce your exposure to pollutants. Ensure that the mask fits properly and covers both your nose and mouth.
  3. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins and keep your respiratory system moist. Adequate hydration can help your body cope with the effects of smog.
  4. Seek medical attention if needed: If you experience severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent coughing, or dizziness, seek medical attention promptly.

Seek medical attention if needed: If you experience severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent coughing, or dizziness, seek medical attention promptly. Local authorities and emergency services are the best sources of information during a volcanic eruption. Always heed their advice and cooperate with their instructions for your safety.

]]> 829 Ensuring Food Safety: Protecting Our Health, One Bite at a Time https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2023/06/07/ensuring-food-safety-protecting-our-health-one-bite-at-a-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ensuring-food-safety-protecting-our-health-one-bite-at-a-time https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2023/06/07/ensuring-food-safety-protecting-our-health-one-bite-at-a-time/#respond Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:25:55 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=800

In an increasingly interconnected world where the food supply chain stretches across continents, ensuring food safety has become more critical than ever before. With the potential risks of contamination, foodborne illnesses, and chemical hazards, safeguarding our health through robust food safety practices is paramount. By following a few simple steps, we can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and ensure the safety of the food we consume. Here are some practical measures to attain food safety:

Food safety is an ongoing commitment that requires collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, regulatory bodies, food producers, and consumers. By prioritizing food safety, we can protect our health, reduce the burden of foodborne illnesses, and build a sustainable and resilient food system for generations to come. Remember, when it comes to food safety, every action counts—because our well-being depends on it.

]]> https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2023/06/07/ensuring-food-safety-protecting-our-health-one-bite-at-a-time/feed/ 0 800 El Niño Watch 2023 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2023/05/17/el-nino-watch-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=el-nino-watch-2023 Wed, 17 May 2023 08:23:15 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=749

Climate experts and scientists are growing increasingly concerned as the Philippines raises its El Niño Alert status, indicating the potential emergence of the weather phenomenon in the coming months. Simultaneously, global ocean surface temperatures have reached record highs, raising worries about the possibility of an impending El Niño event. The convergence of these factors has experts worried about the impact on weather patterns, agriculture, aquatic life, and the overall climate. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued an 80% probability of El Niño occurring from June to August, with potential dry spells and droughts. In April, ocean surface temperatures hit a record-breaking 21.1°C globally, surpassing the previous record set during the 2016 El Niño year. These rising temperatures can trigger extreme storms, coral bleaching, and ice cap instability. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Philippines is preparing for potential impacts on food production by implementing strategies to boost aquaculture. Climate experts emphasize the need for preparation, mitigation measures, and international cooperation to address the challenges posed by these climate phenomena and ensure the resilience of affected communities and ecosystems.

Click the image to enlarge

Remember, individual actions, along with collective efforts, can contribute to better preparedness and resilience in the face of El Niño’s potential impacts.

]]> 749 Book Review: Developmental Reading:   A Skill Text For College Students by Angelita D. Romero and Rene C. Romero https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2022/04/22/book-review-developmental-reading-a-skill-text-for-college-students-by-angelita-d-romero-and-rene-c-romero%ef%bf%bc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=book-review-developmental-reading-a-skill-text-for-college-students-by-angelita-d-romero-and-rene-c-romero%25ef%25bf%25bc Fri, 22 Apr 2022 09:52:24 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=221

Developmental Reading A Skill Text For College Students covers reading lessons, exercises, and reading selections/passages for college learners and provides background information about reading such as what reading is, why read, what to read, and how to read. Content falls under three main areas: vocabulary, comprehension and study skills. Lessons on vocabulary give the students an opportunity to encounter words in various disciplines and their meanings. It also provides experiences to students in using various techniques in order to understand a word. Lessons on comprehension provide understanding passage and other selections. Through these, It helps the learners to improve their comprehension skills. Students are able to give their opinion, judgment or evaluation, based on his/her prior knowledge or background of experiences in relation to the information read. Lessons on study skills provide exercises in gathering information and organizing information. The students get practice in applying his/her reading skills as functional learning skills. 

I like Developmental Reading A Skill Text For College Students book because it is very informative and it would really help the learners improve their reading skills. Lessons and exercises are arranged from simple to complex. Each topic has corresponding exercises to answer. Exercises impart mastery of the lesson and develop critical thinking. Authors really explain the topics well, direction is easily understandable, and there are examples to guide the learners. Not only the definitions and exercises, but there are a lot of reading selections and passages that enhance comprehension and reading ability of the learners. As a Reading and Writing Instructor, I am using this book as my another reference and I discovered that this is very helpful for me elaborating the lessons properly with my students and I can use the exercises and reading selections as an assessment.  

For those English language instructors and those learning on how to develop reading skills, I recommend the Developmental Reading A Skill Text For College Students book for your future reference because it is really helpful to improve your comprehension and better appreciation of the world of print. After reading and studying the book, authors want you to know the importance of reading and to apply your reading performance in different aspects. Through the reading process, authors also want you to develop your communication and writing skills. Therefore, this book is really recommendable if you are learning the ways on how to comprehend the text and purposely help “slow” readers. 

Book Reviewed by:

Mr. Cyrus Pesayco

English Teacher – NST Senior High

]]> 221 Book Review: The Story of My Life by Helen Keller https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2022/04/22/book-review-the-story-of-my-life-by-helen-keller/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=book-review-the-story-of-my-life-by-helen-keller Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:57:59 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=215

“The Story of my Life” is Helen Keller’s autobiography that recounts Helen experiences in life on how she adjusted to the world despite her disabilities knowing that she is blind and deaf. The book presents a remarkable achievement through her life journey and it is very inspirational, which she wrote by herself . It was originally published in 1903. 

At the beginning of the story she describes how she felt isolated to the world around her and frustrated while trying to learn. She was not able to learn language like the other normal children. She struggles with her life filled with anger , frustration, and darkness because no one could understand her and she doesn’t know how to express herself also. Her life started to change when she met her teacher , Anne Sulivan. She taught Helen how to name objects by handing it to her and spell out the letter through her hands and how to communicate with her family as well as the outside world. 

The story of my life is a heart rending story that captures my heart , the story or I would say the journey of her life is really amazing and motivating that despite of all the adversities in here life, she still chooses to overcome it and the fact that she learned 3 languages and write a book about her life really blew me away even though she can’t hear nor see. There were so many beautiful things in the book but my favorite thing is her teacher Anne Sulivan who taught him how to live a life to the fullest. 

Book Reviewed by:

Ms. Glezene Calapatia

Research Teacher –  NST Senior High

]]> 215 Book Review: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2022/04/22/book-review-the-old-man-and-the-sea-by-ernest-hemingway/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=book-review-the-old-man-and-the-sea-by-ernest-hemingway Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:47:38 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=207

The Old Man and the Sea is a classic novel written  by Ernest Hemingway in 1951. It is considered to be the last major work by a prominent writer published during his lifetime. This book is a short reading (less than 100 pages)  set in Havana, Cuba. The story is about an old fisherman, a little boy, and a beautiful and brave fish.

Santiago is an elderly fisherman who has not been fishing for 84 days. He is now known by the locals as “Sarao”. That is, he suffers from the worst  of bad luck. Once a strong and healthy person, he was good at work and  always caught the best fish. Now he is an old and poor man and does not occupy much of his days and hearts. The boy  he loves so much and grows up is now forbidden  to work with the old man by his parents because of his unfortunate strike. But the little boy Manolin loves Santiago and takes care of him. He often brings him food and tea, and they talk about all sorts of things, especially Santiago’s favorite American baseball. The old man, who changes his fate and decides to  bring home a catch large enough for the town to talk about, sets sail on the 85th day. He goes out into the Gulf Stream and his bait is soon eaten by large fish that assume he  is a marlin. But fish don’t give way so easily. The old man is also determined and can’t let go. What follows is a battle for life, both sides  equally brave and determined.

The characters are  the most honest and courageous people I have recently encountered in books. Santiago, the old man. His body has been weakened by the  years he has seen, but the same cannot be said about his determination. His aging in his manners and  his treatment of elements only adds to his charm. Unlike many young fishermen, he respects the sea and calls it the word of love, Lamar. Santiago, for my purposes, was a person that can’t be . His regard for the Marlin is likewise important. However, not entirely settled to win, he actually regards the fish and apologizes to it lavishly. He calls it honorable and now and again regrets the worthlessness of such a presence, which causes individuals to do such terrible things to nature’s delightful animals.

For me, without a doubt, the climax is the most amazing aspect of the book. The climax makes this book a champ. The Old Man and the Sea lies in its serious closure and that lifts the book to its exemplary status. The peak is and, eventually, assuming you are a touchy and enthusiastic peruse like me, you can’t resist the urge to cry a tear or two for the elderly person Santiago and his undying soul.

Book Reviewed by:

Mr. Jonas Mendoza

Filipino Teacher – NST Senior High

]]> 207 Book Review: Moby Dick by Herman Melville https://blog.nst.edu.ph/2022/04/22/book-review-moby-dick-by-herman-melville/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=book-review-moby-dick-by-herman-melville Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:26:41 +0000 https://blog.nst.edu.ph/?p=192

Moby-Dick, or The Whale is a novel by Herman Melville in which the narrator, Ishmael, befriends Queequeg, a South Seas harpooner, and they search for a whaling crew together. They eventually board the Pequod with Captain Ahab. Ishmael quickly discovers that Ahab has lost his leg and his ship to Moby-Dick, a big albino whale. The captain and his men set sail across the world to get vengeance on the whale. The novel does have a complex and ambitious premise, since Herman Melville makes subtle references to various controversies throughout his writing. Everything is beautifully developed with some form of past, and the characters and scenario come together perfectly.

The famous playwright, William Shakespeare, once said, “Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand. Blood and revenge are hammering in my head,” from his first tragedy play, Titus Adronicus. This line reflects what’s with the book, Moby Dick, trying to characterize. As a reader, you have to oversee what values and morals you will possess after reading the book. With Moby Dick’s structure and story line, it became interesting. Symbolism is common inside the story. Moby Dick, the albino whale, connotes danger and fear for most sailors and whaling men, based on its characteristics in the book, for it destroys whaling boats and ships. From the perspective of the whaling captain, Captain Ahab sees the albino whale as evil and should be eradicated.  On the other hand, Pequod, the ship, symbolizes doom and death. In fact, its function at the last part of the book is not a water transportation but a floating coffin.

Furthermore, this book also mirrors Melville’s life before. Herman, at the age of eighteen, went away to sea, taking a job as a cabin boy aboard a ship bound for Liverpool, in England. He quickly fell in love with the sea. In 1841, he joined a whaling ship on a voyage to the South Seas. It was a journey on which he was to base much of the story of the great white whale, Moby Dick. With that author’s perspective, he wrote a masterpiece that readers love most. The ties between the author and its work  are factors to consider how the book became a standard. 

Digging deeper into the analysis of the book, it shows how it could be recommendable to all. The book tries to exhibit the limitless power of knowledge. As Ishmael describes its knowledge about whaling in the first part of the book and its development throughout the story. It demonstrates the ability to learn and develop not only for him but for Captain Ahab and other crew members. Moreover, it reveals the big picture of vengeance, its causes and possible consequences. A great lesson that we should consider nowadays. In contrast to William Shakespeare’s line and Captain Ahab’s beliefs, vengeance affects all aspects of human life. Whether the cause is heavy and acceptable, as a person, consideration of possible consequences should be in top priority. For as many people believe, vengeance does not satisfy the peace but the ego, itself.

Book Reviewed by:

Mr. Fred Nufable

English Teacher – NST Junior High

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