Holy Spirit Filipino Culture Class - 2014-15 Parent Volunteers for After School Enrichment Program - Fridays, 3:15pm - 4:15pm signup sheet

Mabuhay!

Welcome to the Holy Spirit School Filipino Culture Class. The 2014-2015 school year marks the 20th annual after school enrichment program. We are delighted to have your child and family as a part of this great tradition at Holy Spirit School. The Filipino Culture Class began at Holy Spirit School in the Fall of 1995. The founders and impetus of this valuable program were Holy Spirit parents Virginia Corpuz, Jad Gaytan, Maria Miranda, and Rosario Safreno.

Twenty years later, it has evolved into an after school enrichment program inviting many students from ALL ethnicity to participate and learn about the Filipino culture, history, traditions, folk dance & song, and basic language, conversation, and writing skills. The class invites Kindergarten through 8th grade students who attend Holy Spirit School. Students DO NOT have to be of Filipino descent, ALL are welcome.

Since the Fall of 2002, the annual enrollment of students participating in the program has averaged between 70 to 75 students. Our guess is that students attend classes every Friday due partly to the delicious traditional meriendas (meal snacks) provided weekly by our very generous families. Another highlight the students look forward to are the traditional dances and vocal performances during the annual Holy Spirit Parish Festival.

The past 19 year success of our after school enrichment program has been due to the endless support we receive from the faculty, staff, and clergy at our parish school; the continued generosity of our families giving their valuable time and individual talents; our volunteer instructors throughout the years, who continue to offer their skills and knowledge; and our students who return year after year, eager to learn more about the culture.

The enrichment program offers basic reading, writing, and conversation in tagalog; ethnic arts and crafts activities; traditional cooking projects; lessons in Philippine history, customs, and traditions; folk dance and song lessons; ministry with event performances for the parish and school; lumpia fund raisers for different causes in the Philippines, and the highlight of the year, traditional dance and song performances during the Parish Festival. Again, students, parent volunteers, and instructors DO NOT have to be of Filipino descent, ALL are welcome. Your child will have a unique and fun-filled experience as he embarks on this journey gaining knowledge of the culture. We look forward to having your family join this 20-year old tradition at Holy Spirit School.

During the Friday classes, two groups meet in two different classrooms. The class levels are divided as follows:
Kindergarten to 4th Grade – Room TBA
5th Grade to 8th Grade – Science Lab

Our instructors are Olivia Abar, Maricon Aguirre, Patty Gerardo, Marie Herbert, Monica Morales, and Chereamie Scott. In order for this program to continue, we are seeking instructors and parent volunteers for every Friday class. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Marie at the email below.

Every Friday, we will need 2-parent volunteers (parent volunteers will assist our instructors) for each classroom in every grade level, who are fingerprinted-SAFE Volunteers to keep our large enrollment of 70 students, in a safe and secured environment at all times. The SAFE Volunteer instructors will assist the students in the following: the transition from the classrooms after school into the designated Filipino Culture classrooms; the curriculum/projects/dance lesson presentations; while children request to use the restroom; during snack, pick up time, and the transport from class to Extended Care in the Small Hall after class.

It is vital we have parent volunteers in place and secure the critical areas necessary to keep our program up and running. We are asking SAFE Volunteer parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles to please assist in the classrooms. You do not need to know how to speak the language. A weekly curriculum guideline will be available for each class level.

Thank you for realizing the value of this program. Our children have enjoyed the curriculum, history, and traditions presented to them and look forward each year to the performances during the festival weekend. Please consider volunteering and help to keep this 20-year old tradition continuing at Holy Spirit School. The dedication of these parents along with the parents before them is a testimonial to the success of this year's 20th Anniversary program.

Please join Holy Spirit School’s Filipino Culture Class students as they showcase Filipino folk dances and traditional songs during the Parish Festival Weekend. The schedule for this year’s performances will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 1:30 pm on the Outdoors Stage on campus. This is a show you cannot miss! Maraming Salamat Po!


In Prayers,


Marie Concepcion Herbert
Director, Filipino Culture Class
Mother of Jessica (8th) and Sidney (4th)
510-505-4103 cell
510-565-1868 home
mherbert@stanford.edu