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September 2023
September 2023
Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace
Confucious
For more pictures, please click here.
The annual DIS Teachers’ Conference was held last September 25-28, 2023. This conference allows teachers and staff to increase their understanding and become acquainted with the trends and values that the school gears into. Also, it is a gathering of people with a common interest, with the purpose of allowing them to meet one another and learn about and discuss issues, ideas, and work that focuses on a topic of mutual concern. Teacher’s Day in China and Taiwan is observed every September 28. It is Confucius Day since it is his birthday.
This year’s conference is in line with the double jubilee celebration of the Order of Preachers to commemorate the 7th Centenary of the canonization of our esteemed brother St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, on 18 July 2023 and his 750th death anniversary on 7 March 2023. The double jubilee celebration will be from 28 January 2023 to 28 January 2025.
The school, through its Professional Development Coordinator Dr. Mercia de Souza, invited notable personalities who are exceptional in their fields.
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.
Aristotle
The conference commenced with a Eucharistic celebration with the intention of having a successful Teachers’ Conference. The main celebrant was Rev. Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, OP, archivist of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, concelebrated with him were Rev. Fr. Tomasz Zalewski, OP, our school chaplain, and Rev. Fr. Wojciech Golubiewski, OP.
After the mass, Rev. Father Rolando gave the keynote address. He talked about “St. Thomas of Aquinas and Catholic Education”. Having been ordained as a priest by the Dominican Province of the Philippines in 1982 has written hundreds of articles and scholarly treatises, some of which have been translated into German and French, or anthologized in international publications. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C., magna cum laude; his Bachelor of Sacred Theology, magna cum laude, his Licentiate in Sacred Theology, magna cum laude, his Master of Arts in Higher Religious Studies, summa cum laude, the latter three were obtained from the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, in Manila, Philippines. He received his doctorate from two programs, in higher religious studies and sacred theology, both magna cum laude, from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. He served as rector or as head of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas from 1990 to 1998 and from 2008 until 2012.
In the afternoon, Dr. MC de Wet talked about “Artificial Intelligence Ethics in Education” through video connference. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of humans or animals. It is also the field of study in computer science that develops and studies intelligence machines. She emphasized AI’s ability to conduct human-like conversations opens up possibilities for adaptive instructional assistants that can help explain difficult concepts to students. She cited AI can assist young children’s academic and social skills through interactive games and language translations.
In the morning, the Taiwan Sports and Safety and First Aid Skill Training Assoication conducted a cardiopulmonary resuscitation–automated external defibrillator (CPR-AED) First Aid Refresher Course and Training. This training is the second since 2019. The purpose of the training is to help participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies to know to give immediate care to a suddenly injured or ill person until more advanced medical personnel arrive and take over. The instructor was Ms. Hui-Ling Lu. Her hands-on training was the best way to gain the skills and confidence that the faculty and staff need to help someone in an emergency. She discussed thoroughly the first aid and CPR do's and don'ts.
The afternoon online session was a talk about “Teaching and Serving with a Smile on One’s Heart the Dominican Way” by Dr. Alvin Sicat. Dr. Alvin is a university faculty at the Philippine Women’s University, Manila, Philippines. He is a passionate educator, resource speaker/trainer, researcher, and host. He mentioned that a smile ensures acceptance and love. Classrooms can be the one bright spot for every student. As teachers, we cannot control their home lives, but we have complete control of their experiences in our classrooms. Teachers who smile are happier people.
The teachers and staff had an educational day tour of Yilan County, particularly Guishan Island. Guishan Island is 10 kilometers east of Toucheng Township and it is the largest island in Yilan County. Guishan Island is also the only active volcano in Taiwan and is the only island with residents in Yilan. Not only is the landmark of Yilan, Guishan Island is also an emblem of the Yilan spirit. Guishan Island, also known as Guishan Yu, got its name because its shape resembles a turtle. In 1999, the government abolished the martial laws and the Yilan government began to petition to make Guishan Island a tourist attraction.
Included in the tour is a visit to Hsu’s Legend Factory. It is a factory situated in Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County that makes different kinds of vinegar. Hsu’s Legend, founded by Xu Jia-Bin, the third generation of Kong Yen Food Co. Ltd has over 100 years of experience in the fermentation industry. The company produces the best vinegar using the most natural fermentation methods. Hsu’s Legend products are made in a green environment using modern-day automated production facilities to create the highest quality products. Its factory is close to Long Tan Lake to procure pure water and agricultural products such as brown rice to produce vinegar using a traditional three-step fermentation process while integrating advanced fermentation techniques.
The last day of the conference is allotted to appreciating the teachers and staff of DIS. It is a time to celebrate and recognize the work that educators and staff tirelessly put forth into their careers in ‘appreciated. It is a way for the DIS sisters to show gratitude for all the dedication educators and staff have contributed to inside and outside the classroom.
On behalf of the DIS sisters, Directress/Principal Sr. Jacqueline C. Manuel, OP led in recognizing this year’s awardees. The D’TORCH Awardees were:
The Service Awardees were Ms. Cheryl Yang and Mr. Junior Chen. In addition, the teachers and staff received a gift from DIS sisters.
