School calendar for 2012-2013; music education training

School year 2012-2013 starts June 4 and ends March 22, 2013, for public elementary and secondary schools. The school year will have 200 school days, of which 180 days are “nonnegotiable” student-teacher contact time.

The multisectoral Brigada Eskwela to prepare schools for the students’ return will be on May 21-26. Oplan Balik Eskwela will be from May 28 to June 8 while orientation on K to 12 for parents and other stakeholders will be on June 9.

Although private schools may deviate from the Department of Education (DepEd) calendar, they are enjoined not to start before June 4 and later than Aug 31. Under Order No. 26, series of 2012, DepEd must be informed of deviations from the official school calendar.

Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro said five days were allotted for in-service training (Inset) break and for parent-teacher conferences, which were “very important activities for our teachers and parents.”

The DepEd memo said schools could observe national and local celebrations and holidays provided the total number of school days was maintained and makeup classes were held.

Luistro said school heads should be in school for 200 days and be on top of all school matters.

The National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) is on August 29. Students will have their semester break October 22-25 while teachers will have the midyear assessment and Inset.

Christmas break is from December 22 to Jan. 3, 2013. On January 26, DepEd will conduct early registration for the next school year.

Fourth year high school students will take the National Achievement Test on March 6. On March 12-13, Grades 3 and 6 students will take theirs.

Graduation will be on March 18 or 19.

Music education training

To upgrade the skills of music teachers in the early grades, DepEd and the Philippine Society for Music Education (PSME) will hold a free music education training, May 14-18 at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School in Tagbilaran City, Bohol province.

The conference, General Music Education Training for Early Childhood and Elementary School Music Teachers, aims to improve the qualifications of music teachers without degrees in music education.

PSME, a nonprofit organization pushing for quality music education, is based at the University of the Philippines College of Music.

DepEd said the training aimed to upgrade the teachers’ knowledge, skills and competencies, particularly to develop their ability for music instruction in the K to 12 basic education reform program.—Tarra Quismundo