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Jack and Jill School

(Redirected from Up the Hill (newspaper))

Jack & Jill School is a former preschool and elementary institution, which was located in Homesite and City Heights in Bacolod, the capital of Negros Occidental province of the Philippines. Informally referred to by its acronym "JJS", it was a private, non-sectarian, educational institution with an enrollment of more than 600 pupils. The out-of-town branch was located in Magsaysay St. in Victorias City.

Jack & Jill School
Location
Map
Information
Former namesJack & Jill Kindergarten
TypePrivate
MottoDeveloping Thinkers and Leaders of Tomorrow
Established1963
ClosedJune 30, 2023
Number of studentsover 600 (Preschool and Elementary)
CampusUrban, 1.5 hectares
Color(s)Green and White    
AffiliationNOPSSCEA, Department of Education (Philippines)
Websitewww.jjscastleson.org

It was one of the few institutions in the country where Karate was part of the school curriculum; Karate was included in physical education class all year round. The school closed in 2023, after 60 years of operation, due to falling enrollment.[1]

History

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Jack & Jill School-Homesite

Jack & Jill School was founded by Cecilia del Castillo-Lopez as a preschool in 1963. She converted her living room into a classroom and started teaching to 23 boys and girls from the small neighborhood of Homesite. In 1979, Jack & Jill Kinder School in Homesite expanded to include an elementary school. A few years later, another elementary branch in Victorias was opened in 1981. The year 1995 resulted in the simultaneous establishment of Castleson High in Homesite, Castleson High in City Heights, and Sidera Special Child Center in City Heights. In the next year, Castleson High Schools in Homesite and City Heights were merged to become one school located in City Heights Subdivision. Throughout Jack & Jill School's history, other branches in Airport, La Granja, Paglaum, and La Carlota were also opened and later closed. School year 2013 will celebrates Golden Jubillee Year in Jack and Jill School-Homesite in Bacolod City.[2] Karate is the famous game in the school.[1]

Closure

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After 60 years of service to the community, Jack & Jill Schools and Castleson High Schools permanently close their doors on June 30, 2023. Due to the reverberating effects of the pandemic, management indicated the insurmountable burden on its finances despite a swift conversion to online classes and intensive teacher training. Dr. Muriel Lopez-Wagner, president at the time of closure, stated that they have been grieving the loss of Mrs. Cecilia del Castillo Lopez since 2020 as well as feeling the distress as they watched the decrease in enrollment year after year. "I think several significant factors led to the ultimate financial collapse, where the only way out was to sell a building", said Lopez. At the same time, she expressed her deepest gratitude to hundreds of parents, students, alumni, teachers, staff, and loyal supporters who will always carry the Jack & Jill trademark and love. School staff prepared for a smooth transfer of their current students to other schools.

Administration

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Cecilia del Castillo-Lopez oversaw the schools' financial affairs until her death in 2020. Her daughter served as President while her grandson served as Vice-President of Finance and Administration. The Director of Academic Affairs oversaw all schools and provided support in terms of curriculum and resources. The school year 2010-11 marked the transitional year when Mrs. Lopez relinquished the decision-making tasks to the president and the current director.[2]

Up the Hill

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Outstanding campus journalists & adviser

Up the Hill is a student run newspaper that provides opportunities for student writers and was a creative medium for students to showcase their poems, essays, writings, and drawings in English and Tagalog languages. Today, the school publication continues to flourish and has won many journalism awards around the country.

The Up the Hill Staff has produced a number of winners and outstanding writers from division, regional[3] up to national level competitions under Rhazel E. Mengullo as school paper adviser.[4] Captured two national awards in Sports writing by Aljenica Marie Apostol and Photojournalism by Sofia Isabelle Ortiz during the 2000 and 2008 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC),[5][6] the highest competition of writing in the country recognized by the Department of Education (Philippines). Six first placers during Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) in different events likewise recipients of five Golden Pen Awards, four outstanding writers and outstanding journalism mentor awards in Western Visayas.[7] It has been awarded three times as DSPC Overall Champion and two times as overall champion in Regional Cluster writeshop and Golden Pen Awards.[8] Grand prize winner of 2nd Regional writing and public speaking tilt.[9]

Karate

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Karate-do was part of its curriculum[10] wherein pupils from Grades 1-6 are required to join the training as part of their Physical Education (P.E.) activity for the whole year round at JJS Campuses.[11]

Team JJS Karatedo[12] is the home of Super Karate Kids in the Negros Province was initiated by sensei Randy Mengullo,[13] a Sandan Blackbelt in karate-do attended the 13th KOI Karate World Cup and Training Camp participated by 25 nations. JJS Karate Team KFS garnered medals in many karatedo championships and athletic meet of different schools and karate organizations in the Philippines.[14][15] JJSKarate adapt Shotokan style, affiliated to national association of Philippine Karatedo Traditional & Sports (PKTS) and member of Philippine Karatedo Federation the governing body of sport karate in the country. Official training center of Milo Sports Clinic.[16][17][18][19][14][20]

JJS Homesite and City Heights[21] are members of Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association (NOPSSCEA) and one of the founding schools that organized the Karatedo event since school year 2005 as part of the NOPSSCEA regular sports annually.[14] It was also a founding member of Negros Occidental Karatedo Federation (NOKAF) in the 2000s (decade). Aside from NOPSSCEA, the Karatedo Team participates in the PKF Regional and National Championships,[22] Mayor's Cup of Hon. Evelio Leonardia and Monico Cup Regional Championship,[23] the PSC grass roots program Ang Batang Pinoy, Philippine National Youth Games, Philippine Olympic Festival,[24] UMA-ONEBA Presidential Cup, Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Olympic Committee Tournaments and athletic meet of different schools in the Philippines.[25]

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  •  
    Golden Pen Awards Overall champ
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    DepEd NSPC National Winner
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    PKF National Winners
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    POF National Winners
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    National Gold Medalist
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    Team KFS-JJS Karate

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Gomez, Carla (May 16, 2023). "2 private schools in Bacolod permanently cease operations". INQUIRER.net.
  2. ^ a b "JJS Castleson". jjscastleson.org.
  3. ^ 71 students compete in Grand Finals,Panay News, February 26, 2009 edition
  4. ^ NSPC National winner,Starlife, March 02, 2008 edition
  5. ^ NSPC National winner,DepED Memo and Official Results Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine, March 28, 2002 edition
  6. ^ 2008 NSPC National winner,DepED Memo, March 20, 2008 edition
  7. ^ RSPC highest pointer & Golden Pen Awardee,Regional Schools Press Conference, Visayan Daily Star January 09, 2008 edition
  8. ^ The Gathering of the Brightest,Division Schools Press Conference, Starlife Sunday September 18, 2005 edition
  9. ^ Grand prize winner,Panay News, March 2, 2009 edition
  10. ^ Life Lessons from Karate,Sunday Inquirer Magazine Archived 2012-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, December 14, 2008
  11. ^ JJS Karate Dojo,JJS Karate Kids, front page of Sunstar newspaper Archived 2008-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, 2006
  12. ^ POF and PKF National Karatedo Winners,Team Jack & Jill School Archived February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, 2007
  13. ^ NOKAF Officers, Sunstar Archived 2005-03-13 at the Wayback Machine, 07-07-2004 edition
  14. ^ a b c JJS Karatedo rules NOPSSCEA events, Viasayan Daily Star Archived September 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, 2008
  15. ^ POF-Visayas,Visayas Champion Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, 2nd POF 2007
  16. ^ Like a Champ,Junior Inquirer, January 20, 2008 Edition
  17. ^ Way of the Kids By NONOY ESPINA,[BYLINES Magazine], November 2005 Edition
  18. ^ Official Training Center,[2005 and 2006 MILO-AAK Karatedo Summer Sports Clinic], Summer of 2005 and 2006
  19. ^ 2008 NOPSSCEA Opening Ceremony,[NOPSSCEA Newsletter], September 2008 Edition
  20. ^ Lessons learned in our Karate Class, [Up The Hill], 1st Semester Issue of 2006
  21. ^ Bacolod City Private School, Private School in Bacolod, 2005
  22. ^ 2nd POF Visayas,Philippine Olympic Festival Official Website Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, POF 2007 edition
  23. ^ Mayor's Cup,Daily Star[permanent dead link‍], November 28, 2006
  24. ^ POF Karatedo National Winners,2nd Philippine Olympic Festival Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, 2007 National Championship in Manila
  25. ^ JJS karatedo team overall champ,Viasayan Daily Star[permanent dead link‍], October 4, 2005
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