Good Shepherd Cathedral School
Paaralang Katedral ng Mabuting Pastol | |
 | |
Former names | Good Shepherd Parish Learning Center; Good Shepherd Parish Academy |
|---|---|
| Motto | Where Christian Formation and Catholic Education are at their Best! |
| Type | Private, Parochial school |
| Established | 1995 |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Diocese of Novaliches |
| Principal | Dr. Carina G. Dacanay |
| Director | Rev. Fr. Albert N. Delvo |
| Location | , , 14°38′48″N 121°3′20″E / 14.64667°N 121.05556°E |
| Campus | Omega Avenue corner Rado Street, Fairview Park, Quezon City |
| Hymn | GSCS Hymn |
| Colors | Red White |
| Nickname | Shepherds |
| Affiliations | RCBN-ES, MaPSA, CEAP |
| Website | www.goodshepherdcathedralschool.edu.ph |
The Good Shepherd Cathedral School (GSCS) is a Filipino Catholic school located at Omega Avenue corner Rado Street, Fairview Park, Quezon City, Philippines. It is a private sectarian school situated at the back of the Cathedral Shrine and Parish of the Good Shepherd, the seat of the Bishop of Novaliches. GSCS is one of the 9 member-schools of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Novaliches Educational System (RCBN-ES) and also a member of the Manila Ecclesiastical Province School Systems Association (MaPSA) and of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP).
GSCS uses Gospel values with religion as the core of its curriculum to develop academic competence among its students as well as to deepen their spiritual values. The school continues to work towards achieving its mission of providing children with an excellent Catholic education and Christian formation.
History
The Good Shepherd Cathedral School, formerly known as Good Shepherd Parish Academy or GSPA, began as a preschool in 1995. Founded by the erstwhile pastor of the Good Shepherd Parish, Msgr. Fidelis Ruben F. Limcaco, it was simply known then as Good Shepherd Parish Learning Center. This school for children was part of the many projects that Msgr. Fidelis had undertaken in his 27 years of pastoral service to the parishioners of Fairview. With the help of Dr. Carina G. Dacanay, the school's founding principal, the school has grown and developed complete services of preschool and grade school.
Bishop of Novaliches and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
School Director, 1995-2002
School Director, 2007-present
In August 1, 2002, upon the retirement of Msgr. Fidelis, Msgr. Jesus-Romulo C. Rañada, the former Rector of San Carlos Seminary, took over the directorship of the school. It was during his time that the school expanded further and established a high school and a Center for Integral Evangelization (CIE). It was also during Msgr. Romy's term that the GSCS Main Building was built. In 2003, after the Good Shepherd Parish was elevated to the status of a cathedral of the newly established Diocese of Novaliches, the school was renamed as Good Shepherd Cathedral School.
On May 13, 2007, the Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, D.D., Bishop of Novaliches, appointed Rev. Fr. Albert N. Delvo as the new School Director of GSCS in concurrent capacity as superintendent of the diocesan schools of Novaliches. Fr. Albert's coming signified the direction of Bishop Tobias towards unification of all the diocesan schools under one directorship. Fr. Albert made possible the construction of a new four-story building named as the HEART Building (His Excellency Antonio R. Tobias Building) with air-conditioned classrooms, library, speech laboratory, faculty room, audio-visual room and an ECE Learning Center.
In 2010, GSCS marked another milestone in its history when it celebrated its 15th founding anniversary with activities such as Parents & Teachers Got Talent Too and Mr. and Ms. GSCS 2010. The year-long celebration culminated with the school's production of the musical The Dreamer (an adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) which showcased the talents of GSCS students.
The School Year 2012-2013 witnessed the school's initial implementation of the K to 12 Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum, in line with the national government's effort of improving the quality of basic education in the country.
As part of the school's continuing mission of developing the potential of each student to its fullest, GSCS adopted the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) as a teaching method beginning School Year 2013-2014. The program, which was developed by renowned Filipino physicists and 2010 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees' Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido of the Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF), aims to improve learner disposition through process-induced learning in which 70 to 80 percent covers student independent activities and only 20 to 30 percent lecture and class discussion. DLP was primarily designed to make the students responsible for their own learning and work independently without close supervision.
In 2013, GSCS was given certification by the Private Education Assistance Committee - Fund for Assistance to Private Education (PEAC-FAPE). The certification serves as a quality assurance that the school complies with the minimum standards set by the Department of Education and qualifies it to the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) Program of the government.
In November 19-20, 2014, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) conducted its preliminary visit to GSCS as part of the school's accreditation of its integrated basic education program. The following year, the school was given a "candidate status" by the PAASCU.
Vision-Mission
The Good Shepherd Cathedral School is a diocesan and Filipino School committed to giving preparatory and basic education that is grounded on the faith of the Catholic Church. With zeal, we give our students integral formation and make them active witnesses to the ideals of nobility of character (nobilitas), academic excellence (excellentia) and compassionate service (ministerii) in living, learning and loving like Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
In order to realize its avowed vision-mision, the school aims to:
1. Promote the spirit of good character through reflexive inquiry, critical thinking, and moral decision-making in the face of the ever growing complexity of living in pluralistic society;
2. Make GSCS an institution of learning to provide academic excellence with Christian spirituality as its core through Gospel values integrated in all learning areas;
3. Advocate compassion to serve through active involvement in upholding Catholic teachings pertinent to current moral, social and ethical issues.
Institutional Goals
1. To sustain the holistic development of the child in its academic offerings through a developmentally appropriate curriculum rooted in Gospel values;
2. To provide a wide range of opportunities in addressing the needs of every student where character is formed through contemporary theories and research-based findings on effective teaching and learning;
3. To encourage concern for others through creativity and innovation in an environment where every experience is seen as a learning opportunity.
Expected School-Wide Learning Results
The Good Shepherd Cathedral School prepares its students to become;
1) Spiritually and morally confident Catholics who
A. Demonstrate knowledge of the Catholic faith. B. Manifest personal faith in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. C. Make life decisions based on Catholic moral standards.
2) Refined, resilient and socially responsible human persons who
A. Conduct one's self properly in any kind of situations. B. Know how to deal positively with life, its problems and stress. C. Can adapt to changing conditions and learn from mistakes.
3) Assiduous academic achievers and lifelong learners who
A. Practice effective study skills. B. Are equipped with 21st century learning skills. C. Are culturally literate.
4) Critical thinkers and effective communicators who
A. Possess intellectual competence. B. Think logically and independently. C. Are proficient in expressing one's self.
5) Passionate Christian leaders and prudent followers who
A. Manifest worthwhile family membership. B. Advocate love and care for the environment. C. Are self-reliant and work cooperatively with others.
GSCS Hymn
I hear the Shepherd's voice
Gathering us all,
To see the beauty of the world
And feel the love of all.
To know what's right or wrong
With fearless hearts lead on,
And someday to revive the land
With God above us all.
G-S-C-S
Bright with the Spirit's light.
Shine on, shine on
I praise my God for thee.
G-S-C-S
Alma Mater Dear,
Forever and ever
My heart shall burn for thee.
References
- http://rcbn-es.org/GSCS.html
- http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Good_Shepherd_Cathedral_School
- http://www.deped.gov.ph/private/private.asp?sec=&action=edit&iID=836&type=private
- GSCS Student Handbook