UPIS 3-6 Building (File Photo)

Constructions Pose Challenges for the Coming School Year
Tonio Ocampo (04.26.2007)

This June, grades 4-6 students of UPIS will find themselves in unfamiliar environments. The Grades 3-6 building was closed for re-roofing on the second week of April. The repairs are expected to last for four months. As such Grades 4-6 classes will be held in the High School's old building while Grade 3 classes will be held at K-2's library wing while the repairs are ongoing.

Aside from relocating classes, offices will also be relocated. The biggest challenge is relocating the 3-6 library with its sizeable collection. The head librarian however is up to the challenge.

The repairs will cost the University PhP3.5 million. The re-roofing was requested in March 2005.

Blessing in Disguise

For some members of the faculty the relocation (albeit temporary) is a blessing in disguise. For a few weeks, the departments will truly be integrated. Although a subject department consists of teachers from grades 3 to 10, a department only meets en banc during department meetings. Grades 3-6 teachers hold office at the 3-6 building and rarely visit their department office at the high school.

Meanwhile, K-2 Teachers reported that the incoming grade 3 students are happy that they will still stay within the confines of K-2.

Satellite image courtesy of Google Earth

The Caveat

Such a situation will also be beneficial to the ongoing curriculum review since it is conducive to informal discussions on integration - in particular, vertical integration. These discussions, however, may be held in not so pleasant surroundings...

The Department of Public Works and Highways has announced that it will proceed with the long-delayed widening of Katipunan. In particular the stretch between CP Garcia and Magsaysay, the The widening will require the relocation of UPIS' fence around 7-8 metres inward. The matter has been elevated to the University's Board of Regents.

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