One of the lessons that I learned from our Sunday preaching was that if God has plans for us, SO DOES THE DEVIL. If God's plan is to prosper us and to keep us from harm, well, obviously, the devil thought otherwise. This is one of the blatant truths that we, people, are ought to know. When devil STRIKES, it destroyed everything, including our relationship with our loved ones. 

With this kind of situation, all the more we should cling to God. All the more we should obey His words. Apart from God, we are all nothing.

Few more days and another year will unfold. In one way or another, I am grateful to God for sustaining me. I've been through a lot this year, mostly affecting health issues of my kiddos. Still, I'm glad for the strength that He gave me. God, is indeed, simply amazing. 

I am hopeful for a better 2019! I am praying for His great miracle to manifest in my life, in my family. I'm praying for financial breakthrough, for greater opportunities other than my job. I also pray for good health for my entire family, including those relatives and friends. I pray for a productive year, not just for me but for my husband as well. May God grant all my prayers. I believe that God has something good in store for me. And with that, I would say, AMEN.

 Time flew so fast, indeed. It's already November and before we knew it, the year 2018 has ended. I'm not sure if I've accomplished much for this year. But one thing for sure, I've grown older each day with so much issues on my health. Yes, this year is quite toxic for me. Two of my children were admitted to the hospital. I was about to for myself yet I hold back. That is why, I have decided to get an insurance, a life insurance. I'm not thinking for the worst thing to come, I'm just preparing myself. I saw the need, that's why I took the courage even if I've almost got nothing left from my salary. Well, that's life. You need to take drastic yet relevant decisions. I love my children so much, that's the very main reason after all.

Raising kids aren't a simple task. You need an extended patience seasoned with love in rearing them. Of course, you need to be a kid in heart in order to blend with them. You also need to show to them that you're in control, otherwise, they will do it for you- you might realize someday that they are the ones controlling you!

Rule of thumb: Never spoil them. Play with them but be in-charge.

Believe me coz I got three!

The McKay Scholarship program provides the parents of special needs students in the State of Florida the opportunity to enroll their child in an educational program that may better accommodate the student's learning needs. While the scholarship will only be awarded to special needs children attending public schools in Florida, this program allows students to attend a different public school or a participating private school. Eligibility is determined by the existence of an Individualized Education Plan, which is commonly referred to as an IEP.

Eligibility Details and School Selection

While students eligible for the McKay Scholarship program must have an IEP to be eligible, there are several other criteria that must be addressed when parents are applying for funding. For instance, parents choosing a private school must ensure that a scholarship student has been accepted at the school, Similarly, a student's disability or other circumstances must not impact attendence to the point where he or she fails to be reported as enrolled and eligible for funding. Finally, parents should be aware that other requirements may apply, depending on their student's situation.

McKay Scholarship Program students may attend another school in their district or a nearby district if a parent so desires, but those who would prefer their child to attend a private school will need to verify their student's eligibility for attendence, the curriculum and other factors that they feel are important. Parents who want their children to attend a religiously oriented school will need to be certain that the institution's teachings are in line with their personal beliefs.

Research is Key

Because the program has fairly specific requirements for families seeking eligibility, parents should head directly to the program's website rather than doing an internet search for "McKay scholarships Tampa." If the information provided on the website leaves families with additional questions, they are encouraged to contact the Florida Department of Education; after all, having all of the facts is the first step toward choosing an appropriate school for a child.

Since the school year started in public schools, it has been reported via social media (Facebook) that there were already four teachers who committed suicide and the stated reason was SCHOOL-RELATED PRESSURES.

But is that really a good enough reason to commit such act? As for me, we cannot really judge them because I know for a fact the intensity of pressures in DepEd and unless those in authority would do something about it, things will always be the same.

With all the required paper works that each teacher are obligated to comply, patience, is indeed, a virtue. We need that in order to cope up all the pressures in meeting the deadlines, not to mention the classes that you have to handle everyday.  Pressures are real, multi-tasking is real! But if we learn the art of saying NO to some of the delegated tasks, then maybe we can control the pressure. And I am a firm believer that committing suicide is never an option to stop the burden that most of the teachers are experiencing right now. And maybe this is the right time that the department should look into consideration so that such incident won't happen again.

Gone were the days that the only thing that a teacher should attend to are teaching and recording children's progress, no more, no less. We could only hope that it will be just like the old times. In that way, quality of education can really be assured. 

Why not hire a non-teaching staff to do all the paper works like record keeping, etc. instead of putting all the burdens to the teachers. that can be possible. After all, teacher are mandated to teach- other than that are an added pressure. But am not saying that they will not help in the recording anymore-of course they have to since they have the data.

So what's an ideal school then?

There are students, teachers, admin consisting of the school heads, the assistant to the school head, non-teaching personnel to function as follows: 1 registrar, 1 school record keeper, 1 property custodian, 1 librarian, 1 nurse, 1 guidance counsellor, 1 prefect of discipline, 1 disbursing officer, social worker (for the 4Ps), ICT technician (to do all ICT-related tasks).

Whew, if only this simple wishes will be heard, teaching life would be awesome!

If Only.