Monkayo’s Spark shines

“A catalyst of change.” This is the tagline of The Spark, the official publication of Monkayo National High School (NHS). A catalyst it is, winning the Best in Layout Design and Best Feature Page awards in the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference, accelerating Monkayo NHS’ course towards excellence in student journalism.

By its winning layout design alone, readers of The Spark are guaranteed an informative, educational, and entertaining read. The paper features not only campus news but also community stories. The main headline for The Spark Volume 17, No. 1 is its news feature on Project Rain Gauge, a joint initiative of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) and Manila Observatory’s KLIMA Climate Change Center, in cooperation with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Department of Education. Project Rain Gauge aims to create a network of ground stations across the country via Smart Schools to provide supplementary data on local rainfall measurement in specific areas.

As one of the partner schools that signed up for Project Rain Gauge, Monkayo NHS also dedicated a page in The Spark to disaster preparedness. The article “Disaster: How to Prepare for It” educates readers on the to-dos and not-to-dos before, during and after earthquakes and other natural calamities. The Spark editorials also discussed other community issues like the local government’s solid waste management project, the alarming existence of gangs in the community, and the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The Spark’s winning feature page takes readers to a trip around the world as it showcased the travel tales of Monkayo NHS teachers and students. The fine enhancement, use and layout of photos complemented the interesting stories and featured personalities in the feature and sports page.

Congratulations to The Spark and the Monkayo NHS for a job well done! May the teachers and students of Monkayo NHS continue to be “a catalyst of change” in the school, in their community, in the world.

(Published 10 March 2008, Smart Schools Program)

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