The Benilde Deaf School (BDS), the pioneering bilingual-bicultural program for Deaf high school students in the Philippines, recently conducted face-to-face completion rites as it congratulated its second batch of junior high (Grade 10) graduates.
The scholars are now set to pursue their academic journey at the Benilde Senior High School (SHS) under the General Academic Strand (GAS).
The group was comprised of Hannah Vanessa Almario, Kimberly Rellora, Renzo Gabriel, Nina Balmes, Diana Kissia Azeca Esler, Hannah Paranal, Ashley Mae Faderog and Nikita Zurita.
The ceremony was conducted at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzalez (ARG) Theater of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).
Zurita concluded her graduated at BDS with honors, while Faderog earned the Student Leader Award.
“BDS might be a small unit but we will continue to give the Deaf children, especially the marginalized ones, and their parents the hope to have big dreams,” BDS Principal Liezel Reyes stated.
In her congratulatory message, the educator likewise shared that the doors are always open for alumni who wish to visit the school to seek guidance and support from their teachers.
Inaugurated in 2018, BDS aims to develop and strengthen the identity of Deaf students and prepare them for college life and future careers.
Motivated to provide quality education and better learning access to Deaf students, the secondary education institution follows an enhanced curriculum with special subjects such as Deaf Studies and Filipino Sign Language (FSL), in addition to those mandated by the Department of Education (DepEd).
To develop and instill language and identity, the school advocates the use of FSL, the natural language of Deaf Filipinos, as the primary language of instruction in the classroom, with written English and Filipino as secondary languages.
All students are guided under the mentorship of Deaf educators, who are licensed professors, master’s degree holders from institutions here and abroad. The school has likewise tapped experts in their respective fields.
BDS is still accepting Deaf applicants for Grades 7 and 8 for the Academic Year 2023 to 2024. Scholarships are available.
For more information, visit https://www.benilde.edu.ph/benilde-deaf-school.