The Kalalake Elementary School in Olongapo City has received a fully furnished two-story, four-classroom school building from SM Prime, through SM Foundation, last Sept. 12.
Present at the event were Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, Jr., SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Linda Atayde, SM Investments Corp. Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs Victor Chan, and other representatives from the local government, the Department of Education, and SM group.
The school building comes with 200 armchairs, some designed for left-handed students, and concave blackboards, which enable students to easily see their teacher’s notes from all angles of the classroom.
It also includes wall fans, teacher’s desk sets, wall clocks that promote the value of being on time, and restrooms inside each classroom, to ensure the safety and hygiene of the students. It also features a ramp and a toilet on the ground floor accessible by persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The SM school building augments the current nine school buildings in the campus that serves more than 2,000 students from barangays Kalalake, Pag-asa, East Bajakjak, Asinan, and Tapinac.
Since the school also hosts the Special Education (SPED) program of DepEd, 115 of their students are children with autism, are hearing or visually impaired, are intellectually challenged, and have behavioral problems.
This SPED Program cater to pupils not only from Olongapo but also to students from neighboring municipalities such as San Marcelino, Zambales, and Bataan.
The school is also a home for more than 250 bright children in Grades 1 to 2 (two sections each); Grades 3 to 5 (one section each); and Grade 6 (two sections).
Aside from the school building, SM Prime also donated 2,000 books to promote the love for reading among students, which in turn, improves their reading and comprehension.
The teachers of KES also received 20 computer units, which will help them craft their lesson plans and multimedia teaching strategies.
This effort is in line with the DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program, since 2002, to help the government address classroom shortages and provide conducive learning environments that result in better school performance.
Since its inception in 1983, over 15,000 students have benefitted from more than 90 school buildings constructed through SM Foundation.