PLANNING WITH A TWIST. Personnel of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan Grade School (Macasandig and Pueblo campuses) finish their strategic planning workshop with Laughter Yoga. Supplied photo. 

By Trex G Olandria

Thirty-two participants composed of teachers and administrators of Xavier University Grade School (XUGS) from the Macasandig and Pueblo campuses, led by principal Eva Auxilio, joined the school’s strategic planning workshop, held on June 5 and 6 at a resort in Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City.

The planning workshop kicked off with the review of internal and external factors anchoring on the six PAASCU areas of accreditation and using PESTEL Analysis (which includes Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors). It proceeded with reviewing the school’s strategy map and how to use Balanced Scorecard and Goal-Measure-Target-Initiatives to improve the overall operations of the school.

Three senior teachers, Hilda Gumanit, Liz Bautista, and Kevin Gus Torlao were tasked to collate the inputs and present the draft plan by end of June.

The workshop was facilitated by former XU Governance and Leadership Institute (GLI) director Dr Dixon Q Yasay, who is also a certified Balanced Scorecard mentor and Laughter Yoga instructor.

Yasay used focus-interest quadrant approach, brainstorming games, gallery walks, Theater of the Oppressed and the News Theater, and Laughter Yoga in conducting the said workshop.

XUGS principal Auxillo said her expectations of the workshop were surpassed. She shared that because of the theatrical methodologies of Yasay, the tasks and sessions became bearable and fruitful.

Auxilio expressed her gratitude to Yasay and his team for sharing their expertise on organizational management and leadership and for making the XUGS participants laugh out loud through Laughter Yoga.∎