Lestonnac Quiz Bee 2026: Young Niña Marians Honor Saint Jeanne

             

The halls of the primary wing buzzed with excitement on February 12, 2026, as Grade 1 and Grade 2 students gathered for the highly anticipated Lestonnac Quiz Bee. This special event focused on the life and legacy of Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac, the Foundress of the Sisters of the Company of Mary. With their peers cheering them on, the young participants showcased remarkable focus and knowledge, answering challenging questions about Saint Jeanne’s journey of faith and her dedication to education. The atmosphere was one of pure inspiration as the younger members of our community proved that even at a tender age, the values of our patroness are deeply rooted in their hearts.

After a spirited competition, the top performers were officially recognized during a heartfelt awarding ceremony on February 18, 2026. Taking home the gold for 1^st Place was Team A, composed of the brilliant trio: Yadhri James G. Padla, Shannen Grey P. Roa, and Amara Bella P. Maquiling. They were closely followed by Team C, who secured 2^nd Place through the impressive efforts of Tiffany Blaire E. Bitayo, Ma. Cali Zsalatiel B. Bernales, and Johan C. Chan. Rounding out the top three was Team B. Lumongsod, Scarlette Grey T. Salutin, and Rence Louem F. Tan, who proudly claimed 3^rd Place.

The event was more than just a test of memory; it was a celebration of the school’s identity and spirit. Watching the Grade 1 and 2 audience support their classmates showed a beautiful sense of camaraderie and shared pride in their school’s history. As the winners received their awards, the legacy of Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac felt more alive than ever, blooming in the minds of these young learners. This Quiz Bee stands as a testament to the school’s commitment to “extending the hand” to the next generation, ensuring that the light of Saint Jeanne continues to shine bright in the years to come.

As the applause faded, it was clear that the Quiz Bee was more than a competition – it was a reminder of who we are as a Lestonnac community. In the young learners, we saw the spirit of Saint Jeanne come alive. And in their hearts, her legacy continues – through learning, kindness, and the simple act of extending a hand.

Text by: Guillian O. Tiosen from Grade 2- De Terrail Adviser

Photos: Camael C. Cagas from Grade 1- Landiras Adviser

   

A Night of Learning and Unity

This event was on February 16-17, 2026, and was held at the school Niña Maria Learning Center. The event was titled the “Pajama Night” in which students from Kinder 2, both morning and afternoon classes, would stay overnight at the school to learn how to be responsible, and to discover a place where the parents wouldn’t worry for themselves. 

The central theme for this event was “Learning to be responsible, and the Joy of Being Together”. During the event, pupils learn how to take care of their belongings, how to be responsible, independent, cautious - knowledge which they can use when they grow up.

The pupils were divided into groups and color. There were three groups for girls, and three for boys, in a total of six groups. Number of pupils who showed up for the program, for the girls, the purple team had four pupils; yellow team had six pupils; and pink had five pupils. For the boys, there were the blue, green, and red teams. For the blue team, six pupils showed up, the green team had only four, while the green team also had only four pupils. Each team had teachers to watch over them and lead the group.

The blue team had Teacher Liz and Teacher Camael. For the red team, they had Teacher Kaye and Teacher Sheraldene, and Teacher Lowelyn and Teacher Yen led the green team. For the girls, Teacher Grace and Teacher Lorna Mae took charge of pink team. The yellow team had Teacher Mavy and Teacher Lydia. Lastly the purple team was handled by Teacher Rodelle. The facilitators of the event were Teacher Pia and Teacher Estela. Teacher Kaye and Teacher Camael took care of the documentation.

The assembly of the pupils was at 3:00 in the afternoon of February 16. Fifteen minutes later the pupils formed a line according to their groups and colors as the program officially started at 3:20pm. Xam Brylle L. Acain led the opening prayer, followed by the national anthem led by Xhaunne Dale M. Gipala, then the opening remarks from the school’s principal Ma’am Maria Flerida T. Nery. After the opening remarks, a short dance performance from the pupils was showed to the parents with the song, “Zoo” from the movie Zootopia which was sung by Shakira. Afterwards, the pupils gave their last goodbyes to their parents then they entered their respective rooms to organize their belongings and to practice a chant for each group color. Afterwards, around 4:15 PM, the outdoor activity began, with three games and the showing of chants.

The first game was called “Charlie Chaplet” which was explained by Teacher Yen. The game needed paper plates to be placed under the neck, on the armpits, and between the legs. The first to finish was the yellow team, then the blue, followed by the pink. The next was the showing of chants, where red came first, then purple, green, yellow, blue, then lastly the pink team. The next game was called the pass the ball in the cup. This was led by Teacher Lorna Mae who said that one hand had to be behind, and the other was to hold the cup which was supposed to pass the ball. The first to finish were the pink, then purple, and lastly the blue. The last game was passing the cup which was explained by Teacher Grace saying that they hold the cup from a straw, then hopping with one foot to pass the cup. The first to finish were the pink, yellow, then purple.

Around 4:45pm, it was when rest time was given, followed by the bath time. Around 6:00 in the evening, the pupils washed their T-shirts, to let them learn how to wash their clothes. Then the children got 5 minutes of rest, then proceeded to eat their dinner, which was given by their parents. Afterwards, they washed their utensils, then the activity proceeded to the bonfire.  Firstly, they sang the songs Campfire Burning, Lovely Evening, and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

After the singing of songs, a short storytelling about the ant and the grasshopper followed which was told by Teacher Sheraldene, which also had a short shadow play. After that, they sang another song Good Night, then proceeded to their room, had a prayer per group, then they went to sleep around 8:30 in the evening. On February 17, around 6:00 in the morning, was when the students woke up. The morning prayer and meditation was led by Teacher Grace, which was followed by a morning exercise, Zumba, which was led by Teacher Mavy.

The students enjoyed the event, but the event wasn’t only for playing games or having a chance to sleep next to your classmates. The real lesson from the event was teaching the students how to be responsible and happy at the same time. It was an important lesson, and should be learned even when young, because those experiences and knowledge can be when they grow up. It reminded everyone that responsibility and being together are important values in everyday life.

Text by: Awyne Skye G. Balaba from Grade 6 – Maissonneuve Photos: Kaye C. Villarico, Grade 5 – Richelet Adviser