School of Tomorrow (SOT) is an educational system covering globally tested pre-elementary, elementary and high school educational technologies, materials, training support, and modern facilities aimed at molding young minds founded on universally accepted Christian principles.

The 9th Junior Student Convention, held at the 1.6- hectare School of Tomorrow headquarters at Levitown Executive Village in Parañaque, was a four-day gathering of students made up of stirring speeches, academic and arts competitions in various categories, and sports contests.

"This convention was meant to be a life-changing event for the youth, a chance for them to make new friends, and to use and develop their God-given talents," said SOT executive director Rev. Delbert Hooge.

School of Tomorrow is an affiliate of US-based Accelerated Christian Education (ACE), publishing and distributing various curriculum materials in over 130 countries, with adaptations for usage in specific cultures and countries.

In the Philippines, SOT provides curriculum materials to 470 campus-based and 700 home-based schools. It offers moduletype lessons in mathematics, English, social studies, science, word-building, Filipino and Araling Panlipunan. It also publishes PACES where tests are integrated, based on a selfstudy concept.

SOT has also developed and is now publishing Filipino-directed literacy systems and materials for special uses among populations where traditional literacy programs have yet to take off.

The four-day affair, which had former pro basketball star Padim Israel as guest of honor and speaker at the culmination rites, staged various hotly contested competitions that covered essay, poetry and short story writing in both English and Filipino.

The competitions also covered expressive reading, illustrative storetellilng, famous speech delivery, photography, painting using pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, and water color, music from solo performance to duet and trio to instrumental, academics and sports.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of these past few days," Rev. Hooge said. "The kids were terrific. Filipino children are tremendously gifted and creative, and the convention brought the best in them. Their parents were likewise cooperative and supportive, rooting for their children and volunteering help in many ways," he added.