mommy on the metro

For foreign investors or expats who decide to stay for a year or so in Manila for business together with their family, their children’s educational needs must never be compromised.  Many traditional schools in the Philippines may not be a wise choice for your children as they might be ‘cultured-shock’ with the ways of a traditional teacher. That’s the reason why reputable international schools are all around the metropolis.

For Deciding Parents. You can choose whatever suits your child best.  It’s not just about the good-name-recall but what your child can benefit most.  Choose the school that he/she will not have to adjust too much as it adds pressure to him/her while accomplishing academic needs.

On the other hand, Filipino parents who wish to send their children to an international school may give their children a better view of dealing with other nationalities.  It may also provide easier access for further studies abroad.  This sounds appealing. Unfortunately, not all Filipinos can afford this kind of luxury for their children.  Parents might want to consider other alternatives.  Keep posted for these schools. : )

• Summit International School - A highly-progressive international preschool that caters to the needs of each child who have different cultural background.  They accept students from 1.5  up to 6 years old.  This is said to be the only preschool located in University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

• Everest Academy Manila - An international school that currently offers Grades 1 up to 3 levels.  It may be upholding to teaching Christian values to its students but the setting and curriculum of the school is not traditional.  With its philosophy, “Teach the Intellect, Educate the Heart and Form the Character” may give us better individuals in the near future.

• Manila Japanese School - A Japanese school for Japanese kids from elementary, middle and high school.  Japanese curriculum and strategies are applied by the Japanese speaking teachers.

• British School Manila - An international school that “upholds the high standard of the British education system in a school that takes full advantage of its multi-cultural setting. Teachers are UK or Commonwealth trained”… Click to Link

• International School Manila - An independent international school that is the reflection of the United States’ educational platform.  The school offers elementary, middle and high school… Click to Link

The schools above are located in the University Parkway, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Have a happy school search! : )

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My last semester (Oct-Feb.2009) in college was spent outside Miriam College.  Together with my three other classmates, we were going to Summit School everyday as Practicumers.  Our experience was as highly interactive as its approach is to its students, teachers and parents.

Summit International School is a highly progressive preschool that uses the Bank Street Approach that caters to the different cultural background of each child.  The school’s vision-mission is very child-centered where children are involved in the learning process that is suited for their age and development.

No children can hesitate Summit. They are coming to class everyday happy and excited.  Absenteeism is very seldom unless they are very sick or there is a family thing.  Children love to sing the songs as teacher sings with them.  They love to listen to stories shared by the teacher.  Sometimes, they would even ask for it more than once.  Children in Summit are confident and secure. They are not forced, pushed or pressured to do something that is not appropriate for their age and development.  The curriculum developed by Summit School is a balanced one for the wholistic development of each child.

CLASSROOM ROUTINE

Arrival and Morning Meeting

Each morning children arrive at the campus with music playing happily while the teachers greet them one by one.  While children are coming in, there are centers that they can go to and do certain activities before Morning Meeting (or Circle Time) is called.

Morning Meeting is a time for singing many songs that pertains to the checking of  class attendance, days of the week, weather etc. Through the songs, the teacher is able to check the attendance, know the day’s weather, date and day with the class.  The teacher reads also the Morning Message which tells the activities that await them for the day.  The 20-40 minutes time alloted for this seem short and easy but it is one of the most challenging job for the teacher.  The atmosphere during this time sets out the kind of attitude on how the children will be for the whole day.

Work Time

Since the Three’s class is quite a big group (but with 2 main teachers and 2 practicumers), they are divided into three groups.  The activities are rotated among the 3 groups during the week.  Children are assigned to the Writing Area, Blocks Area or Dramatic Play Area, Language or Math Area.    On a particular day, it is Art Time for all.

Snack Time

Differences of culture are shared with the rest of the class as they have “Family-Style Snack” everyday.  The parent of the child is assigned for the day to bring in snack for the whole class.  The snack will depend on the parent.

Full-Group

Once again, they are gathered together.  Teacher sings songs, reads a story with the children, talk to the children about the topic or theme or some teacher-made activities for the whole group.

Outdoor Play

The most exciting part for all of the children.  During outdoor play, they also learn lessons related to the theme.  Teacher makes activities that are associated with the theme or topic. Aside from enhancing their gross motor skills, it’s also a great time to teach children the values of sharing and taking turns.  They have the Gym Area, Sand Area, Geodome Area, Center Field Area and Pet Area.

End of the Day Meeting

After the activity, they learn to change their own clothes as teachers instruct them how and they do it on their own.  At the meeting, teacher reads a story or two, reviews what happened during the day and sing their bye-bye songs.

If you are an interested parent to get your child into a highly-progressive school like this, you may visit the school in the Fort, Bonifacio, Tagiug City.  It is right after International School Manila and across Japanese International School.

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My son’s 2nd birthday is coming- Calixto Elijah aka Calix or Toto.   We were thinking of giving the same simple yet happy celebration just as we did to his Ate Sophia on her 3rd birthday last month. I wasn’t busy to prepare but maybe I just became oblivious how the day is soon at hand.

The what, when, where and how of Calix’s big day was only settled 2 nights before the April 29.

It was exactly on the day of his birthday, April 29 a busy Wednesday for someone like his dad.  As I thought. Well, he arrived hastily at almost 8pm when all of us were already there, hungrily waiting for all that he has to bring.  Obviously, it was dinner time at my in-laws house with Chris’ brother and his family with 2 kids, Sean and Kyle.

Listed below are all of what we had for Calix’s birthday house party.  It brought all the fun for our 4 kids.

• Have kids around. What is a children’s party without other children.
• Blowing of birthday cake. After merrily singing to him the birthday song, he blew the 2 lighted candles with his whole might.  He knew it his was own birthday cake and that made him feel that it was HIS SUUUPPPEEERR SPECIAL DAY!
  
• Prepare simple food. Since we are not so fond of cooking, we ordered EVERYTHING except for the RICE! Our menu includes a Bilao of Pancit Malabon, 2 boxes of Pizza Hut, 3 whole Roasted Chicken, Goldilocks Chocolate Mouse Cake with birthday candles and  Magnolia Ice Cream - Cookies and Cream for dessert. Plus bottles of Coke and a free Pepsi from Pizza Hut.
• Add party favors to decorate the place and give aways for our 4 party children.  All in all this cost less than P200.00 c/o of my wonderful mom-in-law.
• Simple gifts to open. Gifts are surprises! Give what they really like. Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive, just something interesting for them.  For Calix, he liked what his Lola and Lolo gave him. A box of little cars and a bubble machine. While  Tito Sherwin’s gift was the one we preferred though. A set of clothes.
• Last but not the least, cheerful faces of the adults around them. While this  doesn’t cost anything at all, it isn’t even hard to prepare.

So far, this was the 2nd birthday this year (first was Sophia’s last March) that we made that wasn’t reeally expensive  yet in the eyes and laughter of our children was full of cheer and joy that seem endless.  Uhhmm..well, it only ended when we’ve taken off the party decorations. Calix cried.  But just for awhile.

This may be a simple passing time for our children but the joy that we give them is a joy that we too give to ourselves. Ain’t it rewarding?

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I got her stuff ready for school.  My assistant gave her a nice warm bath.  Put on her cozy outfit that’s right for a not-so-sunny -outdoor play.  Lastly, I didn’t forget what Teacher Lady said and that is to bring in a Sunblock Lotion for the outdoor play.  Then, off we go.   We walked the streets of our place, rode on a public transportation and marched our feet up to the 2nd floor of the building where Child’s Space is located. No doubt Sophia was excited and eager.

Before going to school, all I had was my excitement for Sophia.  Although I know my daughter’s personality (still have to find out whose genes she has) and the stage that she is going through which is normal for her age, I didn’t let it come to my mind.  I was with her that day to show her that I am truly with her in the face of a new environment with strange people.  Whenever teachers approach her, she would either simply turn her back or just keep still.  During Art Time,  she was the last one to paint her boat and with a very few strokes only.  She didn’t remain seated during Circle Time.  Nonetheless, I still feel that Sophia was enjoying her time there and the outdoor play was the best part of her Trial Class.

As far as I know, I didn’t force her to join or follow the class routine I just let her observe and have the feel of the new space that we are in.  I know this will take time but as Teacher Lady advised (which I also agree) that with the kind of temperament Sophia has, a stable daily routine will make her feel secure and confident of being with other people.  I believe with the kind of philosophy that they hold (that is progressivism) it  has the power to reach out to the needs of my daughter - a program that is CHILD-CENTERED!

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As we walked inside the preschool where we intend our eldest daughter to go this June, my hubby and I had gotten that confirmation:

This is what we want for Sophia. The one we’ve been looking for is here!

It’s at CHILD’S SPACE School for the Practice of Appropriate Childhood Education (Santolan, Pasig City) situated near our place in Manggahan. It’s accessibility is a real plus for me.

A child-centered, play-based progressive school that uses the approach the Developmentally-Appropriate Practice (DAP).  Teacher Lady was the one who gave us information about the preschool.   She also toured us to the two just-enough-classroom-size for the number of students per class.  The class ratio for the preschool program is 1:8 with a Teacher Aide.  Not too pricey,  just right! And I mean it, because of all the progressive schools that I am aware of I think it’s the one that our means can afford.   We’ll just have to find out more when classes formally start the 2nd week of June.

Sophia will be sitting in their class this coming Wednesday.  I just hope that she likes it the way we like it for her.

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