GRADE SCHOOLS - feedbacks and reviewa

[miksha]

We are looking at the following schools for our son for nexy school year (Grade1). I would like to get some feebacks and reviews to help us in our decision. Currently we are looking at them based on:
1. curriculum and the academic performance of students
2. Student environment. Coed ba sya or exclusive
3. Student-teacher ratio.Teacher feedback, teacher-student relaitionship
4. School stability
5. Tuition Fee
6. Any plus factors (aironditioned rooms, shuttle service, etc...)

these are the schools that we are looking at:
1. OB Montessori (the one either in sta.ana, greenhills or QC)
2. Don Bosco Mandaluyong
3. KEYS Grade school
4. Reedley International School
5. The Raya School Inc.

Thank you!

[stormy]

^sis d factor ang location? Wala pa ako input maishe-share nagtatanong lang sis kasi impt sa amin ang d masyado malayo sa bahay.

[miksha]

^we plan on getting a house na malapit kung saan man namin mapili syang pumasok na school.

[stormy]

^ah ok sis

[trinity94]

i think it's better if you let your child take the entrance tests in these schools... most of these schools youve mentioned have a good reputation, but they also have high standards... im sure youll be able to narrow your choices based on the results of the entrance tests...

[marose17]

@Miksha, I reside near Ateneo and plan to send my sons there (although 50% convinced pa lang ako since I am also considering a Montessori or a progressive school within the area).  From what I understand based on testimonials of friends of mine who send their sons there, here's the feedback:

1. curriculum and the academic performance of students

Traditional curriculum, heavy on homework
Not sure what you mean about academic performance of students - is it vs. students from other schools?  In which subjects? 
Ateneo is traditionally strong in the liberal arts, history and philosophy so I guess strong ang grade school sa Reading, Languages, History and Social Studies.  Plus factor for me ang Christian Living/Religion classes since I am a traditional Catholic - I do believe in Ignatian spirituality.  Eto ang absent sa progressive at Montessori schools.

2. Student environment.

The Ateneo campus is unparalleled when it comes to beauty (I so love the trees there), space (it is very spacious), venues for different sports - they have a football field, baseball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc. and in fact, eto ang isang gustong-gusto ko about the campus-  and proximity to tutorial centers and after-school activities (art, music and enrichment centers are all accessible via Katipunan Avenue). 

Re students, there are bullies as you would expect from 40+ students per class.  I hate to say it, but if you are talking about such numbers, for sure may mga batang hindi masyadong okay.   This is one of my concerns actually.  Our neighbors pulled out their sons because of bullying.

3. Student-teacher ratio.Teacher feedback, teacher-student relaitionship

42-45 students per section, around 14 sections yata per grade level
May parent-teacher conferences sila, 1 per quarter yata.
I do not know how it is now, but most of my friends who came from Ateneo have fond memories of their teachers .

4. School stability

Very stable naman siguro ang institution na ito, kasi 150 years na in the Philippines.

5. Tuition Fee

This year, for prep, almost 100k.

6. Any plus factors (aironditioned rooms, shuttle service, etc...)

The rooms are not air conditioned.  There are shuttle services depending on the area where you live.

I will ask my fellow parents sa preschool ng kids ko what they think of Ateneo.  Several of the students who "graduate" from my sons' preschool go to Ateneo for prep kasi.

[miksha]

hi sis marose17. thanks for the feedback sa ateneo. tama ka dun sa ibig kong sabihin regarding sa academic performance of students. although naniniwala pa din ako na hindi mo pwede isa-alangalang lahat sa school and nasa parents and kid na din kung gusto nila na magexcel sila. Pero hindi din naman natin maikakaila na may mga schools na mas maganda ang pagtuturo at pagimpart ng knowledge sa kanilang mga students kaysa sa ibang schools kaya mas madaming naabsorb at naiiintindihan ang mga bata na magagamit nila sa kanilang buhay buhay.
My husband is leaning towards ateneo because of what he hears about the students good academic performance, nice facilitites and syempre aminin natin iba sa mga pinoy kapag sinabi mo na ateneo graduate. Pero nagdadalawang isip na kami because of the these news of bullying. And with such a high number of students mahirap talaga na mapansin nila ang mga yan. i do not want my kid to go through something like that (i went through that as a kid and although mine was not "extreme" i have very strong feelings with regards to bullying and bullies).

[marose17]

^ I think wala namang issue regarding academics since it is a topnotch school and it attracts good teachers.   But, unlike before, I do not believe that it is the best of the best, particularly since there are smaller schools nowadays that also offer high quality education.

My concern is the traditional method of teaching itself. 

For example, hindi ko maintindihan why kailangan ipa-memorize ang names ng bones ng body sa isang grade 3 student.  Ano ang significance noon sa buhay niya?  At hindi ko maintindihan why kailangan i-bombard with homework ang mga bata.  Nakakatulong ba talaga ang santambak na assignments? 

[miksha]

btw, Don Bosco (all branches) is an all boys school right? gusto kase namin coed

[marose17]

^ I think Don Bosco is an all-boys school.  Ateneo is an all-boys school too.

[miksha]

oh i did not know that ateneo grade school is an all-boys school...

[marose17]

^ For grade school and high school, all boys ang Ateneo.  College lang coed.

[gulaysk]

Hi mommies. What coed grade schools in the QC area would you recommend? We're considering The Learning Tree and would probably be checking out the new OB Montessori in Fairview.

Your opinions? Feedbacks?

Many thanks.

[marose17]

^ Hi sis.  Check out Centro Montessori at Xavierville Avenue - this is where 60% of the students in my sons' preschool go to for grade school and it's highly recommended by their developmental pedia and teachers.  My neighbor's sons go to this school and they seem like smart, well-adjusted, articulate and polite kids.  They are happy because they do not have homework and can pursue other activities after school.  Centro adheres to the Montessori method.  Tuition fee starts at 100k.

Multiple Intelligence in R. Alvero Street (there is an SM condo building under construction here) along Katipunan Avenue is a popular school among celebrities.   It's a progressive school that adheres to the theory of multiple intelligences of Howard Gardner. I've also heard good reviews about MI.  Tuition fee starts at 100k++.

[gulaysk]

^Thanks marose!

Unfortunately, as much as we'd like to, I don't think we can afford a 100k++ tuition as of the moment.

Any more schools you're familiar of? TIA

[marose17]

^ Check out Diliman Prep.  I don't have any feedback on it though.  Some of my classmates from high school came from Diliman prep grade school.

[inkslinger]

What's the review on Multiple Intelligence School? Okay ba dito? I've heard it's a progressive school, other than that, I don't have much information about it. How about Headway? What's the method of teaching in Headway? I just learned about it when I went to HLURB and I passed by the area. Although I am currently homeschooling my preschool-age daughter, I also plan on enrolling her when she's ready for gradeschool.

[marose17]

^ MI espouses the theory of multiple intelligences by Howard Gardner.

I've heard mixed reviews, mostly second-hand, but generally, MI seems to be a school where both the parents and the students are happy.

[byutijunkie]

how about raya?  any feedback?  it's very near our house kasi so this is one of the schools i'm considering for my son when he starts grade 1. 

[chakchuk]

Mga sis pasali...
Please post feedback regarding st. scho...

a. school teaching approach...
b. environment ....
     (students and facilitators attitude)
c. others that you could share regarding the school..

TIA