MANILA, Philippines – Decisions … decisions. Being a parent entails making a lot of choices. It may be as simple as choosing the brand of diapers to use, to something as tough as where your child will go to school. Finding the right school for your child is crucial, because this will be his second home. This is where he will learn his three Rs, and it is also the venue for the development of his socialization skills. It is where values that you are teaching at home can (and should) be reinforced. 

Parents may think that certain schools are the best, because of the astronomical tuition fees and the bragging rights with those bumper stickers that proclaim the school your child belongs to, but according to Early Childhood and Early Intervention expert Patricia Centeno of Bahay Kubo, a center for learning for children with additional needs and adolescents who need social skills training, in school shopping, there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all: “Every family is unique, and the school you choose should meet the needs of your child and your family.” 

Is he ready?

But before school shopping with your child, Centeno says enrollment readiness should be checked using the following:

• Concentration and Emotional Adjustment
Children need to be able to socialize and interact with their classmates.  Children will be exposed to a more structured and formal learning environment that will require them to sit, focus and attend to an activity.  Children will need to understand the rules and to handle transitions and routines. 

• Independence
Children will need specific skills for them to cope with the least amount of supervision.  Toileting has always been a major factor, dressing and being able to follow a routine. 

•Functional Communication skills
Children need to be able to understand and follow instructions and at the same time they need to be able to express their needs. 

• Motor coordination
Can the children dress and undress, use pencil or scissors, sip through a straw, hold and drink from a cup, open and close the lid of containers or lunch boxes?`
She adds: “As parents or as the primary care givers of your child, you alone will be able to tell regarding the readiness of your child towards the school of your choice.” 

Finding the fit

First up, Centeno, who completed her Masters of Education in Inclusive and Special Education at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, gives this advice: “Schools have a philosophy or mission and vision.  Through this, as parents, you would be able to gauge if your own values match that of the school’s.”

She then names the top three considerations that parents who are school shopping should keep in mind: “For practical reasons, I’d say proximity to the school should be considered, as well as the campus location. Travel time is important and security should be looked into. Then parents should look into the school community and environment, which would include the facilities. Then, the family finances for tuition fees and hidden charges that will accrue during the school year ex: field trips, extra-curricular activities such as music or ballet.

She also reminds parents, “It is more important to see the children happy over the physical appearance of the school.  Learning takes place and children are transformed to be better learners when they are in a happy and stress-free environment.” 

The A-List

As with grocery shopping, it helps to have a checklist of things to look for when school shopping. This will help you narrow down what you are looking for and rate the institutions that you have visited. 

When going on the actual hunt, Centeno advises, “Allow yourself to have ample time to investigate your options.  When you have a short list, ring the school and schedule for an appointment.  It will give you a general feel of the school.” 

Bahay Kubo also offers consultation to parents and schools who need assistance in early intervention. Visit www.ourbahaykubo.com or email ourbahaykubo@gmail.com

Checklist

1. Physical appearance: The school should be safe, clean, and well equipped. A healthy environment can help children be stimulated and encouraged in their learning.

a. How is the school maintained?

b. Is it clean and safe?

c. How many toilets does the school have and where are they located? (If toilet training is still a concern, ask the school’s policy on toilet training or the accessibility of a toilet for your child.)

d. Are the classrooms too small or are they spacious enough where the children can move around?

e. What is the ventilation situation in the classroom? If it is not airconditioned, how many fans and windows does the room have, and where are they located?

f. Are the rooms brightly lit?

2. Staff interaction. Best outcomes for children are achieved when teachers work in close partnership with parents.

a. Are members of the school staff (from the guards and janitors to the teachers) friendly and helpful or do they look like they are too busy to bother with inquiring parents?

b. Does the school have a communication notebook and/or schedule regular parent and teacher meetings?

c. How do the teachers keep their students engaged?

3. School philosophy and curriculum. For children to develop their full potential, there should be a program that will help children gain confidence, ability to communicate and express ideas, and willingness to try things even when unsure about the outcome.

a. Is the school mission-vision aligned with your personal beliefs and values?

b. Is there a balance for both indoor and outdoor activities?

c. Are there extra-curricular activities? How is the learning generalized so that learning is not contained in the four walls of the classroom.

4. Finances. A good education is an investment in your child’s future. Crunch the numbers and find out how much you can realistically spend on it.

a. Can you afford the tuition fee?

b. What are the terms and conditions of payment?

5. Reporting or Grading system. This is about how you would like your child’s progress be noted. Do you want to see numeric grade equivalent or is having a portfolio of your child great enough? Do you want written/narrative reports?

a. Do they have a student portfolio?

b. Is the school’s grading or assessment system ok with you?

Additional factors for Big School

1. Facilities.

a. Grade-schoolers will spend more than 2 and a half hours in school and need more adequate meals. Do they have a canteen and are children permitted to bring lunch boxes and eat there?

b. Is there a computer laboratory, and what is the ratio of computers to students?

2. Curriculum. It is essential that children will learn through experience and not majority of the time spent listening to a lesson.

a. How is the holistic development of the child going to be addressed? There should be a balance of the academic curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

b. How is technology being presented in the school curriculum?