School Rants

With the proliferation of all sorts of schools in Metro Manila, I find it really difficult to sort out the bad apples from the good ones. Last year, Stan and I were hunting for a school for Naima near our place. We found a supposedly international school in Malate with tuition at P150,000. Honestly, tuition WAS steep but given its proximity to my workplace and my mother-in-law's house, we thought that we could work out the tuition and just tighten our spending on unnecessary shopping.

So off we went to the school for a school tour. First danger sign - the school was not at all associated with Harvard University but upon entry, there was a huge sign of "HARVARD" in the foyer. Apparently, the directress studied in Harvard - though I wasn't sure if she studied Masters or just took some certificate course (like Sen. Miriam). But I really found it in bad taste for the school to be plastering "Harvard" signs when it was not at all accredited with that school. Next, during the school tour, the directress was in school but she never met us. It was just a receptionist (with bad English at that!) who took us around the school. Third warning sign - I was able to get their brochure and noted how they were affiliated with about 5-6 international organizations. One of the organizations was based in Cavite so I called this organization and asked if XXX school was appreciated. The organization was shocked because it was the first time they heard of that school and they confirmed that the school was not a member.

Acting on my suspicious, I emailed another organization (listed on the Malate school's website) based in Washington, D.C. and the organization replied that the school was not at all accredited! But I wanted to give the school a chance since I really wanted to put Naima there. So I emailed the directress to seek a clarification. No reply - so scratched that school off my list.

Next school rant - this time, it's a school in Mandaluyong City. I had a relative who was diagnosed as a high-functioning Asperger's individual. He was about to enter grade school so we were trying to look for a school he could go to. I suggested this school in Mandaluyong because it was highly recommended by friends. So late last year, we did school tours and obtained details on application. Early this year, the dad asked the school again if they were still accepting applications for special students. He was informed yes and the student will be assessed if he will be suitable. We were also informed that the school has an attached preschool and students from that school will be given priority for entry into the grade school. However, he was assured that applications were still being accepted. So off we went to complete the requirements, doing several tests and evaluations, on hearing, from the developmental pedia, recommendations from his old school, etc. etc.

After completing the requirements, the dad submitted them to the school (in mid-February) along with the P500 application fee. A week after, the dad followed up the schedule for assessment and was informed that the directress received the application and wrote "QUOTA FOR SPED IS FILLED FROM XXX PRESCHOOL". We were surprised since the dad had confirmed that slots were still available. I asked a friend to intervene and this friend emailed the directress. The directress told her that the student did not pass the initial assessment. Again we were surprised since this was different from what the admissions office told the dad when he followed up.

So I wrote an email to the directress with the following excerpts:

Anyway, I just want to emphasize my concern. My concern is not that STUDENT was rejected or what but the reason for rejection. You see, non-acceptance because the student was not qualified v. non-acceptance because the slots are filled are two different things.

If you had written on the application form that STUDENT did not pass the initial assessment, then that would have been crystal clear that STUDENT was not made out for THIS BIG SCHOOL. Instead, however, you wrote "QUOTA FOR SPED IS FILLED FROM AFFILIATED PRESCHOOL".

This was why I was dismayed. It appears then that even if the quota is already filled, you would continue to accept the applications and P500 payment - because apparently, the quota is really not filled but instead, STUDENT just did not make the cut.

I do believe it would've been crystal clear to us if you had instead written that STUDENT did not make the initial cut, rather than writing down that the "Quota for SPED is filled."

The directress replied, excerpts below:

After reading his report, we determined that he was not qualified to be a candidate to meet the quota for SPED students for the Prep program.

There are currently 5 SPED applicants from AFFILIATED PRESCHOOL. As I wrote, there may be at the most, 3 slots for children with SPED needs in PREP. That number is determined by the number of sections in the Prep program. We may have 2 or 3 sections next school year. Currently, the 5 SPED children from AFFILIATED PRESCHOOL are more qualified than STUDENT. Also, only 2 or 3 of those children will be accepted in THIS BIG SCHOOL. (emphasis supplied)

However, I still was not satisfied so I requested for a clarification by sending a follow-up email:

Saying:

"After reading his report, we determined that he was not qualified to be a candidate to meet the quota for SPED students for the Prep program. "

has a different meaning from:

"QUOTA FOR SPED IS FILLED FROM AFFILIATED PRESCHOOL".

I wanted to emphasize to the directress that their admissions procedure was very UNCLEAR and I really felt that my relative had been fleeced of the P500 application fee. If there were more than enough students from AFFILIATED PRESCHOOL for the SPED quota of BIG SCHOOL, then why did they still accept applications from new students, along with the P500 application fee?

I'm really frustrated with my experience with these 2 schools. I've also heard and read about other horror stories from other parents. And this makes me wonder if DepEd is regulating schools in the Metro, given the high charges and fees that these schools charge parents. There should really be a consumer hotline for parents to report unethical practices of schools!

*Please private message me if you want to know the names of these 2 schools.

More March activities

*Update - LATCH March 12 Class is moved to March 26, 2011!

Best Friends in Breastfeeding will also be holding its monthly support group meeting this Saturday, 12 March 2011 at 1030am at the Baby Company, 2/f Podium Mall, Ortigas Center. Topic will be on breastfeeding difficulties to be led by Jane Cacacho, Xavier School, High School Principal. Click here to read a recap of my experience at a similar meeting.

Anyway, what makes this meeting different from the LATCH seminar is just that - this one is a meeting and the other is a seminar. The LATCH activity is specifically targeted towards pregnant moms and is purely a class with opportunity to ask questions. It is essentially a breastfeeding lecture and is pretty structured. Meanwhile, the support group meeting is for moms who are already breastfeeding - new moms or moms with older babies or toddlers. Some pregnant moms benefit from attending because they learn or hear about the experiences of the other moms. But if you are looking for a class with a lecture on breastfeeding basics, pumping at work, milk storage, etc. this is not the meeting for you. During the support group meeting, a topic is put out - then moms share their experiences or ask questions about that topic. If there's time, you can ask your questions which are not about the set topic. LATCH seminar lasts 3 hours while the BFB (LLLI) meeting is about 1.5 hours.

Aside from breastfeeding seminars/meetings, there is another activity over at The Medela House. Read Maricel's email below:

This March 12, we will be having another MedelaSupports event at the Medela House. A free talk by The Learning Library on How to Choose Books for Your Children to get them to love reading as well as how to read to your children will be held from 9am-12noon. It will be a back-to-back English-Filipino talk. If your child is 3 years old and older, they will also conduct a free reading assessment so you know at what level your child’s at. In addition, you get a recommended reading list which is a helpful guide when you visit bookstores. Finally, the Scholastic bookfair will also grace the event and provide immediate selections for purchase depending on your child’s reading ability! So you can go home and practice all that you’ve learned that same day :)

This event, due to popular request, will also be opened to non-MedelaMoms’ customers for an entrance fee of P100 per person. Everything is free for MedelaMoms’ Pump customers :) Please register thru Medela Moms or via 0917-5614366 with your name, your child’s name and age, and whoever else might be accompanying you to this event.

Finally, check out this parenting/breastfeeding class for a series of 3 weekends, beginning 19 March 2011. Brought to you by MotherCo and Bosom Buddy. See the flier below for more details (click poster to read).

LATCH Class this Saturday - 12 March 2011

This Saturday, 12 March 2011, L.A.T.C.H. will be conducting a breastfeeding workshop information at The Medical City from 9-12nn. This is a free class on a first come, first serve basis. Classes will be at the 4th Floor, Conference Room 1, take the entrance beside Starbucks. Topics include Breastfeeding Benefits, What to Expect in the First Week, Positioning and Latching, Back to Work and Busting Breastfeeding Myths. For inquiries, you can call TMC at 635-6789, loc. 6444.

Click HERE to know what to expect for this class.

*Update: 10 March 2011 - Class has been moved to 26 March 2011 due to scheduling conflicts at The Medical City

We Love DwellStudio!

I first discovered DwellStudio at Kidsteals and purchased the Chocolate Dot backpack for Naima. At that time Naima just turned 2 and had been in playschool for 1 month. In choosing products for Naima, I make sure that they are safe and non-toxic. Which means much as I want to get those Cath Kidston bags, I've held off as most of them are PVC-coated (read HERE about the dangers of PVC).

From DwellStudio's FAQ, the products are "made of the highest quality cotton and linen available. DwellStudio prints are all low-impact fiber-reactive dyes. They contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances, are AZO free and formaldehyde free, and meet all criteria for eco-friendly pigments." Although not all DwellStudio products are organic, the products are free from toxicity from chemical finishes. If you're not too concerned about the toxics/chemicals in our homes, read this CNN Special Feature.

What I love about DwellStudio are their fun prints and the fact that the items are really well-made. I would think that Naima (or I) will tire of the items first before they get broken or torn.

DwellStudio is locally available through Quirks Marketing Philippines. I've been wanting to complete Naima's Chocolate Dots collection for sometime now but find DwellStudio quite expensive. Happily, I was able to take advantage of the DwellStudio Sale early this year and purchased several pieces in preparation for our long-haul vacation this summer! I also got her a Scribble Kit in Paper Dolls (not pictured) for plane and car use.

KidzBox - one of the products I'd like to buy from DwellStudio.  Placemats made from silky food grade, hand silk-screened silicone that's free from BPA, lead, latex, phthalates and other harsh chemicals 

There are still several pieces that I'd like to purchase but I'm still waiting for the next big sale! I do believe that Quirks Marketing Philippines initially started with DwellBaby and has now expanded their line to include kitchen and beddings from DwellStudio.

*DwellStudio is available locally through Rustan's, Gymboree (Cebu), Toys @ Work (Banilad Town Center and Ayala Center Cebu) and Baby & Beyond (San Juan).

*This is not a paid post and I purchased all products listed either through online shopping or through the DwellStudio sale. I'm not employed or compensated by Quirks Marketing Philippines or DwellStudio.

*All photos taken by Stanley S. Ong.

Join the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival

Since late last year, I've been toying with the idea of hosting a local blog carnival. I've participated in a breastfeeding and natural parenting blog carnival - both hosted and organized by non-Filipino moms. With the growing number of Filipino breastfeeding bloggers, I think that it's high time that we have our own carnival and share our thoughts about issues and topics relevant to local nursing moms.

What is a blog carnival? Wiki has an explanation but basically, it is a compilation of blogs written about a specific topic which has been previously set. The blogs are submitted to the host (that will be me for this carnival) and will be published on a stated date. The published blogs will include links to the posts of other carnival participants. What I like about carnivals is that it helps me meet like-minded moms and allows me to discover new blogs I haven't previously encountered.

Since March is National Women's Month, what better time to start this carnival, than now? Plus Mec over at Hope to Help You (our co-host for this carnival) suggested a very apt topic!

Our topic for this month's carnival is "has breastfeeding changed you as a woman?" You can write about whether or not breastfeeding changed your views about your body and how? Did you become conscious about nursing in public? In front of family? Did breastfeeding results in changes in your hygiene, (beauty) rituals, wardrobe? How has it affected the roles you play as a woman?

Please include this short blurb on the top of your post: "Welcome to the first Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (March). To celebrate National Women's Month, our participants share how breastfeeding has changed them as a woman. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants."

For samples, you can check previous entries to the Carnival of Natural Parenting or the Carnival of Breastfeeding.

If you don't have a blog but would like to join, please email me so I can arrange to have you hosted as a guest blogger.

Submissions are due by March 14 and the carnival will go live on March 18. To join, please fill up this FORM in order to join. I will email you by March 17, 2011 with instructions for posting.