Mamu

It was my son's field trip last August 28. Originally it was scheduled last August 16 but due to bad weather it was moved, good thing I was able also to move my vacation leave. Last year we went to Ayala Museum and Ocean Park in Manila. This year its another Ocean Adventure but this time in Pampanga. Its a long travel but its fun and exciting. We left Harrell Horne I think around 6:00 am. Our first visit was in Nayong Pilipino sa Clark. There we saw the replica of Barasoin Church, Emilio Aguinaldo's house and also the houses of our "ninuno", the aetas. There we bought a small magic spring toy, Davids cap a red shawl for me.

Next stop over is Ocean Adventure where we spent the whole day. We had our free lunch there which is pork adobo and chicken with sweet sauce plus iced tea. We are able to watch tree shows, first is how to survive in the jungle and they feature some animals like snake, bat, rat etc. Next is the dolphin show followed by the sea lion show. There we are able to buy a dolphin and a fish ref magnet as souvenir, also a snake toy and a frog stuff toy for my little girl. Last stop was at duty free but we just stayed on the bus to take a rest. We arrive at home around 11pm. It was a tiring day but really fun and educational.

I'm a little disappointed with my sons first monthly exam result. Though he doesnt have a failing grade most of his exams are in line of 8 (ex. 83,85, 89). Before when he was in preschool his exams are always in 90's if not perfect. I don't know if he is having a hard or just losing focus. I remember when I was in grade 1 then I study on my own and make my home work without any help from my parents. 

When I review him it looks like he understand everything but when I check his exams he forgets little things and sometimes mixed things up. I guess he needs more nutritious food, not sure. He no longer milk and most of the meal that he eat are processed food like hotdogs, luncheon meat, tocino, longganisa etc. 

While doing assignments for the past week. I noticed that David doesn't enjoy much reading and writing. Due to this sometimes he don't finish their school activity on time and mostly he have low score when it comes to answering questions on short story. I think he got it from me, me too I don't love reading. I wonder what do I do to help him improve on this. We are now in computer world and what he enjoys doing are playing games online and on his Ipad.

Last June 4 most schools already started. But for my son who will be in grade one, theirs will start on June 13. He is not excited going back to school he said, he still likes to play. I know its gonna be more serious, less play compared to preschool. He will be part of the new school curriculum which is K12. I was not able to attend the school meeting about this last year. But what I've heard the school will use native language in teaching and the curriculum will be more advanced. I knew he will be able to cope up and I am praying that he would get better achievement as he grew up. 

Two more weeks and David will be back to school but this time in elementary. He's done with playtime and is going to face now a more serious world of studying. I knew he will be able to cope up. Beside I will always be there to support him. We haven't bought books and school supplies yet because we are running out of budget.... urgh. Anyways I know God will provide our needs. Excited for David's new world.

My son will be in elementary this coming school year and just wanted to share how much the tuition is specially to those who are hunting for school. This is actually for grades 1 to 3. The books for grade 1 cost P5055 not sure with grades 2 and 3. Harrel Horne is in Pag-asa just beside the Maluto Medical Clinic.

Last Saturday (March 24, 20212) was David's Graduation Day in Pre-school along with the Kinder accelerated to Grade 1. There are 66 total graduates for Pred and Kinder accelerated. I learned from the speaker that as parent we should at least spend few minutes of playtime and story time with our kids when they are small. She mention that our world today modern that communication can be everywhere but there are still lots of families with no communication. I know I am not a perfect mom but I do love my kids. Even David was not able to get honor this time I am still very proud of him. He was able to get one medal and one ribbon, Academic Achiever and Most Cooperative. After the event we eat dinner at Pizza Hut. Congrats David! and Thanks to Harrell Horne Integrated School for teaching and making my kid ready for grade 1.

It was David's last day of school yesterday. They were even asked to bring food for the farewell party. He brought pansit for the said event. He said there were lots of foods specially cakes. This would be his last graduation in pre-school and next year he would be in elementary. I am not sure yet if he has any award or honor this coming graduation since they just took their last exam before the farewell party. Anyway with honor or not I am proud of my son moving in to elementary. Love you, son.

David just had their exam last week. It was called CGAT. I wonder what it means. I think the AT means achievement test but I don't know what CG stands for. There exam was from their 3rd quarter lesson up to the latest topic. One more month and its going to be their graduation day. I am excited for him to enter the elementary level. Really school are advanced now a days and I am  happy that he is learning how to speak in english well too. I did not train him in english but I noticed recently that he uses english more frequent than before. Thanks to all his teachers, the school and the director of the school. I am looking forward of more fruitful years as we work as partners.

Its third grading period and I asked my husband to go to school to get my son's class card. He was told the school doesn't give out class card during the 3rd quarter but instead oblige the parents to go to school and talk to the adviser to have update about their kids. His teacher, Teacher Rose, says Ron was moved to advanced students since he is coping very well. However after that he started to lose his focus. He become noisy and lose attention with their school activities. Before he can  finish all activities the teacher ask him to do but now he doesnt. Teacher Rose also mention there was a time wherein he switch plus from minus and vise versa so the teacher asked him to do the test again and he was able to answer it well. Teacher decided to put David back to his previous seat. We need to help David focus on his studies whoever he seat with.  I guess that's what you call peer influence. 

I was reviewing my little boy yesterday for their exam today. I am really amazed how advanced education is now. He is only in pre-school and they are already studying the subject and verb agreement and is counting by 2s, 5s and 10s. He doesn't have any problem with Math but in English when to use plural verb and singular verb and also the past tense that makes him cry during our practice. He doesn't want to fail because of this. I hope what I taught him will retain in his memory and help him get good grades. His part of the top ten and I hope and he would still be this coming 3rd grading period. Love you son.

December 22, 2011 was David's last day at school and their christmas party. It was a fun day and the kids really enjoy it. They got different toys from their classmate, teacher and Mcdo.

Today is David's last day in school. The school ended with 3 days so of exam and tomorrow will be their christmas party. They are asked to pay P150 to have Mcdonalds Party. They will also have exchange gift worth P100. I don't know why the format was change from Cowboy Theme to simply wearing Santa hat. I guess its easier to prepare. David is excited about Christmas because of the gifts that he wanted to open. We decided to spend Christmas Eve at my mom's house since my brother's family will be there too. It would be more fun specially for my kids to have someone to play with.

Congrats to my son for getting this award!!

This coming Saturday, December 10, is Foundation Day at Harrell Horne Integrated School. My son who is on prep was assigned by his teacher to wear a Taiwan costume. I don't know what presentation they have. I tried googling about Taiwan costume and its really not clear ... it looks like they are chinese too. We have a hard time looking for his costume in the mall since United Nations day is already finished and its already Christmas season. Good thing my husband was able to pass by Baclaran and bought a chinese costume for him. He got it for P360. Since its our christmas party at work on the same day I will not be able to accompany my little boy. I'll just ask my husband to take pictures of him.

November 3, 2011, David is back to school after about two weeks of sem-break. He spend most of his time with mamu's (lola) house. Good thing it is also his cousin Joshua's sem-break so he has playmate there. He spend most of time playing toys, watching cartoons, playing nintendo DS and playing pool. I did not force him to review even though they will have a very long exam on November 7 which will be move to November 8 due to holiday. According to his diary he needs to review everything from 1st grading up to 2nd grading... wew. I think of all the subjects that they have the difficult one will be Sibika... lots of memorization about the Philippines. They will have classes until Saturday so I am planning to review him this coming Sunday and Monday. That is the way I review as well when I go to school. I would not call it cramming but its just that its easy to recall things that you just studied. I hope he will get good grades just like before. I don't feel this kind of pressure when I was kinder... my son is in prep and have this kind of exams already.. wew! Two weeks after this they have their monthly exam for their 3rd grading period. 

Yesterday was my son's last day before their sem-break. They have an activity called Scouting Investiture Ceremony. Its an event for girls and boys scouts. It makes me remember my girls scout days when I was small. I was not able to attend due to work so its my hubby who joined him. We are not aware that we need to bring someone to be his sponsor so its my husband who acted as one. I was able to see his pictures and videos and I can see the smile in his face while marching and singing. They also had a fun play after the ceremony. I hope next year I would be able to be with him for the boy scout event.

I am very happy and proud of my little boy. I saw the results of his exam last week and he was able to perfect 3 out of the their 6 exams. The other subjects he only had few mistakes. I was not able to take note of the subjects so I cant post what they are (hehe). I am looking forward for better and good grades. Sorry my son if mommy is sometimes hot tempered when reviewing or teaching you. But no matter what, I will always be here to help and guide you. Love you son!

Last Saturday was the class card distribution at my son's school. Before the cards was given the parents were first given a seminar by Ptr. Ody about parenting. I learned a lot from it. Parenting is very hard but very fulfilling. Our kids are gift from God. I remember he mention about the message in the bible "I am the vine and your are the branches." He relate this to family, God being the vine and parents the branches and kids as the fruit. God should be the center of our parenting to be able to bear good fruit.

Anyway their class card looks different. It shows no numbers but C(consistent), P(progress) and N(not yet) on different skills of the student. You will also see VS (very satisfactory), S (satisfactory) etc. per each category. I wonder what is his real grades in numbers, we are told before we could ask the teacher for that. He may not be the brightest in their class but for me he is the best, my beloved child.

For the past two years it is my husband who comes with David for field trip. This time I will be coming with him. I already filed for a vacation leave for this. Last weekend I already bought some snacks which we will be bringing. I lost the paper given by the school showing where they will visit. Anyway I hope I would not forget our camera to take pics. I will treasure this day. I knew when he grew up, he will no longer depend on us and will have his own life. But no matter what happens I will always be here for you son.