Funny B gets accepted into big school… Thank you Wiz Child Kindergarten

5 October 2007

Today, my three and three-fourths year old daughter (that's the age she'll give you when you ask her how old she is) got the entrance exam results from the "big" school that she applied to. She passed!!! Hooray!!! I had her tested with only one school since I was quite confident that she will get accepted. Sure, she's smart like her dad… but with both of us parents working, we really have to give credit to her pre-school for making her into a well-rounded little girl.

She is currently enrolled at Wiz Child Kindergarten in Quezon City. She started there when she was two and a half. At that time, she was shy and afraid of other kids. But now, she's more sociable and more confident.

Unlike most pre-schools that tend to be classified as strictly traditional or progressive, Wiz Child is considered eclectic, meaning a combination of both. I think it is this balance that makes the school stand out among other pre-schools.

What I like most in this school, aside from the high academic standards, is the low student to teacher ratio. In a class, the maximum number of students is 15 with two teachers and two teacher's aides in the room. I believe that toddlers especially, need to have a more "tutok" approach rather than have him/her enrolled in a pre-school with thirty or more students. This will help the toddler develop more confidence since the teacher makes sure that each student understands the subject perfectly.

Another good thing I noticed from Funny B, as compared to my friends' kids who are at the same age, is that B is more independent. She knows how to eat by herself, dress herself and keep her stuff clean and neat. In Wiz, the kids are taught to eat by themselves. B used to eat slowly (babad), but her teacher guided her to eat faster and also taught her to eat vegetables and meat!!! She also packs away her toys after playing with them. Sometimes, she would reprimand her dad for not packing away his stuff!

The teachers write a progress report every week to keep us posted. The seatworks/exercises are brought home every Friday for us to review and sign. They have reading, language, math, and Chinese classes. There are also non-academic activities every Friday like Baking day, Movie day, Market day, Field trips, Christmas presentations, etc.

The pre-school has a "homey" feeling to it, making it less intimidating for the children. The teachers are also very patient and understanding. When B was just starting, she wanted to have her yaya with her. I know that in other pre-schools, the yaya's are banned starting day 1!!! I think that policy tends to be traumatic instead of making the child independent. In Wiz, the teachers slowly gained B's trust and after a few days, she did not look for her yaya anymore. And first day of school last June, she walked into class all by herself.

To B's teachers… Jeanne, Myrna, Arlene, Anna, Jenny, Jenny and to her Ate's Che and Emy… Thank you!