Before our son turned two years old, Jeff was already set on having him enroll in Trumpets. I think they still had classes at Shangri-la Mall that time. Our leaning was always towards Trumpets as opposed to the more popular pop school because my husband wanted our son to learn about music and sing the correct way. Since it was already a given that our son is musically inclined from before he could utter a straight word, it was best that his inclinations be nurtured the correct way right from the start. I remember showing my husband a free workshop offered by a pop school and all I got was a frown. Teehee!

At 2 years old Jed can play the drums along his favorite Kids Praise songs and w/correct timing, at that.

As for Trumpets, we were not able to go beyond telephone inquiry and we decided to avail of the services of the very talented Teacher Pau of UST Conservatory of Music instead. It was very convenient that Teacher Pau does music lessons right at our home. But when my husband and I got an invite from Promil for its i-Shine at Acting Trumpets Playshop event, we just had to check it out. Another convenience of homeschooling is that we can call off our classes and go take advantage of things like this. The workshop was held at the STI Center of Arts in The Fort, Taguig.

Promil Pre-School and Trumpets Playshop and the Philippine Association for the Gifted, offered some tips for parents to help them hone their child’s potential at home. Cecile Tamura, Vice President for Parents of the Philippine Association of the Gifted, said that the pre-school age is the stage of development where kids begin to apply what they have learned in their earlier years, with emotional development beginning to partner with their cognitive development.

Trumpets conducted an intimate workshop for the kids who were present

“The child is becoming more and more curious. The character of the child and his interests will begin to emerge at this age. He inquires a lot and he starts developing passion for some things,” described Tamura. Irene Delarmente, Trumpets Playshop instructor, also finds the pre-school age a good time as she feels that this is the stage that children are at their most curious and imaginative.

“I personally think that if you plant the ‘creative seed’ in them this early and continually nurture their interest, enthusiasm and passion as they grow up… chances are that they end up as artistic individuals,” continued Delarmente. “Children are basically ‘sponges’ and if you give them the proper guidance and encouragement, any lesson that you introduce to them at this age will potentially become habit-forming.”

Representatives of Promil, Trumpets Playshop and Phil. Assoc. for the Gifted

She also said that introducing the art of performing to pre-school kids is beneficial in a big way because they will mainly learn about the values of being more confident, self-accepting and sociable. This will actually work for the long haul. Whether he actually becomes the scientist or robot maker he said he wants to be and maybe do Lodging Jobs on the side. As he also mentioned wanting to have a resort of his own someday.

As homeschoolers, I also find this the perfect “supplementary class” for my son. Although he does not exactly have a socialization issue. But this will help him nurture the said important values. We saw how he thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and told us that he can’t wait to enroll in Trumpets. We were told that another batch will start classes this November and we are hoping to hear from them soon.

Thanks to Promil Preschool for hosting an event that more than just have our kids enjoy such workshop but more importantly, remind us, parents, about our pivotal role in the development of our children’s talents.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the total lunar eclipse will begin on June 16, 2011, Thursday at 1:23 a.m. and will end at 7:02 a.m Thursday (Manila Time).

Photo Taken June 15, 2011 at exactly 8:41 P.M.

While I’m not sure about staying up late for the astronomical lunar eclipse treat, I gathered I might as well take photos of the huge moon while sky is clear and I’m still up. Per Wikipedia, this is the first of two total such eclipses in 2011, the second occurring on December 10,2011. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2011_lunar_eclipse)

Photo Taken at exactly 9:17 P.M.

It is said that the June 15 total lunar eclipse will be visible to observers in Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. Tagged as the second darkest total lunar eclipse. The darkest being, that of on July 16, 2000.

The lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the earth’s shadow and can only happen at full moon. One of the major differences between a lunar and solar eclipse is that a lunar eclipse can be viewed from across the entire night side of the earth (depending on the weather). (Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar-eclipse-june-15-2011.html)

Photo Taken at exactly 10:30P.M.

As a homeschooling family, this is something that we can further discuss in our Science class.  My little guy and I have been reading through lunar eclipses, given this upcoming phenomenon. Now that we don’t usually stay up late as much, we figured we might just search the internet for the actual image of the June 2011 lunar eclipse tomorrow.

June 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse by Ethan Vincent Photography

Summer has officially started and so is Promil Preschool’s i-Shine Talent Camp 2011. Last year, my son and I attended the 2010 camp held at the Activity Center in Shangri-la Mall and I remember him having lots of fun during the whole program. Too bad we had to miss this year’s event. But for those who are outside the Metro, you can still catch the schedules. Happening in SM Cebu on April 15-16, SM Rosales (Dagupan) on April 27-28, and SM Davao on May 2-3.

Workshops are led by the country’s leading talent schools: Center for Pop, The Regine Tolentino Dance Studio, and Trumpets Playshop. My husband has long expressed his want to enroll our son in Trumpets Playshop so that our little guy can hone his musical talent. He loves to sing since he can barely run. I’m not sure if he’ll later attend an online university or a regular school. But he’ll sure to take a music instrument or sing sometime in his life. It’s the very first thing he does as soon as he wakes up. Either that or he hums one of The Sound of Music (his current favorite) songs.

He is still enrolled in his Karate class. He’s been in it for six months now and he’s now towards his Orange Belt. It has helped him a lot in terms of his gross motor skills. We’re still looking to have him enrolled in another summer class – Trumpets Playshop perhaps. These kinds of activities keep children productive throughout the rest of Summer. So whether they opt to attend an online university in the future (which I think us homeschoolers are so ready for) or attend a physical university for their college course, will help them to become well rounded individuals and even Shine while they are at it.

To join, simply accompany your kids, ages 4 to 7 years old, to the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp, fill out the registration form, and submit the following requirements: child’s birth certificate, 2 valid IDs of the parent/guardian, parent’s written consent (if the companion is not the child’s parent), and a proof of purchase receipt of Promil Pre-School (any size) dated January 1, 2011 onwards. You can also register online at http://www.ishine.com.ph.

Forgive my lack of posts. Our family has been busy with the little guy’s graduation from ABC’s with Ace and Christi. We have been rehearsing since last week and the week before that was his Karate promotion for Yellow Belt. Whoever said that a homeschooler’s life can be boring couldn’t be more wrong.

Thank God for my reliable VA a.k.a. remote secretary, who is able to deliver jobs that I otherwise had to bury my head in. The below video is my son with fellow karate students during his Shotokan Karate promotion to yellow belt. Forgive the amateurish video. I had to squeeze myself in the crowd. Then I had to pass the camera to the hubby just so I can take photos via the dslr. Yes, I know, it’s one of our many stage parents moments.

We’re thrilled to be enjoying these milestones as our son levels up in both academic and his non-curricular lessons.  Now that we’re back to regular programming, we no longer have to travel several miles for graduation rehearsals, we’ve done a few celebrations – feasted, watched Jed’s favorite “Sound of Music” complete with our makeshift-can-do-for now home theater speakers, sang along and just spent time with each other. We’ll be off to visit Jed’s grandfather in Davao with my husband’s relatives next month, so that’s yet another celebration.

The Galileo Enrichment Learning Program is bringing you a one-day workshop for parents and their grade school children (grades 2 to 4) on Singapore Math entitled “Unlocking the Secrets to Singapore Math.” This workshop aims to educate the participants with solving strategies used by the Singaporeans.

The workshop will be held on February 12, 2011 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Bestsellers, 4th Level, Robinsons Galleria, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City. It will be conducted by a mother-and-son tandem, Dr. Queena Lee-Chua and Scott Chua who are both advocates of the Singapore Math.

For inquiries and registration, please call 898.1234 or email events@galileoenrichment.com.

Math used to be my waterloo. There was this one time that I got scared out of my wits when my father got frustrated with me during one time he had to tutor me in Math during my grade school days. I failed the subject and actually had to take summer class. I am not sure if it was one of the reasons I did kind of excel in it in high school that got me a slot in Math Quiz bee. I could not have imagined! This “Unlocking the Secret to Singapore Math” can just be one avenue that parents could investigate to spare our children from having to get all frustrated and get scared to their wits by their equally frustrated parents. Here is one thing for sure, whatever career they take in the future, be it IT or manufacturing jobs or whatever else, a math skill will do them good in the long haul.

Pursuing learning activities outside the home while we are homeschooling is an important part of our son’s learning process. It may not exactly be dictated in the curriculum that we are using. But it is the supervisor’s (mine) responsibility to be creative and even schedule places we could go to. The convenient thing about this is we can do it at our own sweet time. It often makes for a family day out whenever we do.

Some of the things that we have done so far since we started homeschooling are visits to Ark Avilon Zoo, Zoobic Safari, Nido Discovery, among others. Our son loves reading about animals and planets and seeing these things in an interactive setting makes it all the more real to him. It fascinates him as he learns how the world around him works, learn about the animals and how they survive. It was before we started homeschooling when we went to visit a Butterfly farm nearby. We have to get that scheduled again even as we learn about Flowering trees and plants.

In the coming months we also hope to visit museums and historical sites. This is another important event that we will have to schedule. We choose to supplement this way especially so that we using an international curriculum. This morning, I just purchased entrance fee tickets to Oceanarium at Manila Ocean Park at 30% off. These are the deals that we moms love to take advantage of. Instead of having to pay P400 for entrance fee, I only paid P280 for each ticket. We need to get my boss’s (the husband) approval on the date though. Our son is already looking forward to it. The plan is for our little guy to enjoy while learning about the different species in the ocean and their habitat. It will be the first time that he will take notes now that his fine motor skills are improving.

Singapore has been consistent in their top ten ranking at TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). Their students have mastered a technique which allows them to visualize equations, thus helping them understand Math concepts better and more efficiently. Schools around the world are now implementing this technique, including some of the top schools in the Philippines.

The Galileo Enrichment Learning Program is bringing you a one-day workshop for parents and their grade school children (grades 2 to 4) on Singapore Math entitled “Unlocking the Secrets to Singapore Math.” This workshop aims to educate the participants with solving strategies used by the Singaporeans.

WHERE: Bestsellers, 4th Level, Robinsons Galleria, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City

WHEN: February 12, 2011 (Saturday), 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Learning Fees:

Individual Php 980
Parent and Child Php 1,500

For reservations, please call 898.1234 and look for Meg Fuentes.

The speakers in this seminar are Dr. Queena Lee-Chua and her son Scott.  Dr. Queena Lee-Chua also happened to be my husband’s Math professor in Ateneo during his college days. She is a  mathematician, writer, and lecturer of Mathematics, Psychology and English at the Ateneo de Manila University.

I am actually considering to attend this seminar even if I have blocked out a fitness training I was to attend on the same date. This Singapore Math seminar sounds so interesting that even if I have paid for the fitness seminar ticket and comes with the best diet pills for women that are natural, I might just be willing to let it go. I have been checking back with my physical therapist and I could really make use of this fitness seminar. But I have always been interested about Singapore Math. As a homeschooler, this really could be very handy for us.

On to Grade 1 we go! Our son actually had to take the Post Test exam twice. The requirement was for the student to have a perfect score. So despite how pleased the teacher was with Jed acing his reading test, he has to practice more on his writing skill. After a couple of weeks of practice, he finally got a perfect score on every subject and now we are officially on to Grade/Level 1!

We are pleased that the Living Heritage Academy has this kind of exam that assess students if they are fit for the next level. The thing with homeschooling is that as my son’s Teacher Mama, it will be easy to find myself biased with my own assessment of my son. I like that it is not my call and there is this “quality control” measurement for the students.

I still am not sure if my being a grade school supervisor this time around will be of any difference from that when we were in our preschool program. We have yet to get hold of the manual and paces in the coming couple of weeks. I will know then and maybe I might just be able to squeeze some workout time for myself that I have long putting off for the longest time. Otherwise I might have no choice but to figure out for myself, “does p90x work?” I have some serious firming up some flabs to do.

When my husband and I embarked upon this homeschooling journey middle of 2009, we committed to what we chose for our family. Homeschooling will require that of you, alongside strong conviction and sacrifices, amongst a host of other things.

We also knew that we were in this for the long haul. Despite being frowned upon by well-meaning relatives who knew little to nothing about homeschooling. So far, so good. We cannot be more glad to be breezing through homeschooling as we are now. We are done with our Preschool level and are now on to Level 1.

As my son’s Teacher Mama, I sure had my doubts about homeschooling before we started. But now with the confidence that I now have with the curriculum that we are using, plus the host of homeschooling supplements and resources that I have found online like that of TutorNext.com, I’m almost sure that nothing will hinder my son to excel academically.

Admittedly, I am not very good with numbers. This is when I think TutorNext.com will come to my rescue. From the time my son will learn how to divide, to learning about prime numbers or any random math questions. I know I have forgotten majority of the things I have learned about Math, from the basics to the more complex ones. Now I need not be intimidated.

The key to making homeschooling a success is to be armed with the things that you will need. Yes, I am pretty sold out to the curriculum that we use. But it is also good to have resources that could reinforce the program of your choice.

It has been a while since our family have started maximizing the benefits that we could get from the internet. Aside from having our very business run on it, we have also appreciated how hassle free shopping for things we need is done through it, cost effective and saves us money. Yes it does! Because we get to compare prices and have the choice of grabbing a hold of the better option.

The key is to know where to go. The internet has a vast marketplace and if you are limited to sites that will not give you the maximum benefits of online shopping, then you might as well be doing it the traditional way. As a homeschooling mom, even as I already love our current curriculum, I still look into Children’s Educational Software that might prove to be beneficial to our 5 year old homeschooling kid. Shopwiki, for instance, provides more than just items for sale, tools like choices, recommendations and feedback are provided for us assist our purchase decision. It’s practical one stop shop.

Last Friday, July 20, 2010, I attended  “Trek Around Europa,” a culminating event of the Linggo de Lingua Europa 3. It was a collaboration of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University. The marathon activity ala Amazing Race was held at the Manny V. Pangilinan Building inside the Ateneo University campus in Katipunan.

Students from participating schools all over Manila: Ateneo, Miriam College, UP Diliman, De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Instituto Cervantes Manila, et.al. were first given the floor as they were randomly asked why they think it’s important to learn a foreign language. A handful of students gave their take, including a Chinese exchange student who shared her thoughts about the beauty of exploring different cultures through learning a second tongue. Bloggers and language enthusiasts also graced the event.

Foreign ambassadors and culture representatives of European Union who were present gave short talks as each shared their thoughts about their respective country’s culture and history as they encourage the audience to learn a second language.

With the Spanish subject getting scrapped out of the middle school curriculum even before I was able to appreciate it, my exposure was mainly of foreign languages randomly uttered by my folks and some Dora the Explorer videos too (which my son used to love). This event ignited a want in me to learn a second language. French or Spanish, perhaps.

Here are some of the photos from the marathon ala Amazing Race, wherein we were divided into groups where we need to go visit 8 stations representing a country of the European Union and do tasks at the least possible time. It was a lot like the Island Cove Adventure we had last year but leaning towards the academics this time around. We were practically given crash courses on the language of each EU station representated. Nevermind if pulse oximeters would probably register high pulse rate if I had worn one. It was fun, nonetheless!

A shot with my groupmates Erika and Michelle with Gail (Michelle’s friend) and Señora Heidi Aquino, faculty member of Ateneo de Manila University (Spanish professor of Erika, the sole student in the group).

The Punta Europa gameboard. Guess who was the most thrilled when I got home from the Trek Around Europa event – the little guy no less, who is so much into gameboards lately.

Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines
30/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
Tel. 859.5100
Website: www.delphl.ec.europa.eu

My boys and I attended the launch of the Mind Museum’s online fund raising campaign in Market! Market! last Saturday, May 29, 2010. We also got a taste of what Mind Museum has to offer for family and kids via The Roving Space Shell – a travelling inflatable dome that would bring the wonders of the universe within our reach. The 8-meter diameter Roving Space Shell is from Cosmodome Australia and is the choice of many universities and research institutions around the world, including NASA. This inflatable planetarium can sit up to 50 people comfortably with a 360- degree view of the shows through a high definition projector. This also provides the public a sneak preview of what The Mind Museum, our country’s first world class science museum, will be offering to the public when it opens late next year.

The Roving Space Shell

My boys and I just before we got in the Roving Space Shell

Just got settled inside the Shell waiting for the 25 min. “Impact Earth” show.

This inflatable planetarium experience will be hosted at the Activity Center in Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, from May 29 to June 5, 2010. Those who would want to see the show will only be charged P20. The schedule of the show is hourly from 11 am to 7pm.

You can support The Mind Museum, the Philippines’ first world-class science museum through its redesigned website  - www.themindmuseum.org.  In order for Filipinos to get involved and help build imaginative minds, the Museum is harnessing cyberspace to invite individuals to donate via its first virtual exhibit: “Light a Star at the Mind Museum.”

For P1, 000 or P5, 000, The Mind Museum will light a star or a constellation in its website. Sponsorship could be done online via credit card and eventually through the ATM as well. The goal is to reach 2 million pesos to help light the night sky of The Mind Museum in the form of a Star Cloth in the Universe Gallery. The Museum will show its appreciation to donors by sending an electronic certificate of donation, and by posting on the donors’ FaceBook wall, if they have one. Donors’ names will also appear by their chosen star or constellation in the Museum’s virtual night sky, and they will also be recognized in a donors’ marker in the Universe Gallery.

This is the time of the year where premiums have been paid and the next we have to prepare for are the school expenses. The next homeschool curriculum that our family is going to use for our son is School of Tomorrow’s ready to read program – ABCs with Ace and Christi. Our son will go through this curriculum for approximately 3 months and he will be off to first grade from there.

This year’s homeschool curriculum will be a cheaper than that of the previous one – Preschool with Ace and Christi. The Preschool program used 4 huge manuals, with ABCs we will only be using 2 manuals. We’re grateful that we are able to homeschool. Aside from its benefits, we also get to save a lot from the usual hiked up tuition fees. Just like when you look through life insurance quotes, tuition fee rates in regular schools increase by the year.

The little guy and I are excited to get right back on the homeschool track. Head on over to ChristianHomeschooler.info for updates.

When Alex Dizon had us sign up for a whole day event in Zoobic Safari, I knew I just had to grab hold of the opportunity for a learning experience for the little guy. Since our son has been blogging for sometime now, he also gets to sign up. Nevermind if we had to wake up earlier than usual. It was something all of us (and not just our 5 year old tot) looked forward to.

The event coincided with the launch of Zoobic Safari’s newest attractions: The Zoobic Cave and The Forbidden Cave.  The Zoobic Cave is a taxidermy museum. Real stuffed animals are showcased in this cave that mimics the natural habitat of exotic animals, complete with waterfalls and a pond. The Forbidden Cave took us through a forest with two waterfalls, a shaking hanging bridge and real aetas spitting fire.

A tree planting ceremony led by Mr. Laurel Yupangco, with some representatives of Boy Scouts of the Philippines was held towards the One Big Green Park vision of the Yupangco Group for the Philippines.

Zoobic Safari has ten unique attractions: Tiger Safari, Close Encounter, Savannah, Aetas’ Trail, Croco Loco, Rodent World, Hip Hop Bay-a-walk, Serpentarium, Zoobic Park and Muzooeum. Here are some of the photos I took from our Zoobic Safari Adventure.

Close Encounter Photos

Zoombic Photo is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get pictures taken with live tigers, bear cat, iguanas and python with personalized photo frame in affordable prices. Here was a photo op with Icy, a Syberian tiger.  I thought I wasn’t gonna make it. But I just went right on even as I saw my little guy unafraid.

We were also able to witness the amazing animal show that Zoobic Safari stages during weekends and holidays.  The show features farm and exotic animals with colorful costumes riding in beautifully decorated floats.  They even have flying pigeons and guinea fowls, to name a few.

Zoobic Safari is open daily from 8AM to 4PM including holidays and weekends. Located at Group 1 Ilanin Forest, Forest Adventure, Subic Bay Freeport.

Zoobic Safari
899.9824 | 895.7142
www.zoobic.com.ph

Yesterday, I attended an event for parent bloggers where we were presented 2 of the most creative toys that were recently introduced in the market – ZipBin and RainbowBrush. Just to give you an idea what RainbowBrush is. Here is a video clip of how to get started with these creative pens.

I could spend hours watching the demonstrations with delight.

Here’s more about RainbowBrush:

The amazing thing about RainbowBrush® is you can simply connect any number of RainbowBrush® markers together in any combination and start producing rainbow art in minutes. Use just one at a time, or connect two or more together for the most vibrant, rainbow color combinations you will ever see.

Make it easy for children of all ages and artistic abilities to have hours of fun discovering over 100 different color variations.

Captivate, motivate and educate with these amazing markers! Great for all ages!

Here are three unique features about the markers:

1) The markers look like rockets but actually those “wings” allow you to connect markers up, down, left or right, on both sides.

2) The extra wide nib produces a brush-like application of color to any artwork; or, one multi-color nib when two or more markers are connected and lightly pressed together.

3) RainbowBrush® markers are self-cleaning. Fresh paint replaces any blended or muddy color as you draw.

Other reasons why RainbowBrush markers are great: The ink is non-toxic, water washable and long lasting. (Conforms to ASTM D-4236)

Artists of all ages and abilities can now ‘paint’ on paper, wood or canvas with various rainbow color combinations in a single stroke.

I especially love that these creative markers are non-toxic, washable and last your kid a real long while.  The presenter yesterday was so confident with their markers that he just had to demonstrate it right there on the wall of the cafe we were in. And true enough the ink just came right off with simple wiping of damp cloth.  How’s that for a solution for parents who have to struggle with their kids to keep their markers off the wall?

Incidentally, RainbowBrush is sponsoring an art contest from May 1-23 (Saturdays and Sundays only), from 2PM – 5PM.  You can walk-in register your child on the event with a minimum purchase of P300 worth of Zahazhiki products.  But you can also PRE-REGISTER HERE and all you need to buy is P100 worth of Zhazhiki products (RainbowBrush, Crayola, Zipbin, Yoropen, Geddes Crayons, Mic-o-mic) purchased in Toy Kingdom, Megamall within the month of May 2010. All you need to do is show up at the event with your receipt. All materials that your child will be using in the event will be provided for.

Register Your Child Here

I have not joined WW for a while now. Our son’s graduation pictorial day got me back to wanting to share pictures again to the meme group. Here’s one of the pictures the hubby took as the official photographer was taking shots of him.

It is always a long travel when our family has to go to Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow in Paranaque and lately that was what we have been doing for our son’s graduation rehearsals. It is so tiring, to say the least. Especially because the car’s a/c unit cannot anymore cope up with the extreme heat we have. What I have been doing is pay closer attention to the hubby’s driving so that I would not get lost, since we do not have a gps. Just in case I might have to drive myself, given the chance that he won’t be available to drive us. I honestly am not the best person when it comes to directions. And that, I’m putting really lightly.

Today I was  finally able to finish my son’s progress report.  This is how School of Tomorrow’s Progress Report of Preschool with Ace and Christi (front) looks like.  We have finished 35 letter sounds.  In this program, the child is not expected to learn how to read just yet but half way through, our son was already able to read with ease.  You can read more about his progress in our homeschool blog –  ChristianHomeschooler.info.

]]> http://www.marriageandbeyond.com/2010/02/24/jeds-progress-report/feed/ 0 http://www.marriageandbeyond.com/2010/01/07/i-can-with-aica/ http://www.marriageandbeyond.com/2010/01/07/i-can-with-aica/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:24:11 +0000 Jeff http://www.marriageandbeyond.com/?p=4890 The Academy for International Culinary Arts (AICA) is giving away one (1) FREE Culinary Diploma Course Scholarship. No strings attached! Just fill out the form  and you will be considered eligible for the scholarship selection! JOIN NOW AND WIN A SCHOLARSHIP – http://aicaculinary.com/scholarship For five years now, the Academy for International Culinary Arts (AICA) has [...]]]>

The Academy for International Culinary Arts (AICA) is giving away one (1) FREE Culinary Diploma Course Scholarship. No strings attached! Just fill out the form  and you will be considered eligible for the scholarship selection!

JOIN NOW AND WIN A SCHOLARSHIP – http://aicaculinary.com/scholarship

For five years now, the Academy for International Culinary Arts (AICA) has consistently delivered excellence in Culinary Education. We take pride in establishing within our students a strong foundation of the Culinary Arts, allowing them to stand out and excel in the industry. To continue this tradition of Culinary Excellence, we have launched the I CAN WITH AICA Scholarship Program. We believe that by giving an International Culinary Arts & Professional Kitchen Management scholarship to an aspiring student for free, we are passing on our vision of Culinary Excellence to a new generation. This scholarship aims to solidify within the student the necessary foundation that will allow for his/her success in the Industry. We empower them to firmly believe “I can achieve my goals… I can go beyond the standard… I can reach my dreams… I CAN WITH AICA”.

We attended yesterday, December 4, 2009, our very first Annual Homeschoolers Christmas Fellowship over at Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow in Paranaque City.  It was a huge school. I heard from the hubby that it was formerly a Japanese International School.  If only we live close by, then we won’t think twice in enrolling our little guy in this school if and when we’ll graduate him from homeschooling.  What’s important is they’re using the same curriculum that we want for our child.  

After registration and having lunch, the hosts presented an AVP that summarizes the what happened throughout the year.  It was followed by presenting the students who joined the different student conventions that is held yearly.  More importantly we were happy to be able to get acquainted with other homeschooling parents in the Philippines.  Some of them came all the way from different provinces and even foreign nationals from miami, even Burma.  

After the puppet show presentation, the children were divided into groups by level and went to designated classrooms.  Homeschooling parents were divided into groups and did some team building activities.  It was fun! I also got to meet a lovely fellow blogger/homeschooler.  Homeschooling may not yet be the norm in our society and I still believe that it is not for everyone.  It all goes right back to what George Morrison pointed out about the need to educate women of the world.  Educated women will more likely produce children who can reach their potential or even exceed it.  Not because of genes that the child will inherit but because of her unique influence on her offsprings.  

The country celebrates the National Week for the Gifted and Talented on November 22 to 28. The annual event, held every fourth week of November, was declared through Presidential Proclamation No. 199 by then President Joseph Estrada in 1999, to promote opportunities for talented children and to help parents and teachers foster an environment for children to nurture their potentials and utilize their skills at home, school and the community. This is also the time to recognize the exemplary performance of gifted and talented Filipino children all over in the country.

In celebration of the National Week for the Gifted and Talented, the Philippine Association for the Gifted (PAG) is holding its 12th Annual Convention-Workshop. Entitled “Nurturing Giftedness: New Directions” and slated on November 25 to 26 at the Mandarin Oriental Suites, Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, the event will serve as a venue to learn new methods in nurturing children’s talents and potentials. Hundreds of parents, teachers, school administrators, guidance counselors and professors are expected to attend the workshop.

The workshop will be facilitated by Gifted and Talented Specialist, Ms. Mary Ellen Ryan, who will also share her Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), which shows teachers how to develop students’ talents by assessing their strengths and providing enrichment through resources and services. Ryan completed her Master’s Degree in Gifted and Talented Education at the University of Connecticut and currently works as an Enrichment Specialist at the Hong Kong International School.