Jun 12, 2011

Back to a new school

It's back to school once more. This time the anxiety for my household is quite different. The kids are going to new schools. Sean is going to Divine Light Academy (DLA) while Andre will be going to Montessori dei San Lorenzo. Moving from Makati to Cavite has been a huge turnaround for us. At first it was really difficult having to move out from the urban, convenient way of life, where the supermarket is just around the corner and public transport is just a jump away. But the desire to have a bigger space and cleaner, better environment especially for growing kids gets stronger by the day. So now we're here, and so far, so good.

Sean's choice of going to Divine Light instead of Montessori was driven by his familiarity and being used to big schools. Coming from Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, where the average number of students per class is 40, Sean will be needing less adjustment in Divine Light. And based on my own research, DLA may be able to provide an academic environment much like that in DBTI (my fingers are crossed).  The big adjustment will come from being able to mingle with girls, because DBTI is an all-boys school, which is, I can only guess, better for him to learn how to associate with both sexes. 
My impression of DLA is that they're quite organized, at least with the admission and enrollment procedures, quite comparable to DBTI's tested efficient system. I opted to buy their entire package of school supplies for my kid, it's more convenient. Uniforms are customized, you can't buy ready-made from them. Their own tailor does it so give ample time for the sewing. 
I am only hoping for the best for I am now going to stop comparing my son's new and old schools.

Divine Light Academy Molino Campus: Tuition Fee around 40,000 to 50,000 per year depending on the level including book and notebooks; Pre-school to Highschool; located in Town and Country West, Molino, Class size-30 to 35, Grade 4 has currently 4 sections. (Disclaimer: All errors are mine, for more accurate information- please call DLA Molino).
Address: Alicante Street, Town and Country West Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite
4102 Philippines
Trunk lines: (046)5174321 to 22/(046)5171044
Admissions local 301 to 302
Or send email to dlacavite_admissions@yahoo.com or dlacavite@yahoo.com
For school service (of those residing inside and around Camella Cerritos-Ponticelli communities, call 09282269548.

41 comments:

  1. how montessori dei san lorenzo?/ what can u say bout that skul?? any info?coz im planning to enrol my son there??

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    1. My younger son is now in Montessori dei San Lorenzo in preschool level. Is your son also in preschool? So far, he's doing fine there. :)

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  2. Hi! Is your son going for the grade school? Hmmm, I say that you might want to look around for more choices. MDSL is fine but I don't quite like their facilities (meaning- their rooms for pre-school &they don't have a place where the kids can play). For grade school, you might want to check out Divine Light Academy or Statefields. :)

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  3. And oh by the way, MDSL's tuition fee is cheaper than those two schools I mentioned...They have a different approach in teaching pre-school. I was hoping to see a lot of art works and more innovative way of teaching in MDSL. I guess I'm comparing it from my sons' previous pre-school, which I should not. Aside from these, I think they're doing just fine. They helped my son a lot during his adjustment period.

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  4. hi! I'm scouting around for a school for my daughter next year. How's DLA so far?

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    1. Hi there! Sorry for the super delayed response, I've been away and busy, I apologize. Yeah so far it's okay. My son just needs to get used to the DLA ways, his former school was more on the application side when it comes to quizzes and exams.

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  5. Hi Aubrey. I am an alumni of DLA :D Dropped by to say "Hi!" and to say that Sean's won't regret his choice of school :)

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    1. Thanks for dropping by. I can see now that it's also good for him to have classmates who are girls..coz he used to be in an all-boys school.

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  6. hi is st. john fisher ok? its cheaper there compared to DLA. i have 2 kids incoming grade 6 and 2nd year highschool. my problem is DLA doesn't accept grade 6 students not unless they are at least in the top 5 of their class. we just moved in last november in cerritos heights. im having a hard time choosing school. please help. thanks!

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    1. Hi! Honestly, when I did my own research, Fisher did not come up. It was mostly DLA and Statefields. Good luck!

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    2. try Harrell Horne Integrated School, it's located inside Bahayang Pag-asa Subd. The tuition fee is just right around Php 35K including books for Elementary and around Php 43K for Highschool.visit www.harrellhorne.edu.ph. I saw tarps of their students passing also in UP, UST, DLSU-Manila.

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  7. hi!am also moving to cerritos heights very soon and is currently scouting for a preschool for my 4 year old son...i prefer one with the progressive approach rather than traditional...do you have any recommendations? thanks:)

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  8. Hi there! I also like the non-traditional approach. Montessori is fine, you should try go and inquire. You might also want to check Statefields and see what they got...I think they have more than just academics. Good luck!

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  9. By the way, Montessori dei San Lorenzo's current tuition fee for pre-school is around P22,800 (books and uniform excluded).

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    1. Need only about P8000 as initial payment at Montessori dei San Lorenzo.:)

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    2. Hi Audery,

      Your blog is really helpful. Thanks a lot. I'm also considering MDSL for my son, as we're also transferring to Molino 4 anytime soon.

      This might be a bit late move but I don't have any choice. Would you know what is the average number of students per section in MDSL, especially Grade 2?

      Thanks a lot.

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  10. Hi there! DLA is ok but every year nagtataas sila ng tuition fee...my daughter starts there from Nursery and now she's in Grade 4 this coming school year.

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    1. You're right Irene, this year is my son's second year at DLA. I hope the increase will be worth it. :)

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  11. I think Montessori dei san lorenzo is not good as you expected :( all rooms for preschool are too small. A lot of teachers are now resigning. I heard they dont have substitute teacher when the teacher for a certain subject is not around. They allowed to teach the student with the same grade or the classmate of the student. As a parent is that ok for you to know that 3 or more days the classmate of your child is the one teaching them? What kind of school is this? Lack of facilities, lack of teachers ..

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    1. Hi there! Now that is sad. Really. I have to check this out. I have overheard before that they seemed to have problems involving higher grade levels. It seems that MDSL had expanded quite rapidly, from pre-school only to grade school and high school, but that their workforce had not kept up. Maybe teachers are given quite a lot of load which can affect their ability to perform. I, personally, think that they lack facilities, the pre-school kids do not have an outdoor area to play on and explore; and I expected more in terms of activities like presentations during important events that can develop their skills and personality more. If you are hearing things from your kids like the teacher is different and that their classmates are substituting, I guess it's better to talk with the administration. It's good that they can hear feedback for the improvement of the school. I'll try to make a call and will post any update here in my blog. I really appreciate your comment.:)

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  12. I think Montessori dei san lorenzo is not good as you expected :( all rooms for preschool are too small. A lot of teachers are now resigning. I heard they dont have substitute teacher when the teacher for a certain subject is not around. They allowed to teach the student with the same grade or the classmate of the student. As a parent is that ok for you to know that 3 or more days the classmate of your child is the one teaching them? What kind of school is this? Lack of facilities, lack of teachers ..

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  13. That's sad news about MDSL. I'm planning to enroll my kid there next year as grade 1, as I think MSDL is the best school inside camella subd. We live inside camella, so very convenient ang location. Statefields and Divine Light are good schools, but I can't afford their 40k and up tuition fee. I wonder what's the problem with their teachers and management.

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    1. Hi there! Thanks for dropping by. I will check this with the school and will post any update I get in my blog. It's really difficult if this is true because the other options are as you say expensive. The best thing to do now is to alarm the administration so that they can work on an effective solution.

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    2. Hello, any news about MDSL? I have overheard a lot of parents are complaining last month (distribution of card)and was not entertain by the owner of the school.. What is the problem with the school?

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  14. Hi Guys,

    I live at lessandra heights and my daughter will be moving from MDSL to unknown still. We are in need of advice and help, she is going to kinder/casa 2 and we are not satisfied with MDSL. Is DLA really worth it? please reply.

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    1. Hi there! try to visit Harrell Horne Integrated School, its inside Bahayang Pag-asa Subd. Tuition fee is not that pricey compared to DLA, SSI and UPHR. I visited them last week and we'll be going back for the assessment after the Holy Week.

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    2. where is it located? newbie here sa daang hari. also, do you know any speech therapists?

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  15. Hello guys! I heard MDSL has some changes with regards to their management. The distribution of cards incident was caused by a teacher who didn't fulfill her obligations to the school that's why the school dismissed her. They are re-screening their teachers because of this daw. My kid is enrolled there and for me MDSL provides good education compared to other schools that has the same range of tuition fee. DLA and Statefields are way pricier, they are expected to provide good facilities.:)

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  16. Opt for DLA and SSI..these are schools that most of my neighbors and friends recommends. DLA has a higher passing rate than other schools, and SSI by this time will be mostly full and sometimes you will end up in their waiting list, meaning even without advertisements or tarps that UPHR always do every enrollment time...but by word of mouth of parents of enrolled students at SSI..i think it is worth the wait even though pricey as they say. And year round they have an extensive line of workshop that will help your child to be the best though they don't dwell so much on the extra curricular activities

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  17. I inquired at DLA, SSI and UPHR...i find staff of DLA and SSI very approachable and friendly....

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  18. hi, How about the location, especially during the rainy season, heard its just beside a water reservoir, wala bang baha?
    How about the community and security? no issues? How about the accessibility, traffic etc..any inconvenience? thanks in advance

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  19. Hi Audery,

    Your blog is really helpful. Thanks a lot. I'm also considering MDSL for my son, as we're also transferring to Molino 4 anytime soon.

    This might be a bit late move but I don't have any choice. Would you know what is the average number of students per section in MDSL, especially Grade 2?

    Thanks a lot.

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  20. Hello would you know how much is the initial payment in SSI? (down payment). How about Harrell Horne any recent feedback? Im considering them kasi.

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  21. hello, how much is the initial payment or total tuition fee a year in Divine light academy if my kid will be Grade 2 this coming june.. planning to transfer her in DLA .. thanks!:)

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  22. Too bad I was not able to reply to these comments. As you may all be aware, tuition fees usually change every year and I am not sure as to the exact amount but the 3rd Grader in DLA would have a tuition fee of around 50k if I'm not mistaken. A Grade 2 pupil should have a slightly lower fee.

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  23. Hi Aubrey,
    How are your kids doing at school? I have a 4 year old who needs to transfer mid of this school year. She was enrolled at a small preschool inside Woodestate Subdivision, but we have now moved to Camella Springville. I'm so torn between transferring her now and/or just wait til next school year.

    Any thoughts?

    Thanks in advance.

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  24. what about high school in DLA is it better than UPRH? This 2 schools are my top list for my incoming grade 7. Thank you

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  25. DLA and Statefields are the best schools in the area. I'm an alumni of both schools, DLA (elementary) and SSI (HS).. Statefields (SSI) is more on the extra-curricular side of learning as they value Multiple Intelligence. I can say it's a mix of workshop (art, drama, music, sports) and academics. Facilities, top-notch.

    Meanwhile, DLA is more on the academic side, and they great at that. Makes students have strong foundation on Academics. Proven. I transferred to SSI during HS, and even with minimal to no study at all during exams (major or minor exams), I'm still making it to the Vice Principal's list (honors). Awesome right?!Facilities, above average.

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  26. My kid was in DLA from preschool to present, and we're planning to transfer her na to SSI this school year. Ang laki ng increase this year ng DLA, and sadly, I haven't seen great improvement sa facilities in the past half-decade na nag-aaral doon ang anak ko. :(

    Also, if you enroll your child in DLA, be very prepared for the pressure of exams and quizzes. When they said they are focused mostly on academics - they weren't kidding. While this is really helpful in molding your child when it comes to acads, medyo hardcore sya at nakaka-stress talaga for kids. And often, mastery of a topic suffers kasi they try to squeeze as many topics into a quarter talaga. If you can't catch up, you would really be lagging behind. Walang masyadong extra-curricular activities, which for some parents are okay kasi wala daw masyadong gastos. Unfortunately though, dahil bilang mo lang sa isang kamay halos ang extra curricular, medyo hindi balanse ang growth and development ng mga bata.

    I inquired at SSI and had a tour of the school - definitely understandable kung bakit mas mahal. Mas madami ang included sa tuition fee (save for books and notebooks), and the facilities are complete, bago, at maayos. They have several labs, multiple canteens, modern audio-visual facilities per classroom, and they even have a dance studio. As far as academics are concerned, DLA and SSI are always neck and neck with each other. Actually lately, mas ahead ang SSI in some interschool competitions they both participate in.

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    1. Hi, May I know what level is your child at DLA? My son is there also (grade 6 and incoming Grade 7 but eyeing to transfer him also. Thanks

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  27. Hello Mommies, does anyone here know how much is the tuition for grade 1 in SSI? Planning to transfer my son... Thanks in advance! :)

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