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My daughter Benz started her Reading and Math Enrichment at St. Ambrose last April 25, 2012. It was a 10 day session comprise of 1 hour per session. Armed with just her knowledge of the Alphabet song and numbers 1 to 10 she started her journey to the new frontier called kindergarten.

I must admit that I am a bit a shame that we never got to teach her to write but am very proud that she can draw, color, & paint beautifully. We never got to teach her how to read but am very proud that she speaks several languages. Benz doesn’t only speak English well, but she has a very wide vocabulary. She uses words like Imagination, conclusion, accident and many more. She speaks Mandarin, Spanish, and a little French. She understands Fookien and Pampango. Sometimes I wonder if this makes it hard for her to learn basic reading.

On her first day, she came out in the middle of her class teary eyed saying “mom it’s too hard”. I was worried. It’s a good thing that her teachers, Teacher Normie and Teacher Love followed her and gently pursued her to return to the room. She did although a little apprehensive. For the first 3 days homework was a struggle. She seemed uninterested and appalled by it. By the 4^th & 5^th day she was more obliging. Her teachers “very good” in her seatworks inspire her.

By the 8^th day, Benz can’t just read, she can spell ! This is from a 6 year old who never wrote nor read, in 8 days she has a half filled notebook of her “work”. I thank her reading teacher, Teacher Love for being patient, for finding ways to arouse her interest to do more, to learn more.

Benz started her math with only “1 to 10”, in 8 days she knows up to 100! She can add numbers in groups. She knows '< '> and =. I thank her math teacher, Teacher Normie for guiding her. She helped Benz discover that she loves numbers.

I believe that every childs first experience in school is dreadful, dreadful to the child and to the parents. It is during these first moments that one could make or break a child. My experience with St. Ambrose was very pleasant. It was very pleasant from the very first day where my inquiries were graciously entertained by Nursery Teacher, Teacher Ehmy. It was likewise subsequently pleasing as Benz’s took her entrance exam and evaluation where Teacher Det did not “scold” us for our nominal teachings but rather hearten us.

Benz finished her enrichment classes last May 10, 2012 and I can proudly say that I chose the right school for her.

a baby was born

We were blessed with a healthy baby girl after 10 years of hoping. My husband & I were so thankful. Although the pregnancy progression was life & death - 24/7, it was all worth it. Benz was born September 17, 2005 at 7:19 AM with a weight of 5.2 pounds. She was a very tiny, frail baby. Everybody was so afraid if she would make it. She refuses to take her milk & cries all the time. But she was God’s gift to Ben & me, she fought to survive.

Years passed, a lot of trials brought us to tears. We were so afraid many times of losing her to illness but God is Good ! He will never take away the precious gift He gave us. Every 17^th of every month since Benz was born, we always had our thanksgiving, we will prepare “pancit” or “pasta”, a sign for long life to rejoice & give thanks for having our daughter.

This year is the first time we will let her join the outside world - school. We were so protective of her that unlike other parents who send out their kids to school at the age of 3, were sending Benz to school at the age of 6. We never really tutored her at home. We didn’t teach her the alphabet or numbers. We never taught her how to read nor write, although we had our simple mention of colors and shapes - she loves to draw. Her constant teacher was the television. She watches a lot of educational shows which aided her as she grew.

Honestly, we were more terrified that she’s going to school than she was. Benz was thrilled! She was ever so enthusiastic. You see, we call her “Ms. Congeniality” LOL cause she make friends everywhere she go.

Now the critical part is to find the appropriate school for her. A school who will understand her & teachers that will be patient enough to teach and guide her. School is new to her. Rules and Regulations are new to her. All her life it was always play time. Now it’s time to get serious.

I scouted around. I found a couple of high end schools but sad to say the feedbacks about them in the parents forum is not nice, and to think that they are really really expensive. Then I remembered this “Cute” school which I pass through every day when I was still going to work. “I’ll check it out one of this days” I told myself. So I did.

It’s been been 8 days now since Benz started her summer class. We first had to prepare her for her written and oral examination. We barely had a week to teach her everything in a crash course. Now she can read (a little) and do addition of numbers in a group ! It seems that she loves numbers ! She’s made friends & has seemingly matured a little.

This blog is dedicated not only to share Benz’s growth in school but also to share the great school she’s in – St. Ambrose School.

“At St. Ambrose School each child is treated as a unique individual. We always look for strategies that build on the child’s unique strengths and help him/her participate fully within the community.

Our Speical Education Program offers a carefully planned, stimulating and safe environment which creates an atmosphere that enables children with special needs to learn at his/her own pace according to his/her own capabilities. An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is formulated for each exceptional child. They are guided to academic learning with a goal to provide them the opportunity to develop to their full potential.”

Their Philosophy : Inspired by a belief that each individual is uniquely created by God to be treated with the dignity and respect. Saint Ambrose School is commited to provide a positive learning atmosphere conducive to academic achievement and individual growth within a Christ-Centered environment.