In a few weeks, our daughter will already be attending pre-school at Westhill International School (WIS). Choosing among three schools in Cavite, which you can read from my previous post here, is a tough decision. But factors which will affect our lifestyle were considered.
 |
| Hallway in Westhill (notice that they display student’s artwork/activities outside each classroom) |
Westhill International School is located in Salitran IV, Dasmarinas, Cavite. It is founded by a Presbyterian Korean Missionary Grace Eun Sook Im in June 2001 as PTS International Christian School (PTSICS). Missionary Eun Sook Im’s life focused on her ministry marked by these two objectives: academic excellence and Christian unity. It was her dream to provide education to the youth and use education to bring the youth into Christianity.
We are a Catholic family (and no plans on being Born Again Christians) but as long as kids are taught good values in this school, it will then be my husband and I’s responsibility to teach Kelsea the Catholic side when it comes to religion.
Here are “our” reasons why we chose this school for her (not in any order):
1. Proximity
The school is just 10-15mins away from home. If I drive faster, it could be less but I can’t do that for safety reasons. There’s no traffic in that area. When things go smooth (that means when she can be already left in school), I can easily go back home to do house chores and work before I fetch her again.
2. Tuition Fee
I was really surprised how expensive tuition fee nowadays are. But come to think of it, early childhood years are very important when it comes to education. It is those years that kids absorb what they learn easily. And pre-school kids are really difficult to handle. So teachers must really be good in teaching academics and good values. The tuition fee in this school is expensive compared to other schools because it is a progressive school. There are only a few students per class so your kid will surely be given attention. For Nursery, tuition fee already includes books, school supplies and 1 set of uniform. A plus for me here is that they have sibling discounts 🙂
3. Student-Teacher Ratio
In pre-school here, there are only less than 15 or 16 students with 1 teacher and 1 teacher aide. Sometimes there are even less than 10 students in a class. So we are assured that our kid will be given her needed attention. This school also won our hearts because we were able to talk to two teachers, the Kindergarten teacher and a high school teacher, who explained to us what to expect from this school. For the three times I visited this school, I was able to see the founder twice and was also greeted a Good Morning 🙂
4. Teaching Method
WIS is a traditional school but their pre-school curriculum is Maria Montessori-based wherein they have transitions and routines for the child to develop their physical, emotional, intellectual and social aspects. Based from the Kindergarten teacher who oriented us, they provide individualized teaching (one-on-one) but also have circle time wherein kids will learn together with the whole class. They will also be given free time to play.
5. Classroom
Since pre-school is Maria Montessori-based, the classroom is designed to encourage the kids to feel their pysical learning environment and discover life just like at home. Different parts of the classroom will give them the opportunity to explore and enhance on what they’re good at.
Here are some pictures I took of their Nursery classroom…
 |
| Guess where Kelsea went to try first? 🙂 |
 |
| Feels like home |
We like this kind of set-up because it seems like home. The tables and chairs where nowhere to be seen that time because they were being cleaned up in preparation for the summer school which started last April 16. The room is air-conditioned but also with rotating ceiling fans in case of power interruption.
There are also other areas in the school for specific activities like dining area, library, function hall, nice comfort room for kids, HELE room (for Health, Language, etc), Computer Lab, etc.
Since it is an International School, they have an international-based curriculum. When I asked the Kindergarten teacher about the K12 education, the school is not yet K12 ready but she explained to me that they regularly assess their students if the kid can be moved up to the level where she’s more suited based on academic abilities. She assured me that their teaching is also advanced.
I shared to her that Kelsea was accepted in Seton for Kinder 1 (K12-ready school – 3yo going to 4yo are put in Kinder 1) and asked if she can consider her for Kinder in WIS. The teacher explained to me properly that since my daughter has no previous schooling yet (except for me homeschooling her in some way and attended Kindermusik class), she needs to be in Nursery first. But if they see that she’s really a fast learner and ready for Kindergarten, then will transfer her. I’m okay with this. I don’t want to pressure our child.
6. Feedback from parents whose kids study in WIS
A lot of our co-homeowners’s kids in our village study in WIS. I have talked to 3 mothers (2 who are my co-Avida agents and 1 who I met in the playground) who told me that it is a very good school when it comes to teaching. I also noticed that their kids converse well in English.
Well, we will learn more about this school and how Kelsea will adapt to it soon. It will be a big adjustment for us especially on our daily routine but it will be the start of our daughter’s formal education which is the reason why we are working very hard just like other parents.
I’m excited and so is she! 🙂
Contact Info:
Westhill International School
Website: www.westhill.edu.ph
have fun in school Kelsea! Maia will miss you but i’m sure you’ll still see each other in future playdates :))
Lovely classroom! It does seem like home. 🙂
It really feels like home in the school’s Nursery and Kinder classrooms that’s why Kelsea’s enjoying school very much 🙂
Hi Glamma Momma, thanks very much for these articles, very useful, helped us to make our minds up
Hi Glomma Momma, i would like to ask if your daughter is still in WIS? How is she in her school?
Hi! Yes, we’re still enrolling her this coming school year. She improved a lot in terms of socialization. She’s so shy before but now nabawasan na 🙂 She also sees her school as a fun place to go. Always telling me she misses her classmates and teacher on weekends. I’m happy also because she got an academic excellence award during their recognition day.
Hi glammamomma! How old was kelsea when she started school in westhill?
She was 3 yrs and 7 mos when she entered WIS. Some of her classmates were even younger by 3-4 mos.
Hi glammamomma, your blog really amazed me, very detailed. I believe Kelsea is still in WIS, isn’t she? You know its been a year once i started scouting preschools for my son Naith. He started 2 y.o in gymboree however we stopped his schooling because I don’t want to spend a lot of money in gasoline, it took me 45 mins drive to reach his school in gymboree alabang which is not really practical. So I’ve been looking for a school like gymboree as I want to instill learning to my son through fun activities. he can easily learn and follow instruction through games, playing etc. as he has difficulty in socialization and following instruction. that’s why I think WIS is the right school for naith as they do indivisualized teaching. I would like to check Kelsea in WIS, does she improved a lot this year? would you recommend WIS to my son?
Hi Emmz,
Thanks for dropping by! Are you also from Cavite? How old is your son now? I highly recommend WIS based from our experience but I’m not in the position to say that it will be the best school for your son. Only you can tell based from your son’s needs. I suggest you visit the school and bring your son so he can feel what its like to be in a big school 🙂 The teachers and staff there are very accommodating and you’ll fee their love for the students.
Good luck on your school hunting!
Hi glammamomma, Thank you for your reply. Good to hear that kelsea is still in WIS. My son Naith is 3 y.o, Im in dubau right now and he’s living with my dad. He’s really bright but then he talk less and have this difficulty in following instruction s and easily irritated when he didn’t get what he wants. I think being alone with dad is one of the contributing factor. he really seeks for attention. we have really noticed that when he went here for vacation last month. He went here for 2 mos, first month, I was really struggling on how to impose superiority to him then after 1 month i was able to handle him. Now he’s back in the philippines, This really bothers me alot that it couldn be worsen if i didn’t do anything to prevent this. lots of schools that we have went through said that he’s academically advance but there is only one thing made them refused that they’re afraid they won’t be able to handle Naith when he’s tantrums strikes again. this might also distract other kids in the classroom. We decided to try westhill and they said that they can handle kids like Naith. As per their assessment, Naith really requires socialization. And I really agree with them, I believe putting Naith in a big school will change his behavior. And I think progressive school is the right school for naith. I feel secured and assured that Naith will get the attention that he really needed. I know first 3 months in school will be really tough for Naith and his teacher but eventually he’ll be comfortable with it and he will also find his school as a fun place to go when it became a part of his daily routine.
Hi glamma momma! I’m currently looking for a school for my 3 year old son and looking at WIS profile online got me excited. I feel that this a school that my son would enjoy going to and will help him enhance his skills and abilities. I am a single mom and I would like to have an idea on how expensive the tuition fee is.
Hi Glammamomma!
Thanks for this informative blog about WIS.
I am at the state of scouting good schools around Salitran area, as I will be new in the neighborhood on the next few months.
I am not familiar with schools in the area, when a friend of mine mentioned school names, I started searching for the schools, as all parents do, we wanted to have the best quality of education for our kids.
What I am worried is that if my daughter attends in WIS or other schools, she will be Grade 2, so it will really be a big adjustment, as she will be in a new neighborhood, new school, new classmates plus the fact that I am working abroad and will not be there to supervise her.
Thank you for the info, this will be very helpful on my school scouting.
More power & God bless!
*AG*
Thanks for dropping by my blog 🙂 Were you able to enroll her in WIS for this SY?
Thank you so much for this post! Westhill Is an amazing institution and this is truly a great tool of letting people know why they must enroll their child to Westhill! Congratulations and see you soon! – Teacher Mike
Thank you for spreading the news about WIS. You made the right choice by bringing Kelsey to Westhill International School. Congratulations and see you next school year! – T. Mike
Thanks T. Mike! Hope to meet you soon 🙂
Hi , good pm! Just want to ask if this school is near to Camella homes springville Molino 3 Bacoor cavite ?? Coz I’m looking for school for my son ..can you recommend this for grade 7 transfeeree …is the school providing a school bus service in case ?? Please advise ..thanks !!
Hi! Thanks for dropping by my blog! Westhill is in Dasmarinas and a little far from Molino 3. I’m not sure if they offer school service in your area. It would be better to call them to know more info re school service 🙂