Moriah started school this week! She is attending a very small, new Christian school called Tender Sprouts, located right on Rizal Ave., one of the main streets here in Olongapo, PI. Joel and I visited several other schools early on, and had even committed to one prior to finding Tender Sprouts. We stumbled upon it as we were walking one morning. We went inside, met Teacher Lany (as Moriah calls her) and came away feeling like this school would best suit Moriah’s needs during our time here.

One reason we were drawn to this school was simply the distance. Its about a 2 min. walk from our house! Every other school we visited would have required us to take transportation. Another reason we chose the school was because the teacher offered to do daily, one on one Tagalog tutoring with Moriah. This was at no extra charge, so we were very thankful for that

There are only 10 or so students of various ages (b/t 3yrs-10yrs.) and the ACE curriculum used is very flexible for Moriah. Because they use paces, Moriah is able to move at her own speed, without the pressure of moving to fast or the boredom of being taught things she already knows. This also allows her some freedom to miss a day here or there when we need her to, b/c of our current busy schedule with the immersion teams here. Some of her schoolwork is “kinder-2” level, and other things are grade 1 level. Kinder-1 and kinder-2 are their preschool levels here, and grade 1 is similar to 1^st grade in the States, at least that’s what Ive understood about their school system so far…

I walk Moriah to school every morning at 9am, and pick her up at 2pm. She has a one hour lunch break from 12-1. The final hour is her Tagalog tutoring. The school has a high emphasis on behavioral teaching as well as academic. Moriah is really enjoying school. I think the structure, and being around kids her age is going to help her a lot. The first day, I picked her up for lunch and took her back for tutoring. The next day she asked to stay and eat her lunch with everyone else. I was comforted by her desire to be there. The teacher often shares her food with her- rice, chicken adobo, etc. That seems the beat the PBJ I fix for her, LOL. All the other kids eat traditional Filipino food freshly cooked. I guess I’m going to have to step it up a bit I know it is very different for them to have a white girl there, as it is different for me to be sending her there. The teacher and I are working through our communication and I am trying to learn their ways of doing things. Moriah is a trooper. She has had so much to adjust to here, and Ive been surprised at her ability to vocalize this transition for herself. She is a strong little girl.