Our Journey: Visiting 8 Schools to Find the Perfect Fit!
I would like to share with you our experience in looking for a school for my son who just finished junior highschool. He was in a regular school from nursery to Grade 3, mainstreamed at Grade 4. homeschooled for Grade 5-Grade 7, then online class for Grade 8-10.
Yes after 6 years of studying at home, we decided to let him go back to a face to face class this school year as a senior highschool student.
The first school that we went to was a Catholic school near our place (in Bahayang Pag-Asa in Bacoor). I decided to check this school because some of Ren’s previous classmates (typical kids) in elementary are studying here. But when I asked if they do accept kids under the spectrum. they said that only if he will pass the entrance exam. And if the principal will accept him after the interview.
The 2nd school was also nearby, I checked it out because some of Ren’s previous classmates also are studying here. But when I asked if they accept kids under spectrum, I was surprised when they said that it would be the first time that they will accept if ever. Ren’s classmates who are studying here are both with ADHD, but I don’t know if their parents declared it at school or not. Or if the person that we talked to did not know about those kids or the similarities of ADHD and ASD.
Ren likes the building and facilities of the 3rd school that we went to. They only cater to junior and senior highschool students but they only offer 2 strands for senior highschool which is STEM and ABM. It looks like they do not accept kids under the spectrum since they did not reply to my inquiry about it.
We had the worst experience with the 4th school we have visited. Although I don’t like the location since it’s always traffic going there, I decided to check them out because there is a word “special” in their school name and yes I know some kids who have special needs that are enrolled there. I also heard good reviews of this school so I have high expectations. When I inquired, the principal checked my son’s grades from his previous school and told me that she “doesn’t believe” on those numbers because he came from an online class. Iba daw kapag face-to-face talaga. Well I understand her reaction naman to be honest and she has the right to express her opinion.
She gave a date for us to go back for an exam and interview (again). After a week we went back to the school only to find out that we were NOT scheduled and the SPED department were NOT informed about our presence. In short they were surprised when we arrived. The teacher just let me fill up a form and told us to just wait for another schedule for assessment. So nasayang yung punta namin the second time kasi nga wala naman pala kami sa schedule.
The next day we received a message that they will NOT be able to accommodate Ren because they need to prioritize the kids who were previously enrolled in their school.
Ang lala lang, if only they assessed Ren then perhaps I would understand the rejection but they didn’t. He did not even had the chance to prove to them that he deserves the grades he had in junior highschool. It’s a catholic and a “special” school BUT we did not feel the empathy at all.
Moving on, the 5th school we checked was Ren’s previous school when he was in Grade 4. They had a SPED department before but it was abolished last year. This is a Christian school and I decided to check this out because of familiarity. Ren knows his way around the campus already. He was scheduled for an entrance exam and interview but unfortunately during the exam, he had to go to the CR twice because of tummy ache.
He told me that he asked for a time extension of the exam but was denied. They only offer STEM, ABM, HUMSS and GAS strands and my son decided to get the ABM strand in case. After the exam and interview, the facilitator talked to me and told me that he didn’t pass the exam because his score was low. But she said that the principal has the final say after the deliberation if they will accept him or not. After 2 days, I received an email that says his application did not fully align with their current enrollment criteria.
Ren was broken hearted after hearing this but I told him that the school is not for him and that we will just check for more schools.
Since we can’t find schools around Molino-Paliparan road, we decided to check out Salitran area. We pass through St. Jude College and although it’s not on my list of schools to check out I decided to pay them a visit. The staff are welcoming and they told me that they do accept kids under the spectrum but he still needs to take the entrance exam. This school also offers the most affordable tuition fee among the previous schools we have visited. They also have college courses here (and Kinder to Junior highschool) which is a plus points if ever Ren would want to pursue college here. According to Wikipedia this is a branch of St. Jude College Manila. Ren likes their schedule (half day only for senior highschool).
Their entrance exam was too long (3 hours to be exact with 180 questions). Ren said that he had a hard time in the math questions. But fortunately he PASSED!!!
After getting his score, he was supposed to have an interview on the same day. But there was a long queue so we told him to just go back on the next day. But WE DIDN’T.
We also visited STI Dasmarinas. Why STI? because of their ads on YouTube hahaha. Well, I learned kasi that according to survey, STI was one of the preferred schools of companies who are looking for new employees. I was considering STI Alabang but I don’t like their location (fault line) so I decided to check the one in Dasma instead.
We love their campus and the facilities. The food at their canteen is good too. But the location is too far from us and it seems (though I did not ask) that they do not accept kids in the spectrum.
The last school that we visited was De La Salle University – Dasmarinas. It’s a 27 hectare school and the environment is soooo relaxing. When I inquired if they accept kids under the spectrum, without hesitation or any further questions they said yes!
Ren took an exam, it’s 100 questions with a strict time duration of 1.5hrs only. Gladly he passed! He took the culinary and tourism strand because he really dreams of becoming a chef one day since he was at a young age and he also wants to travel around the world.
This school was also recommended by his psychologist and even advised him that if he is having a hard time he could just go to the guidance councilor’s office for help. I also talked to the guidance councilor and they are very welcoming naman.
Well, since this is a prestigious school, their tuition fee is the highest among the schools that we went to. My husband and I talked about it and laid down the pros and cons. Since there are more pros than cons, we decided to enroll Ren here. He was soooo happy when we informed him about our decision because he likes the school so much but he is also worried about the tuition fee. He said that St. Jude is okay for him also but he likes DLSU-D better.
He keeps on saying “thank you mom, thank you dad” when he learned that we will enroll him here. Nakakaiyak reaction nya promise…
Yes it’s hard to look for schools that will accept kids with special needs, pero tyaga lang talaga. I just hope that more schools will offer inclusion and be an accepting community someday.
Wow, grown up na si Ren..
yes bilis ng panahon
Bilang isang ina na may special child, inspired at akoy hanga sa inyong dedikasyon ,im looking forward to this stage, para kay Owen,a blessed young man gaya ni Ren
Deserve ni renz ang maayus quality school napakabless ni ren sainyo ni daddy noelπ₯°
Hello ate Levy and kuya Noel, you are so blessed, napakabait na bata ni Ren.
oo sobra bait na bata