Brandon starts school

We haven't posted a lot the past few months and I have not written so much about this because I'm afraid we'll get jinxed. Haha. The process in getting into this school was really strict. These were the steps we had to go through before he got accepted:

Application form and payment, as usual.
IQ exam (I didn't know you can do IQ exam with kids that are 3/4 yrs old)
Summer camp (school-setting wherein kids are being observed by the teachers if they are ready for school)
Official acceptance from the school

We applied to this school last January, 2023. We got a message back on February wherein he was scheduled for an IQ exam, and another month after to let us know he passed the IQ exam, and then we waited for Summer camp to start.

Kumon

While waiting for the Summer Camp, we enrolled him at Kumon where he was taught how to read and write. I also have to teach him how to read/write because we are given take-home materials. If you enroll your child here, don't expect that you don't have to do anything because someone's gonna teach him there. You also have to do your part and teach your kid at home with the take-home activities. I have to emphasize this because my husband overheard parents complaining that "they (the teachers) don't know how to teach." In fact, you are required to teach your kid 4x a week, and they only go to the center 2x a week, so if there's anyone who doesn't know how to teach, maybe you also have to take a look if you also did your part.

This was when we enrolled him (and the time he was also assessed by the teacher).

He did so well in Reading that his teacher would ask for a video of him reading to be selected among other students for promotional videos. I also posted a video on Youtube on how we usually study (on a good day): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30naYI7i8Is

But I also want to give credit to his Playgroup - PlayFirst Kids and Adult Therapy Center which prepared him for school. So we did Playgroup first, then Kumon. We have never been inside but I believe their activities are somehow similar to what will happen when they start school.

Now, Summer Camp came and we stopped enrolling him to Kumon so he can focus, and we also don't want to burden him with so much studying.

This was the very first day of Summer Camp. Parents are allowed to stay and look what the kids are doing. And this was only allowed for the first day. After that, we were no longer allowed to stay near the classrooms. Parents were very excited to see their kids go to school. I was one of those parents, too.

Brandon passed the Summer Camp, so he can be enrolled for Nursery!

We were nervous on the day they were going to announce if your kid passes the Summer Camp. They posted a list on the board where we can see those who passed. I remember John said it was kinda brutal as there are kids who didn't pass, at that time, and needs further observation. In the middle of parents/fetchers celebrating their kids passing the Summer Camp, some are broken-hearted to see theirs didn't pass. It's brutal to be in the middle of people celebrating while you're not (and still hoping they will allow your child to pass on the second evaluation).

Summer Camp Culminating Program

They also did a Culminating Program for all Summer Campers. Brandon's class performed a Chicken Dance.

Officially, Brandon starts Nursery

Another thing we were really hopeful for was that he be enrolled in a Morning class, because Brandon usually has his noon/afternoon nap. He becomes very naughty when he doesn't get a nap, so we were worried if he's assigned in the afternoon.

But, he's enrolled in the Morning classes! Hurray!

Class officially started and here are some of Brandon's pics in his uniforms.