5 Stars for MGIS Manila

In a month or two, I'm planning to exit from MGIS Mahatma Gandhi International School (Manila)​ to prepare my kids for transfer (effective SY 2015-2016) to a local Catholic private school with a purely DepEd curriculum --because that's what my children need in college. Admittedly, the kids' exposure to international education has been superb! At the moment, a lot of parents are messaging me asking where I intend to transfer the boys... Hahahah, I'm afraid that they, too, will follow us and I might be charged for "inciting to sedition", heheheh! This is a trial period, and if the boys don't adjust well, I'll place them back to a good IS.

 The new school I chose was the home of some of our present ecclesiastical leaders and notable political personalities. The students are down-to-earth, street smart, and exhibit laudable leadership skills. As the school is close to a hundred years in existence, it vouches for its possession of a strong combination of traditional and progressive curriculum. They have robotics and the students are well-trained in Mathematics and Sciences. Since it's a local school, the tuition fee, including the books and uniform is just around P100,000, about 20% of our present tuition fee in MGIS. However, they have many students per class, 30-35, I heard. Anyway, the good news is that it's located less than 1 km away from our new home!

To end this post, let me share with you what I love most about MGIS: 1)Exclusivity-- generally, not more than 15 students per class 2) Individualized teaching, making sure that the students' needs are properly addressed 3)The culture! -- Unity in diversity, plus the family atmosphere. Everybody knows everybody 4) Language programs: ESL, Mandarin, Spanish, French, Filipino (PHCL) 5) Students' hands-on exposure to international culture, theater arts, performing arts,music, visual arts and drama; hence, training the students to be versatile 6) and lastly, the sports program covering football, handball, swimming, fencing, archery, basketball, table tennis, chess,taekwondo and a lot more. I hope it remains the same on the years to come. MGIS gave my children a truly international education through its IPC (International Primary Curriculum), and previously International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme/ Middle Years Programme, and now, IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) curriculum.

MGIS is a small school, with a small population and a huge heart! I love MGIS! -- Cherry Moriones Doromal, MGIS Parent, Bachelor of Mass Communication, Bachelor of Laws, Master in Business Administration, Licensed Teacher (Secondary Education, English and Literature)

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Cheers to the MGIS 2013 Graduates

By Cherry Moriones Doromal

International School, Manila Philippines-- The recently concluded Mahatma Gandhi International School Graduation Ceremony and Dinner 2013 emerged as a spectacular cavalcade of glamour, stature, beauty, brains and smiles. 

Held at the prestigious Manila Polo Club on June 6th, this event had officially launched the year-long grand celebration of MGIS’ 10th Year Anniversary known as “A Decade of Excellence”. 

MGIS Graduation  and Dinner 2013 Venue: Manila Polo Club, Forbes Makati

Among the special guests were representatives from the international community such as Mr. Hans Woldring of the Asian Development Bank,Consul General Joe Assad of Lebanon, Consul General Sam Eldebs of Syria, head of Saudi Air Mr. Abdullah Alazhari and other foreign ambassadors who, later on, signified their intent to enroll their kids in MGIS and be officially part of the MGIS family very soon.

 

 Guests were warmly welcomed by gorgeous Kinder Teachers Ms. Sunshine Perez (L) and Ms. Lani Da Silva (R)

Some of the highlights of this event were a video presentation showing Mgis Manila's achievements for the past 10 years and how it metamorphosed into a dynamic and reputable international educational institution as recognized by and affiliated with the International Baccalaureate (IB), International Primary Curriculum (IPC), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Cambridge and Department of Education Philippines (DepEd) and the recognition of MGIS students who excelled in the field of academics, higher education, theater arts and sports. Simply said, the celebration was impeccable!

 

MGIS Headmaster Lawrence M. Buck receives a Gandhi Award for 40 years of Excellence in International Education

To the working team who made this event a success led by our very own Headmaster Lawrence Buck with wife Viola, MGIS Creative Team (who sleeplessly and unstintingly performed and finished every task seen and unseen by our bare eyes), PYP Coordinator Mr. Roger Calimag, MYP/DP Coordinator Ms. Joan Malabuyoc, Ms. Rodita L. Salonga who was the Master of Ceremony, and the dynamic Admin team, thank you very much... Graduates of 2013 and MGIS Family, thanks and more power to all!

Other Posts by the Author:

5 Stars for MGIS Manila

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Back to Basics 

Through the Strong Winds Part 1 

Through the Strong Winds Part 2 (Learning from an Eagle in Pain)

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What and Where We Eat in the Philippines

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Classroom Anecdotes by Cherry D. 

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 Published : International School Educator Cherry Doromal 

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International School Educator Cherry Doromal:Published on International School Community

Snap Shots:

MGIS Cambridge International Exam Wows the Inspector

By Cherry Moriones Doromal

Mahatma Gandhi International School, Manila—Ms. Eve Pennel of the Cambridge International Examinations Compliance Unit conducted an  impromptu examination center inspection at MGIS this week to assess how the latter executes the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Examinations.

It must be noted that the MGIS Grade 10 students are currently taking the IGCSE Examination for the month of May 2013.

MGIS’ IGCSE Examinations Officer Ms. Joan Malabuyoc delightfully mentioned in a casual interview, how the inspector presented an utterly satisfactory assessment and how said officer was impressed by the conscientious conduct by MGIS of  the IGCSE external examinations. Furthermore, MGIS has been recognised to be a seamless example of how a Cambridge International Examination should be organised.

“How about in the local school examinations? How are the Grade 10 students doing?”  When asked, Ms. Joan gladly affirmed that  our  MGIS Tiger scholars are doing well and have, thus far, passed the entrance examinations of top prestigious local universities like the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, and  De La Salle University.

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MGIS Website 

MGIS IPC Site 

IPC Philippines: MGIS launches the D.E.A.R. Literacy Programme

By Cherry Moriones Doromal

 Welcome to the MGIS D.E.A.R. or "Drop Everything And Read" Zone

International School MGIS, Manila Philippines-- In its spirited effort to develop the children’s reading habit, MGIS launches the literacy programme D.E.A.R. or "Drop Everything And Read".

Being a recognized international school by the Department of Education (DEPED) offering International Primary Curriculum (IPC), International Baccalaureate (IB) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Cambridge, MGIS students naturally come from different cultural backgrounds as they come from the different parts of the world.

Unlike other local and international schools, over the years, MGIS  tend to catch the genuine international market , such as  ambassadors’ and consuls’ kids and foreign businessmen’s kids, who are, of course, transient. As the school curricula consider that the far-fetched advantage of skilled readers will be carried through higher education, college and throughout  the students’  lifetime wherever they go, MGIS unremittingly develops a strong literacy programme.

The advantages of  MGIS'  D.E.A.R. Reading Programme:

1. Reading helps boost intelligences.  Studies show that those who read a lot have higher GPA’s, higher aptitude, and general knowledge than those who don’t.

     2.     Reading improves analytical thinking.  Practice forms a habit, and the habit of reading serves as the gymnastics of brainpowers. The famous American computer programmer Howard G. "Ward" Cunningham who developed the first wiki had studies proving that analytical thinking is advanced by reading, allowing the readers to spot patterns faster.

Roary the Tiger excitedly gives his MGIS Tiger siblings a D.E.A.R. button pin

    3.       Reading helps develop self discipline, concentration and attention skills.  In MGIS, the moment the students hear the “DEAR Buzzer”, they will stop from whatever they are doing and will literally “Drop Everything And Read”.  The MGIS DEAR reading programme  is an excellent way to attain that discipline.

   4.       Reading increases vocabulary, enhances memory and improves spelling.  According to experts and as observed by educators worldwide, reading is more dynamic and effective in helping the child increase his vocabulary than oral communication, conversation or direct teaching.  In fact, as we may have noticed, even professionals need to read constantly to enrich his vocabulary.

"In the midst of silence or at the crest of jubilee,there's a buzz of learning that innervates us to Drop Everything And Read"

5.       Reading develops writing and communication skills.  As an effect of #4 above, the more one reads, the better writer he becomes, because reading expands ones ideas. As a professional writer, I can attest on how reading becomes an energetic  tool to improve my creativity. Reading  exposes us to new ideas and helps us understand better the diversity of life while providing us with fresh  philosophies and more information which develop the creative side of the brain.

Krrrrriing!  Oh, that's the buzzer that takes everyone to the D.E.A.R. Zone... And our MGIS Tigers know exactly what to do upon hearing the D.E.A.R. buzzer... that is to " Drop Everything And Read." Bye for now. Enjoy reading.

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IPC Philippines-- Teaching Style: Integrating Values Through Art

                                                     by Cherry Moriones Doromal

MGIS Art Room-- What a morning! I always get the same prolific experience whenever I visit the art room. As anticipated, I never go out of this area empty-handed, with the visuals of students’ art pieces vividly retained on my mind; hence, stimulating my thoughts to write.

Here's a practical anecdote:

Today, on the lesson of  "still life drawing", the 6th Graders were asked by the practicing artist-teacher Ms. Cecil De Leon-Laya to use oil pastels as medium in illustrating these models:

Still life drawing: The above vases are the subjects

The challenge was for the MGIS student artists to make use only of the primary colors: red yellow and blue

At the end of the session, these were the completed art works by each student:

Group Dynamics. The students were then asked by the teacher of their views about their own work and the work of their classmates. And as expected of kids, initially, they found some drawings odd and made fun of  one another's work.

Therefore, they were given more time to reflect... Finally, the class had a more profound reflection about their work and observed that although they were given the same set of instructions using the same medium over the same subjects, their individual work had been uniquely executed, and each drawing is never exactly identical to any of the other drawings.

Then, just before the bell rang, the teacher said:  " As you may  have noticed, people tend to  perceive the same thing  (subject) differently. There's one work that seems to stand out from the rest because he combined the two drawings in one paper. And,still, there are some work that turned out to have dominant dark green or  intense aqua blue or neon green, using the same set of primary colors... Class,just like you and everybody else, we are all unique in our own ways. Not because one is different, we will reject him or consider him an outcast. We have the thing called  'individual differences', and knowing how people are different from one another will make us more understanding of them."


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Unity in Diversity/ Collaborative Work--Sculpture,Pottery and Clay Art by MGIS PYP students

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Mahatma Gandhi International School known as MGIS Manila is an accredited international school recognized by the Department of Education (Philippines) offering International Baccalaureate, International Primary Curriculum and International General Certificate of Secondary Education Cambridge. Its headmaster and highly qualified 21^st century educators are IB and IPC trained locally and internationally.

For more information, please visit  their website: www.mgis.com.ph or call at  (632) 7761165-67

Founding Headmaster: Mr. Lawrence M. Buck

Email: headmaster@mgis.com.ph

Other Posts by the Author:

5 Stars for MGIS Manila

Home ESL Series THE SCHOLAR

Back to Basics 

Through the Strong Winds Part 1 

Through the Strong Winds Part 2 (Learning from an Eagle in Pain)

Basic Tips to Betrayed Wives

What and Where We Eat in the Philippines

10 Secrets to a Peaceful Family Home

Classroom Anecdotes by Cherry D. 

 About the Author:

 Published : International School Educator Cherry Doromal