Big School: The Final decision

In my previous blog, I enumerated our considerations in choosing a big school for Heinel. With all those in mind, here are the schools that made it to our final list:

  1. Ateneo de Manila University
  2. OB Montessori (Fairview)
  3. The Seed Montessori
  4. The Raya School
  5. The Learning Tree
  6. Paref Northfield


Based on my research (interview with school admissions personnel and reading parenting blogs), here are my observations about the said schools. Please note that these are just based on my personal understanding and interpretation.

Ateneo de Manila

OB Montessori (Fairview)

The Raya School

http://www.admu.edu.ph/ http://www.obmontessori.edu.ph/ http://www.raya.org.ph
Quality of education Ateneo is known for the quality of its alumnae. Even our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal is also an alumni of Ateneo. OB has also produced some famous personalities who succeeded in their own fields I believe this is a relatively new school but been reading in parenting blogs how Raya’s program worked for a lot of kids
Location 15-30 minutes if no traffic but on on a regular school day will  require an hour’s travel time because of heavy traffic 45 minutes if no traffic but will require more than an hour if there is heavy traffic 10-15 minutes away from home
Class size 38-39 for grade 1 but grade 2 onwards, 41 per class maximum of 25 per class 10-15 per class
Method of teaching Traditional Montessori way (based on my understanding, it is a mix of traditional and progressive) Progressive
Religious affiliation Catholic school Non-sectarian but they have religion class Non-sectarian
Other observations The school is a very big  environment. Can be unnerving especially from  unsettling coming from a small school. A co-educational school with a medium sized community. A very small community.

The Seed Montessori

The Learning Tree

Paref Northfield

http://www.theseedmontessori.com/ http://tltcgc.com/ http://parefnorthfield.org/
Quality of education Based on parents’ opinions from some parenting bogs, Seed is good school because it aims to give a balance between academics and non-academic skills. Probably the oldest progressive school in the country, I got good feedbacks both from Heinel’s teachers and from parenting blogs as well From parenting forums, parents are saying that the school, aside from having a high standard in academics, also focuses on values formation of children
Location 15-30 minutes away from home 15 minutes away from home 10-15 minutes away from home
Class size maximum of 25 per class but usually between 20-23 10-15 per class maximum of 25 per class
Method of teaching Montessori way (based on my understanding, it is a mix of traditional and progressive) Progressive Traditional
Religious affiliation Non-sectarian but they have religion class Non-sectarian but they have religion class Non-sectarian but they have religion class and liturgical activities
Other observations A co-ed school with a medium-sized community A very small community Their campus is relatively small but they intend to transfer to a bigger campus in Sun Valley, Antipolo, soon.

We ended up choosing The Seed Montessori for Heinel because of the following:

  • Small class size. I believe that the smaller the class size, the lower the chance that bullying will happen.
  • Montessori way of teaching  – since it is a combination of the traditional and progressive school set up, it will help him transition from progressive the setup he got used to in Preschool
  • Medium sized community – Heinel will be in a big school but not get overwhelmed with the new environment since it is not campus is not that huge
  • Holistic approach in assessing the development in children – aside from the quarterly academic assessment, they also give recognition to students who excel in sports, music and arts. I believe this sets a right balance between the importance of academics and enhancing the kid’s talents.
  • Accessibility – school is accessible at home and there is not much traffic en route to and from school
  • Although not a strictly Catholic school, they have religion and values formation classes

We are looking forward to our Heinel’s next big adventure!

 

PS:

August 14, 2020: I am thankful that many parents find this post helpful. Just an update, our son who is now in junior high school has already transferred to another school. You may read about it here. For reference of those looking for big schools for their primary level kids, I will be keeping this blog post. Thank you. 

91 Comments

  1. Ria
    May 13, 2015 / 9:43 am

    Hi .. I would like to know how is your child doing in The Seed montessori and what”s your feedback also. I am transferring my daugther from OB Montessori Sta Ana Branch to The seed montessori this school year. While I am super happy with OB montessori wetransfered home from Manila to QC and its way too far to keep her in OB. Though there is an OB fairview branch they lack school bus service that would include our area.
    I hope you can share your experience with the seed montessori with me. First impression is I like the campus and the staff are friendly. Materials used are similar to that of OB Montessori and the teachers are friendly as well. I also liked the manner on how they assess my daughter.
    THank you in advance and i hope to hear from you soon!

    • kat
      May 30, 2015 / 11:41 am

      Hi Ria. Thank you for visiting my blog. Apologies as well for my late reply as we were in vacation for a couple of days. It will be our second year in Seed this coming school year. OB Montessori Fairview was also an option but like you, there are also not much school service option in our place since we live relatively far from OB.
      The first year had been wonderful and I can say that I was convinced that we made the right decision of choosing it over the bigger schools. I like their classroom setup with just a little over 20 students in one class. Coming from a small pre school, my son did not have a hard time adjusting to big school because there is not much students to get used to being with in a class. The staff are also very nice and friendly. Since my son is just in 1st grade, he only has 1 teacher who is also very nice. Although I did not get her mobile number, I still did not have a hard time communicating with her since I can always call her in the faculty room after class hours or write my questions in their assignment notebook which they bring home everyday.
      I also like that they give importance to non-academic facet which is why I think they have weekly 1 hour club meeting. I also liked that they are very serious in their anti-bullying campaign. I feel more secure that my son is in that environment.
      Overall I am very happy with our first year in Seed. I hope your child will have a wonderful time too.

  2. Maan Madrid
    July 15, 2015 / 10:42 pm

    Hi! I stumbled upon your site while researching for a big school for m 4 year old son. He is currently enrolled in a progressive pre-school in Quezon City and he is doing quite well despite being diagnosed with Austism Spectrum Disorder. He is high functioning but lacks social skills. I’ve been looking for a school that accepts kids like my son. I know progressive schools are very much open when it comes to accepting kids with ASD. I would like to know if Seed accepts students with ASD? How much is the tuition fee? Thank you in advance and God bless!

    • kat
      July 18, 2015 / 2:29 pm

      Hi Maan! thank you for taking time to read my blog. I am glad to know that your son is doing well in a progressive school. With regards to Seed Montessori, I advice that you visit their admissions office to have your child assessed. I am not particularly sure of their policy when it comes to accepting kids with ASD. Although my son has a classmate who has a particular condition that tends to make him hyperactive (sorry I can not put a name on the condition since I am not an expert nor a doctor) and although he requires more attention from his teachers, I think he adjusted well in school. I am happy with the way the school taught my son and his classmates how to be around him without marking him as “different” or “special”. I think that by itself is a good sign but I still highly encourage that you pay the school a visit.
      I hope all will be well for you in search of a big school for your son. Good luck and all the best to you and your family!

  3. Rhona
    February 22, 2016 / 11:36 am

    Hi Kat,
    I got to read your blog as I was looking for reviews about The Seed Montessori. Is your son still enrolled in there? How was your experience? What’s the usual schedule of classes? I inquired and I was told that students’ class is until 12:15 only. Lastly, do you know the profile (or more or less, in what school are the teachers from?) Sorry asking many questions. I hope to hear from you. We’re looking into this school as one of our options for our daughter. Thanks!

    • kat
      March 26, 2016 / 10:06 am

      Hi Rhona. Thank you for dropping by my blog.
      My son is still enrolled at Seed and he will be incoming grade three next school year (2016-2017). For level 1 (grades 1-3), classes are indeed up to 12:15 only. So far it has been a great experience for us having our son enrolled there. I appreciate the relatively smaller number of students in a class compared with traditional schools. I also appreciate that they do not give homework over the weekend because my son has extra curricular activities on Saturdays while Sundays are considered sacred family day. Although everyday they do have assignments in one or two subjects.About the teachers, I am not sure about the others but for my son’s grade 1 and 2 teachers, both are graduates from UP.
      I do hope i was able to be of help to you. Good luck on your search for your daughter’s school!

  4. Judith
    March 4, 2016 / 8:27 am

    Hi! Is The Seed Montessori School a member of the Association Montessori Internationale? An authentic Montessori school should be a member of an international movement.

    • kat
      March 26, 2016 / 10:00 am

      Hi. I think it is since its founders were trained by AMI in Italy and US prior to establishing the school.

  5. Tam
    April 8, 2016 / 6:46 pm

    hi there.. ive just read ur blog and it gives me idea about this school.. im new here in quezon city and i felt like its hard for me to find school that affordable yet convenient.. Pwede po bang malaman how much their tuition fees? And my interview ba for a transfer student?his turning grade 2 this school year thank u and more power to ur blog that made a big help to me ^_^

    • kat
      April 8, 2016 / 11:00 pm

      Hi Tam! thanks for dropping by my blog. First of all, welcome to Quezon City!
      With regards to your questions, tuition fee this coming school year 2016-2017 is between 59,000-61,000 (depending on the payment scheme). As for transferees, i do think they have an assessment. i am just not so sure for grade 2 if there is an interview. Pero kung sakaling meron, siguro dun sa guidance councilor lang. Ganun kasi nung inasses ung anak ko nung pa-grade 1 sya.
      I do hope I was able to answer well your queries. I also hope that you find the right school for your child soon. Good luck!

  6. Cynthia Harb
    April 25, 2016 / 2:09 pm

    Hi! I find your blog extremely helpful. I am currently based in Dubai, UAE and will be permanently based in Quezon City in June, in time for the school opening.

    I am trying to reach The Seed Montessori – via facebook, email and on the message board on their website but have not heard anything from them.

    Are they really not responsive on digital platforms?

    Appreciate your feedback on the above.

    • kat
      Author
      April 27, 2016 / 2:35 am

      Hi Cynthia! Thank you for checking out my blog!
      I haven’t tried communicating with Seed via email or facebook but looking at the activities in both its FB wall and website, it seems like that they are not very active indeed in those platforms. I do hope though that they get to reply to you soon. As an alternative, maybe you know someone here in the Philippines, relative or friends, you can call Seed for you to relay your queries?
      I do hope everything works out well in your move to Quezon City next month!

  7. Kathie
    May 4, 2016 / 5:18 pm

    Hi!

    Thank you for sharing your ideas through this blog. In as much as we want to send my child to TSMS, the tuition fee is beyond our budget. I would just like to ask if you’ve heard any feedback about JASM’s.

    Thank you.

    • kat
      Author
      May 14, 2016 / 1:15 pm

      Hi Kathie. Unfortunately I had no personal encounter with JASMs. However, some of EA’s classmates in pre-school went to JASMs, so I guess that’s a good sign, right?

  8. Momyla
    June 6, 2016 / 5:19 pm

    Good afternoon. May I know how much is the tuition fee for Raya School? Thank you.

    • kat
      Author
      June 9, 2016 / 7:00 pm

      Hi Myla. I honestly do not remember anymore. The last time I inquired was in 2013. Best to inquire from them directly for more updated rates. Thank you for dropping by my blog!

  9. mhel
    July 13, 2016 / 5:48 am

    hi. good day! do you have an idea on how much is the TF in Jasms for preschool & gradeschool?tia

    • kat
      Author
      July 19, 2016 / 10:52 am

      Hello! Sorry I have no figures on the tuition for JASMS. thank you for dropping by my blog!

  10. Pam
    September 5, 2016 / 9:26 pm

    We are looking for a school for our kid who will be Grade 1 next year and I have some few questions:

    1. do they have entrance exam?
    2. how’s the teacher? School environment?
    3. Is it strictly progressive? Cause in his old school we were told that they are mostly progressive but it turned out that it is more traditional.
    4. Do they have Academic recognition for kids wherein they rank the students among them?

    Any other information would be very much appreciated to help us.

    • kat
      Author
      September 7, 2016 / 11:23 pm

      Hi Pam,
      For The Seed Montessori,
      1. do they have entrance exam? For grade 1, no but there will be a one-on-one interview with the child
      2. how’s the teacher? School environment? – all of my son’s teachers from grades 1 to 3 are all good and approachable. School environment is also good. I like that it is not an enormous campus that some kids will find overwhelming. Everyone is friendly; from the guards, to the maintenance ate’s and kuya’s. I also like that they have a major school campaign against bullying.
      3. Is it strictly progressive? Cause in his old school we were told that they are mostly progressive but it turned out that it is more traditional. For me, it’s a mix of traditional and progressive. My son was from a progressive pre-school and he did not have a hard time adjusting to Seed because for him the method is like his former school.
      4. Do they have Academic recognition for kids wherein they rank the students among them? Seed is not so much into academic recognition. For one, they do not have “top ten” or honor students per class or per grade. But at the end of the school year, yes, academic recognition is given on a per grade level.

      Hope this helps!

  11. Sarah
    October 3, 2016 / 12:57 pm

    Hi!

    I am planning to transfer my kid, currently he is enrolled at NDGM. I am looking for a medium size class kasi sa NDGM sobrang dami ng students per class so hindi masyadong nabibigyan ng attention ang ibang students. Just want to know ilan subjects ng son mo ngayon grade 3 xia?

    • kat
      Author
      October 6, 2016 / 6:12 pm

      Hi Sarah. My son currently has 5 major subjects (social studies, english, science, math and filipino. He has 1 minor subject which is computer and 1 club of his choice. Hope this helps!

  12. Jane
    November 17, 2016 / 1:08 pm

    hi, nice blog, any idea for the tuition fee in OB montessori and ateneo for pre school? if any… thank you 🙂

    -jane

  13. Ina Maja
    November 19, 2016 / 5:18 pm

    Hello Mommy Kat! I just wanted to say how super helpful this article is for me. My son’s turning 3 next year and we’ll be enrolling him at TSMS. I had so many questions about this school but thanks to your blog, I got all the answers I need. 🙂

    • kat
      Author
      December 24, 2016 / 9:05 am

      thank you so much Ina!

  14. Sofia lista
    November 28, 2016 / 10:08 pm

    Hi there mommy kat, this was so insightful, thanks for this article. Aside from
    Clubs, are their more activities available to them like more classes for example for sports? Also would they be teaching Singapore math? Thanks very much!

    • kat
      Author
      December 24, 2016 / 8:36 am

      HI Sofia. Joining clubs are the best way to get additional lessons in sports. For certain sports like Taewondo and Basketball, they have additional lessons on weekends on top of their club meetings on fridays. This comes with an additional fee. My son attends basketball clinic every Saturday.
      As for Singapore math, I don’t think they have such lessons in Seed.

  15. Gina Alvarez
    March 27, 2017 / 3:39 pm

    Hello kat, I just want to ask if The Seeds is English speaking School? We are from UAE,my boys are currently enrolled in British School…we have a huge problem on my youngest gawa ng d2 Na sya lumaki at nag start mag school ,kc hirap syang mag tagalog,although nakaka intindin nman sya ng konti,he will be in grade 5 this school year.thanks

    • kat
      Author
      March 28, 2017 / 8:32 am

      Hi Gina!
      Students in Seed are encouraged to speak in English. In my son’s grade 3 class, they are requested to speak in English during class hours.
      If it will give you any comfort in a way, I see foreign students enrolled in Seed like Koreans, Japanese and some Americans (i think).
      I honestly think your boys won’t have a hard time making friends in Seed because a lot of kids there also speak in English. 😊 Mas hirap karamihan sa kanila sa Tagalog subjects nila. 😊
      I hope this helps! Have a great day!

      • Andrea
        September 18, 2017 / 8:43 pm

        Hi Kat! Thanks for this very informative article. I have the same dilemma as Gina so I hope you don’t mind if I hijack her comment.

        I am also looking for a school where my son can easily integrate in since we will also be moving back home next year from Dubai. He’s also enrolled in a British Curriculum school here in Dubai. He knows his Tagalog – he understands most easy words but can’t speak fluently. Naka-try ka na po ba mag inquire Ms. Gina on how to go about the application? Kasi kami sana uuwi by next year na talaga so we dont have a chance na makapag assesment. We will also be enrolling our 4 year old pero ito naman wala pang problema except she, too, speaks English.

        Kat, thank you again! I will also be asking my relatives to inquire via phone sa Seeds and will comment on our findings para additional insight din sa readers mo. Godbless! 😊

        • kat
          Author
          September 19, 2017 / 3:24 pm

          Hi Andrea. In terms of nothing speaking fluent Tagalog, I do not think it will be a major hindrance. My son, who is now in grade 4 has two Korean classmates who blends well with the rest of the class. He also has Filipino classmates who are not Tagalog speakers. The school encourages students to speak in English in most of the subjects.

          I do hope you can work something out on the application while you in Dubai. Based on my some of the comments, Seed is not that active in their facebook account so maybe just send them an email?

          Good luck Andrea and I wish you and your family well.

  16. Grace
    April 4, 2017 / 11:28 am

    Hi Kat! I wanted to ask for your suggestion if you know any pre-school that can help my 3 yrs and 6 mon old son to be ready for grade 1 at Seed. TIA

    • kat
      Author
      April 19, 2017 / 6:22 pm

      Hi Grace. Were do you live if I may ask? If you are close enough to Visayas Avenue, then I highly recommend Creative Explorers. It is where my son had his pre-school education for three years. It is a very good one. I even posted a blog about it.

  17. Jeni
    April 18, 2017 / 5:55 pm

    Hello Kat! Is your child still enrolled in TSMS? We just transferred here in qc and i’m looking for a good school for my upcoming Grade 4 son. I have inquired to TSMS and my son likes the school and it seems that the quality of education is good. The only prob is the proximity. I also inquired at Integrated Center for Young in congressional. The school is too small but they are more focused on each student in a point that they know all the names of their students. And now, I’m having a hard time deciding on which school should i enroll my son. Can you okease guve me some feedbacks about TSMS? Thank you!

    • kat
      Author
      April 19, 2017 / 6:29 pm

      Hi Jeni! So far we had only good words for TSMS. Before enrolling him in a big school, one of my concerns as well is the community. He came from a very small pre-school and he might a hard time adjusting to a “very big” school. However, i did not want a small community too because I also want to prepare him for highschool and even college. The medium size community is actually a factor in choosing Seed. And so far in terms of education, I like how they are handling the K+12 curriculum. I also like their holistic approach. Another plus point for me is there all out program to stop bullying.
      Good luck on your school transfer decision. i hope i am able to help in anyway.

      • Jeni
        April 23, 2017 / 11:28 pm

        Thank you, Kat! You’re such a big help! We have decided to enroll my son to TSMS. Hope to see you there! 🙂

        • kat
          Author
          May 11, 2017 / 5:03 pm

          Happy to know that! Yes hope to see you in school!

  18. blanche
    May 2, 2017 / 3:24 pm

    Hi, I’d like to ask, does Ateneo has kindergarten?

    • kat
      Author
      May 11, 2017 / 5:44 pm

      Hi Blanche. Im not so sure but i don’t think Ateneo has preschool. You may call their office though to check because even in their website it says that the lowest is grade school.

  19. blanche
    May 2, 2017 / 3:30 pm

    If I may also ask, do you know any pre school that only speaks english? My son does not know how to speak in tagalog, he doesn’t understand Tagalog as well. I am looking for a school that teaches english. Thanks.

    • kat
      Author
      May 11, 2017 / 5:54 pm

      I think in most schools, English is the language mainly used in class. Although there is definitely a Filipino class as part of the curriculum for grade school and high school.
      In most of the preschools I’ve encountered, it is common to have kids who speaks only English and has limited understanding of Tagalog. You may discuss this concern too with the schools that you visit. It may be good for kids to be exposed to Tagalog as well especially if they will be studying grade school here in the Philippines so they won’t have a hard time adjusting to it once they become part of his/her subjects.

  20. KATE
    May 5, 2017 / 11:44 pm

    Hello Kat! Your blogs had been very helpful for us parents who’s looking for a school that our kids can go for…I would probably be transferring my incoming Grade 2 daughter to TSMS. However, i would like to ask if the school provides awards and credits, or certificate to their students who excel let’s say in a particular subject or sport just to appreciate and boost their student’s confidence.

    • kat
      Author
      May 11, 2017 / 6:00 pm

      Thank you Kate!
      Yes, Seed do give out awards and recognition in both academic and non-academic achievements. However, since it is not a traditional type of teaching method, they do not have the “top 10” in class announcement or ranking seen by everyone in the class. Usually parents of the honor students are informed of their kid’s academic class standing during the parent-teacher conference.

  21. Mildred
    January 11, 2018 / 2:48 pm

    Hi Kat! Is your child still in TSMS? I am looking for a school as my child is going to be Gr 1. I am looking for alternatives just in case he will not make it in UPIS.
    How is your son at TSMS now?

    • kat
      Author
      January 13, 2018 / 5:04 pm

      Hi Mildred! Yes, my son is still in Seed and already in Grade 4. He is doing well the past 4 school years. The school environment fits his personality and he is now more confident. School work is just right for me, and it is easy to talk to teachers for any concerns. Good luck on your big school hunt!

  22. MommyJam
    February 28, 2018 / 9:24 am

    Hi Ms, Kat,

    I found your blog so informative especially to moms looking for a good school like me. My son is currently a Senior Kinder in a progressive school in Fairview QC and I find it a bit of a challenge to scout for schools around the area and I am thankful to you for this blog since we are also considering 3 of the schools on your list. We are leaning more towards having our son enrolled at Raya since it is nearer and has the same teaching method (progressive) as his current school. My son has a one on one exam and a two-day class sit-in at Raya however it has been a month since the sit in and we have yet to hear and get a feedback from them. I am already considering other schools and I am kind of wanting to try Seed. My only reservation is that it has a different approach as to what my son is familiar with. My question is, how did your son adjust altogether since he also came from a progressive school? Is there a big difference between the two approaches? And is there, by any chance, you know the TF for Grade 1?

    Im looking forward for your response!

    Thank you,

    Jam

    • kat
      Author
      March 2, 2018 / 10:29 pm

      Hi Mommy Jam! Thank you for your kind words about my blog.
      My son adjusted well in Seed on his first year. The classroom setup is the same as that of preschool since Level 1 (Grades 1-3) in Seed has only one teacher for all subjects. When he was in grade 1, the teaching method is not the traditional way. I can say it is pretty much similar to the progressive setup. The class sizes are small and compose of boys and girls, both of which are my son experienced in his progressive preschool. I guess the only difficulty he had back then was the loud noise on Monday’s flag ceremony, for which he is not really used to. But he got used to it eventually. 🙂

      As for the fees, I am not quite sure but I think it is around 65k for Grade 1. Much better if you can get a copy of the school fees from the school. As the amount varies depending on the payment frequency (full, quarterly or monthly).

      I hope you found my answers useful. Please do not hesitate to get back on me should you have further questions. I hope everything goes well on your hunt for the right big school for your child. Good luck!

      • MommyJam
        March 5, 2018 / 10:57 pm

        Hi Ms. Kat,

        Thank you for your response! Me and my husband appreciate it a lot! I will let you know how it will go with Seed sine we have yet to contact them for my son’s interview.

        Again, thank you and more power to you! God bless!

        MommyJam

        • kat
          Author
          March 12, 2018 / 9:39 am

          You’re most welcome Mommy Jam! God bless!

  23. Monique
    March 11, 2018 / 2:58 am

    Your blog is probably the most informative about Seed. I couldn’t find other info about them! Thank you!

    • kat
      Author
      March 12, 2018 / 9:34 am

      you’re most welcome Monique!and thank you too for checking out my blog!

  24. Nicca Reyes
    March 12, 2018 / 10:04 am

    Hi Ms Kat!

    Thank you so much for this blog. I find it very helpful although on the other hand, it also confused me a bit as to where to enroll my kids (they are incoming Grade 03 and 05 students and are scheduled for the assessment in TSMS next Monday). As per my last visit, I liked TSMS because everyone seemed friendly and accommodating.

    My daughters already passed the exam in MSA Whiz Kids Academy (Fairview) and also Colegio San Agustin (SJDM). However, their tuition fee are steep. They will also be taking the exam in OB Montessori Fairview although personally, apart from the steep TF, my main concern is how my daughters will adjust in the school environment given that they are transferring in the middle of their elementary years.

    My decision now lies on the passing rate of these schools to Science High Schools (PiSay, QueSci, etc.). If you have any information on TSMS’ passing rate for their Grade 6 students which you could share with me, that would be really helpful. Thank you so much, again! 🙂

    Rgds/Nicca R.

    • kat
      Author
      March 14, 2018 / 9:31 am

      Hi Nicca, sorry but i do not have any idea on TSMS’ performace rating for their grade six students in other schools, especially Science High Schools. So far I had no encounter with a fellow parent from Grade six. But i will share it here once I have information.

      Good luck though on your decision-making process. I know how tough it can be but I am sure you will make the best choice for your kids.

    • Karen
      March 23, 2018 / 3:52 am

      Hi Ms. Nicca!

      I am also curious about the TSMS’ performance rating on Science High Schools. Do you have more info now? It is still several more years to go though as my daughter is still in preschool but school’s academic performance is also one of the main thing i’d like to consider in choosing big school for my daughter. Thanks.

      Hello Ms. Kat,

      Thank you for this post. I have been following this post for quite some time now because TSMS is on top of my list for my daughter’s big school. I hope you write more about the school and your son’s experiences and development. Thanks

      • Nicca Reyes
        March 26, 2018 / 11:26 am

        Hi Karen! Sorry I read your comment just now. Anyway I still do not have information on their passing rate in Science High Schools but what I did was to review the list of passers in Pisay and search for a particular school to see if they have any passers. There was one passer for this coming AY 2018-2019 coming from TSMS. You may refer to this site, just press Ctrl+F and type “The Seed” so you can check for yourself, too:

        http://www.thesummitexpress.com/2017/12/pshs-2017-nce-results-for-ay-2018-2019-released.html

        Hope this helps. 🙂

        • Karen
          April 1, 2018 / 12:49 am

          Thanks for this Ms. Nicca. Will check it out. 🙂

  25. Nicca Reyes
    March 12, 2018 / 10:10 am

    If it also helps the others, here is the updated rate for Tuition Fee (excluding books and uniform I assume) at The Seed Montessori School for SY 2018-2019.

    Cash Basis

    Casa – 58,000 (1st Child) / 57,000 (2nd to nth child)
    Grade School – 67,000 (1st Child) / 66,000 (2nd to nth child)
    Jr. High School – 74,000 (1st Child) / 73,000 (2nd to nth child)
    Sr. High School – 76,500 (1st Child) / 75,500 (2nd to nth child)

    *two to four payment plans are available, too.

    • MommyJam
      March 14, 2018 / 5:05 am

      Hi Ms. Nicca,

      Thank you for this. I read on your previous post that your kids are scheduled for assessments soon. Would you also know if incoming grade 1 students need to have assessment too?

      Thank you!

      MommyJam

      • kat
        Author
        March 14, 2018 / 9:40 am

        Hi Mommy Jam. I will try to answer your question too ha. 🙂

        Incoming grade 1s have assessment. So you will need to set a schedule for your child. Assessment is done with the guidance councilor or teacher interviewing the child. In my son’s case, he was interviewed alone. I thought he get really scared but he did came out of the interview smiling though a little shy.

        • MommyJam
          March 14, 2018 / 10:47 am

          Thank you Ms. Kat as always! we have decided to let go of Raya since we haven’t received any response from them after my son’s assessment last January.

          Is it just an interview or are there any written assessment too?

          Thank you!

          • Nicca Reyes
            March 14, 2018 / 11:50 am

            Hi MommyJam! I think Ms Kat already answered your question re the assessment for Grade 1. As for Raya, good decision to put them off the list; not bad-mouthing them but they’re not exactly great in providing timely feedback to their applicants. I sent the application for my daughters way back in August 2017 and kept following up with them (every other week) only to get the response “we will inform you via text message”. By December, they suddenly told me they did NOT receive my application via email and that their priority would be the incoming Grade 1 students. I replied with just the screenshot of my email to them.

            Thanks Ms Kat for your feedback on my previous comment. 🙂

          • kat
            Author
            March 15, 2018 / 10:18 am

            Hi Jam! As far as i know there are no written assessment for Grade 1 but better to confirm with the school as well as changes might had been implemented due to Kto12.

  26. MommyJam
    March 15, 2018 / 5:36 am

    Hi Ms Nicca,

    Thank you for your response. It wasn’t an easy decision though but we cannot wait for them forever. we have sent multiple emails and text and even called them but to no avail.

    We are now waiting for my son’s assessment schedule and crossing my fingers for positive result. 🙂

    • Ria
      April 24, 2018 / 11:56 pm

      I’d have to agree, Raya is a bit delayed when it comes to giving feedback. But I have received an updated on my child’s application via an email and sms just this month (she just had an assessment right after the holyweek in March2018; we are just an incoming Nursery). But we are also considering OB Fairview.

      I am glad I saw this blog! We are also considering 3/6 in the list.
      Appreciate the context and break down so i can list the pros and cons. 🙂

      • kat
        Author
        May 15, 2018 / 9:05 am

        Hi Ria. OB Fairview is one of my top options before too. It just so happen that it was quite far from our place and traffic is also a concern so i ended up choosing Seed instead.
        It’s a joy to know that my blog has helped you in considering a school for your child. Thank you for the kind words.

  27. Monique
    March 25, 2018 / 11:32 am

    Hello

    I vitied TSMS last week to inquire for my 3 year old child. Is it too early to send him to school?

    Also, I’m curious how TSMS is compared to big schools like Ateneo? My mom kasi wants my son to study there but I’m not so into the traditional method and the big class setting that’s why I’m considering TSMS. Is your kid happy with the teaching method at TSMS?

    • kat
      Author
      March 29, 2018 / 6:46 am

      Hi Monique!
      i think with the k+12 program now wherein children are expected to be in grade 1 by the age of 6, getting them to school by 3 will be just fine.

      Ateneo does not have any preschool program, and to be fairly honest, i think Ateneo can be overwhelming for a 3 year old. For preschool, especially at an early age of 3, a progressive method of teaching is the most advisable.

      As for TSMS, yes, my son is happy there. But he got in there for grade school so he had quite a good number of years already from his progressive preschool. I am not sure about TSMS’ preschool program though as I have not met any parents yet from that level. Most of the younger siblings of my son’s classmates go to a different school and just transfer to TSMS in grade 1.

      Good luck and finding a school for your son! I hope you find the one that best fits your kid’s needs. Finding a preschool can be very tricky.

  28. Jenna Johnson
    March 26, 2018 / 9:27 pm

    Hi Mommy Kat!
    Does TSMS gives award at the end of the school year? Like if my child has an average of 90 or above, will he gets an honor award or if he excels in a specific subject will he get an award on his recognition day?
    Thank you

    • kat
      Author
      March 29, 2018 / 6:50 am

      Hi Jenna,

      TSMS gives recognition at the end of each school year for students who are among the top of their grade level. It is also generous in giving out awards for non-academic achievements like in elocution contests and sports.

  29. Roby Bernabe
    April 20, 2018 / 7:02 am

    Hi Mommy Kat,

    This is by far the most comprehensive and detailed blog I have read about TSMS. Thank you so much.

    I am planning to enroll my 3y/o son at TSMS preschool. Do they have a school service? And how much kaya ang rate? Hoping to hear from you mommy. 🙂

    • kat
      Author
      April 22, 2018 / 8:34 am

      thank you Mommy Roby!
      Seed do have accredited school service for their students. I believe the rates vary depending on how far your home is from the school. In our case, since we live along Tandang Sora area, the rate is at 2,300 per month because of the distance.
      You can inquire about the school service, and even talk to the operators during the new student orientation. There will be tables set up for school service tagged per location so you can identify to whom you should discuss your service options.
      Thanks and have a blessed sunday!

  30. Jodi
    April 23, 2018 / 4:12 pm

    Hi mommy Kat! Just wanted to ask if seed really requires their students as early as grade 1 to write in cursive? I think i heard this from my sister whose friend has a son studying in seed. Thank you! 🙂

    • kat
      Author
      May 15, 2018 / 9:02 am

      Hi Jody. If i remember correctly, my son and his classmates were writing in cursive during their first grade. They were thought how to write big and small letters during the first few months of grade 1. By the end of the school year, all of them are writing well in cursive already.

  31. Gay Carr
    May 7, 2018 / 4:18 pm

    Hi Mommy Kat! Thanks for your blog! Now I know more about SEED. I do not want my daughter to travel far to school. I want her to be productive and not waste time because of traffic. I also want her to be near her piano school and ballet school so I am strongly considering SEED. My daughter is an incoming 1st grader and will be taking her assessment on Wednesday.

    Can you say that the school has a good math program? Thank you!

    • kat
      Author
      May 15, 2018 / 9:09 am

      Hi Gay. thank you for dropping by my blog.
      happy to know that you daughter is active in extra curricular activities. Seed is giving emphasis on enhancing non-academic skills of the children, which is one thing that i liked about them.
      As for the Math program, i honestly can not give an assessment on its competitiveness as i am not sure about the program of other schools. My son, however, is taking Kumon classes and it has helped him a lot in his Math subject in school. Hope that helps!

  32. Rose
    May 11, 2018 / 10:52 pm

    Hi! Thanks for your blog it is indeed of great help. I hope you dont mind I would like to ask your opinion about my child.I put her in.daycare center in our office last year. This March, she just turned 4 and I am confused if I will still put.her in day care center in our office or if I will enroll her to big school since with the K12 now children can attend to even only one kindergarten. Second, why didnt you enroll.your child in The Learning Tree? I am choosing between The Lerning tree and Kid’s.Camp (if you’re familiar with) if I my husband and I decide to enroll our daugther this school year Thank you so.much

    • kat
      Author
      May 15, 2018 / 10:04 am

      Hi Rose! On your first questions, in my opinion, it depends on your child. Is your child having fun while learning in her current daycare? And since it will be her second year in her daycare if you enroll her this year, will there be a different program for those like her who moved up from the previou year?
      I remember when my son started going to preschool, whenever i asked him what they did during the day, he always says that “they played” consistently. But over time, i noticed that he can already count very well, write and even read. If you answered “yes” in my questions above, then maybe she doesn’t need to be transferred just yet.
      About your second question, as much as we like the curriculum of The Learning Tree (TLT), we felt that it is too small of a community for our child. His preschool community was almost the same size as TLT and we felt that he needs to slowly widen his horizon. Our son is a very shy boy back then and his preschool became his comfort zone. We felt that it will be more helpful for him to be exposed with more people and be in a school with a bigger space. Seed fits the criteria for us.
      But in terms of curriculum, TLT is really good. I even recommended it to some of my mommy friends too.
      I hope that helps Mommy Rose! Good luck on your quest to finding the best school for your daughter!

  33. Jon Dee
    January 11, 2019 / 12:37 pm

    hi mommy kat! good day! I’m planning to transfer my daughter in TSMS this coming school year but she’s an incoming grade 9. how’s their curriculum for high school? is it at par with Miriam or other big schools? Thanks.

  34. Jon Dee
    January 11, 2019 / 12:38 pm

    hello mommy kat! good day! I’m planning to transfer my daughter in TSMS this coming school year but she’s an incoming grade 9. how’s their curriculum for high school? is it at par with Miriam or other big schools? Thanks.

    • kat
      Author
      January 20, 2019 / 6:38 am

      Hi Jon! thank you for visiting my blog. As for Seed’s high school curriculum, sorry but I am not really sure for now about it’s standards. I have not really checked that out yet since my son is still in grade school.
      I hope that you will be able to find other sources to help you in your decision process. Best of luck to you and your daughter!

  35. Liza A
    February 5, 2019 / 1:04 am

    Hi Mommy Kat,
    Thank you for your valuable feedback regarding TSMS. Your blog about this school is very useful as I have been planning to transfer my kids to TSMS this coming school year. My kids are currently studying in Dubai and most of my questions and concerns were answered through your blog. Many thanks to the other parents who also contributed useful information thru their comments.

    • kat
      Author
      March 28, 2019 / 8:47 am

      thank you so much Liza!

  36. Jessica
    March 13, 2019 / 10:27 am

    If you live in Fairview QC area, there’s a School near SM Fairview that I highly recommend. MSA Whiz Kids Academy (Owns MSA Tutorial & Review Centers in Katipunan and in different malls)
    MSA offers Preschool and grade school, and soon a private science high school.

    Their lessons a bit advance specially in Mathematics but my child loves it there. It has a close nit community vibe. 15 max students per class.

  37. Ela
    April 2, 2019 / 1:24 am

    Hi, Mommy Kat!

    Would like to ask if its true that The Seed Montessori has lots of bully kids? I am afraid that my son might experience it. Actually we are currently enrolled in Casa and as a mother I am too worried about him since there’s some feedbacks about bullying in TSMS. Thank you!

    • kat
      Author
      April 2, 2019 / 10:21 am

      Hi Ela. I’m sad to hear that they were news of bullying in Seed. Personally, we never experience anything of that sort. The reason why I actually chose Seed among other schools is that because of their relatively small community, the school and its administrators will be able to monitor children more. I am also very satisfied with how the school and the teachers are handling not only bullying issues (when the news about the Ateneo bullying surfaced), but also on the Momo challenge and other online issues. The teachers talked to the kids and discussed the matters as a group. My son told me all about these candidly. he did not seem scared or worried. It comforted me since it means that the teacher was able to raise awareness among children without instilling fear in them.
      Nevertheless, I can not guarantee that there are no bullies in school. I am just stating what we are experiencing so far.
      As a mom, i believe in the power of our instinct. If you feel uncomfortable, then i say, trust your instinct. Our children’s safety and health is the most important afterall.
      I hope I am able help. Best of luck on your quest to finding the school for your son!

  38. Von
    February 26, 2020 / 9:50 am

    Good day Ms.Kat, very informative blog. Just want to ask if SEED are accepting children with special need?my son has a mild autism and its very hard to find a school.As of now we are trying Cradle of Joy at kamuning area for assessment. Also does SEED have school bus/service? Thank you.

    • kat
      Author
      March 17, 2020 / 11:09 am

      Hi Von. Thank you for checking out my blog and apologies for the delayed response to your questions.
      As for your first concern, I am not particularly sure about Seed’s guidelines regarding admissions. But what I noticed based on my observation is that, over the years, my son had classmates on the spectrum. This is actually one of the reasons why I chose Seed over traditional schools.
      As for your second question, yes, Seed has accredited bus service which are identified per area.
      I hope I was able to be of help Von. I hope wish you well in finding a good school for your son. Good luck and keep safe as well with all the covid-19 concerns around.

      • Von
        March 21, 2020 / 8:17 pm

        Hi Ms. Kat, Thank you for the reply. Yes you really help us and give us another option for our son. We hope your family is doing well. Thank you very much Ms. Kat, take care and keep safe also. 🙂

  39. Amanda
    July 21, 2020 / 6:28 pm

    Hi There! I chances upon this blog and wanted to share my experience in Seed Montessori. My kid transferred from Holy Family To Seed because I wanted a more progressive approach. Prior to that some Holy Family students warned my kid that students from High School have factions – bullies, rich, geeks, and if you did not studied there from 1st grade until you reach HS, It’s hard to blend since most of the High school students are not so accepting and nice. They all have issues with each other, this, the school’s High School department is famous among other nearby schools of being bullies. And that is true. we experienced it. Though I applaud the School Administration and Teachers- the students are a different story. Unless you grew up with them then theres no problem to stay in that school. I took my kid out. Just warning to those High school transferees. It’s not going to be easy. Also, the school has limited experience dealing with mental health issues.

    • kat
      Author
      August 9, 2020 / 9:39 am

      Hi Amanda,

      First of, I am sorry to hear about what your child went through in Seed. I appreciate that despite such disheartening experience, you shared it in this platform to warn about fellow parents.
      Let me also share that as an update, my son already transferred school for Grade 7. As much as we had only but good memories in Seed we, as parents, felt like it is time for our son to move on and experience a whole new setup. Such had been decided long before the school year 2019-2020 ended.
      I wish you, your child and your family all the best. Keep safe!

    • Sky
      March 6, 2021 / 1:06 pm

      Hi Amanda. I’m sorry to hear about your child’s experience in TSMS. Now I’m thinking twice about sending my child there. She got accepted in junior high, but I’m now worried that she might be bullied. I’ll call TSMS to ask about their programs to deal with school bullying.

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