Preparing for Junior Nursery Part 1: Elle Marie is officially back with TU

It is official, Elle Marie is back with Toddlers Unlimited, Inc. It's not as if she left TU but there was a time that Noy and I considered enrolling her in another school near our place. The travel time going to TU was just too taxing for Nonoy who is the only person who knows how to drive in our family. So we thought if we enroll Elle Marie in a nearer school, we don't have to take too much time of Noy from work.

We went to several pre-schools in San Antonio Village. We went to this Pre-school 01, the nearest school in our place. It is within walking distance as a matter of fact. A couple of smart parenting websites mentioned that this school is the most affordable school in the area considering that it is in Makati City. Indeed, it is affordable but don't accept toddlers below 3 years of age.

We went to Pre-school 02, just one tricycle ride from our place. Smart parenting websites and OUR pedia recommended this school because it was able to prepare their kids to big schools. Of course I wanted something like that for Elle as well but when we visited, I was disappointed. The place was so gloomy! The teachers looked depressed, the kids looked bored. They didn't have separate rooms per age group so the kids aging 2-5 (i think) were all together in one big place. I just don't know how they are able to hear and focus on what they are doing with all the noise and action around them.

We went to Pre-school 03, a home-based school recommended by one mom in one smart parenting website that I patronize. It's one tricycle ride from our place. It advocates "vertical education", where toddlers of all ages (2-5) are in just one class. I don't believe in "vertical education". I don't think it suits my daughter especially with her age and how much time she takes to warm up in a group. They scheduled us for a trial class but we never went.

We went to Pre-school 04, a school specializing in reading skills. We thought they could help Elle Marie with her speech. However, they seem not interested in us. We came and went without being entertained (there was a utility woman who received and explained what they are doing to us). So, we thought... we are also not interested in enrolling Elle Marie in their school.

We even did a 3-day trial class with Pre-school 05. This school is just a tricycle ride away from our place and one block away from Tita Nene's office. At first we were impressed with this school because of how their place look like. But, when the Finance Officer/acting OIC started talking as if she's a guidance counselor or an expert in toddler development... we were turned off. We gave up when I saw them starting their classes with the kids watching dvds!!! Yes, their tuition fee is VERY affordable compared to TU but we don't want to pay for a school to make Elle watch DVD when she can watch her dvd collection for one whole day at home! This school claims that they have the most affordable and convenient tuition set-up because you enroll every month for only P3000. If you decide not to enroll for a specific month, you may do so and re-enroll again anytime you wish.

Whew! In the end Elle Marie is back with TU, back with Teacher Liza in Little Joey class, back with Cyro, Lucas, Finn and Max (Lili might come in August after Max left) AND back in the yellow room... I can either learn how to drive or get a driver exclusive for Elle... but for now, Papa Noy is back in Jupiter St-Buendia Ave.-Tordesillas St-Legaspi St. route.

And... in preparation to June 15, Elle Marie and I went shopping this morning with Ate Pat! We bought these two lovely shoes from Landmark! They are having a mallwide sale and we got these two shoes for a REAL bargain!!! The Black High School Musical Shoes's original price was P1299 and we got it only for P300!!! The White, Lacy Minnie Mouse Shoes's original price was P899 and we got it only for P100!!! Yes! P100!!! God knows how happy Noy was when I told him about our treasure hunting we did in Landmark! He was worrying about how fast Elle grows that it looks like every month she has to change shoes but if it's just P100... she can change her shoes every week! (in exaggeration of course! i am not serious)