How Bright and Cheerful Teachers Helped Raise My Kids

“The true meaning of life
is to plant trees, under whose
shade you do not expect to sit.”
                          - Nelson Henderson

I first encountered this quote as the theme of my son's preschool moving up day. Since the year my oldest son C turned 2, I've been bringing them to Bright and Cheerful Preschool (formerly Yu Ming School), located in Ideal Street, Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. The school has been part of our family's life for the past four years. And now that my second son D is 'graduating' from preschool, I feel a pang of sadness at the school we'll be leaving behind.

When C first started school, he was able to adjust quickly to the routines of the class. However, after the Christmas break, we started having trouble leaving him in school as he would cry and cling on to his dad. After about a week of this, teacher Beya, C's Toddler Group teacher (now one of the school's owners) gently asked my husband to just leave him with her and she'll take care of the situation. A day or two later, the crying stopped and drop-offs once again became pleasant and fuss-free. It wasn't until some time later when she jokingly told me that it was really my husband who had to be trained to leave my son in school that I came to understand what she did. I guess with so many years of experience under her belt, she knew exactly what my son needed.

When C entered preschool, he already knew most of the concepts taught at his level - letters, colors, shapes, numbers... He responded well to whatever we taught him at home and went to school for the fun stuff - making friends, having playmates, playing in the school's outdoor playground. With my second son D, it was a different story. He would not pay attention when I started our letter activities and refused to answer simple questions like, "What letter is this?" I was beginning to worry that he was going to be 'behind'. After conferring with Teacher Beya, I discovered that he actually knew all his letters. Was he just pulling my leg? I would never know. But Teacher Beya taught me that D is a lot smarter than I gave him credit for. Perhaps, he just preferred a different approach - one that B&C was able to address.

While in the class of Teacher Shelesh (who then taught Nursery), C, who was three at that time, still wore diapers to school. C has had major surgeries as a baby which resulted in a part of his colon being resected. Though potty-trained, he sometimes has accidents in his pants. Even if it rarely happens, we did not want to cause him any embarrassment or cause any trouble to the school. At a Parent-Teacher Conference, one of the goals set by Teacher Shelesh is for C to stop wearing diapers to school. I explained C's medical history and the risk of an 'accident' happening. Teachers Shelesh and Ele (now both owners of the school) told me not to worry about it as they are willing to take care of it should it happen. And that was how Teachers Shelesh and Ele initiated the diaper phase-out. For caring enough for my son's (and my pocketbook's) welfare, I am forever grateful.

Teacher Shelesh also taught my sons to write - a skill I was not able to successfully teach at home. D will not even sit still at home, but in school, he would happily write his 'morning message'. I don't know how she did it, but I'm sure glad she did.

One day, D had a field trip which we completely forgot about. He had no chaperone and my husband and I were both unavailable.  I felt bad when I found out about it and worried that D felt alone or abandoned or might be scarred for life! But D had a happy time and excitedly told us how much he enjoyed riding his friend's car. Teacher Shelesh, with the help of another parent took charge of the situation and made sure D was looked after during the field trip.

Teacher Ele, who is the school directress, taught C at the Junior Kinder level. C watched a lot of Blues Clues and learned "The Planet Song." When Teacher Ele learned about C's interest in planets and outer space, they spent the next couple of weeks learning about planets and C would excitedly talk about the new things he was learning in class such as Pluto being a dwarf planet and gibbous moons.

C at that time was also deeply immersed in the world of Thomas the Tank Engine. One day, he asked, "Do trains have guardian angels?" This really stupefied me as I simply did not know the answer. So I just told him to ask Teacher Ele... and true enough, Teacher Ele had an answer! (Apparently trains do have guardian angels).

Teacher Libby, who teaches the Senior Kinder class also knows her kids well. She knows their strengths and weaknesses - intellectually and emotionally. She patiently and creatively worked with D to help him overcome his slurring. She even observed how singing Filipino songs seemed to have helped work the tongue muscles to help him pronounce his words better. One of my son's proudest moments was when he was able to successfully pronounce ROCKWELL (It used to be wock-yey). 

When she observed that D would sometimes say hurtful things to his classmates, she took him aside and gently spoke to him about it. Now, D would sometimes say, "You're hurting my feelings" if we tease him about something. Thank you, Teacher Libby for teaching my son about people's feelings.  

Lao Shi Vanessa, Mandarin teacher and another co-owner of the school, is another wonderful teacher who helped shape my sons. Coming to the Chinese New Year program during C's Junior Kinder year, I was surprised to find out that he had a solo part - recite the morning prayer, in Mandarin. Since I've never heard this prayer in my entire life, much less practiced it at home, I panicked. I was pleasantly surprised and mighty proud when he was able to deliver his lines - perfectly memorized in perfect Mandarin. Wow. Magic. Lao Shi later explained to me that she didn't tell me about my son's part because she knew he could do it on his own and didn't want to stress me out. Okay. Thanks for doing all the work, Lao Shi! =) 

For this year's Christmas program, D was given the part of the Chinese narrator. D was at home sick the week the scripts were given and was about a week behind. This time, Lao Shi enlisted my help. She gave me the script and taught me how to read it and break it into smaller bits to help him memorize the lines. D had a week to memorize 10 sentences. With Lao Shi's guidance (and constant praises, threats, and bribery at home), he pulled it off! Again, I was one proud and happy mom!

More than the schoolwork, Lao Shi is like the wise, caring Chinese aunt you wish you had. She helped me come up with a Chinese name for D. When she learned I was looking for alternative therapies to help with my sons' frequent allergies, she recommended a Chinese doctor we might wish to consult. 

Another brilliant addition to this wonderful group of B&C teachers is Taekwondo Coach Sarah Arellano. At 4, my son has a blue belt in Taekwondo. But more than the kicking and punching skills, Taekwondo training instills in the children discipline and self-confidence. Through frequent sparring with their teammates, they are taught to conquer their fears. Giving the children a chance to lead warm-up exercises and play 'coach' to their teammates also develops their leadership skills. And as they train for a full hour non-stop, the kids develop stamina and learn to overcome their laziness. Coach Sarah is strict, and pushes her students hard. But as another parent puts it, "buti yan, para di sila lelembot-lembot." (It's better this way, so the kids don't get too soft.)

I would also like to pay homage to the aides who have been with B&C for many years. Ms. Mimi, Ms. Julie, Ms. Karen to name some of them, who help the kids go to the bathroom, wash up, get dressed, eat their snacks etc. They know when your kid is not eating because he doesn't like his food - and tells you about it. They let you know that your kid is having a hard time drinking from the straw in his bottle. They are gentle and patient with the children - and they know their wards well. Also Mang Dante, the school guard - who knows all the children, their parents, grandparents, nannies and drivers. Mang Dante who always opens the gate with a smile on his face - ready with an umbrella if it's raining.

Bright and Cheerful Preschool is now owned and managed by the teachers who have been teaching there since its Yu Ming days. The teachers are very kind, gentle, loving, experienced and knowledgeable. They know their kids well, care about them, teach them well, and do what is best for them. I am grateful to them for touching my sons' lives and making them better kids. For teaching them, guiding them, helping them grow... for being true second parents during the time they are in school. As a parent who has been with the school for the last four years, I say I couldn't ask for more.


Bright and Cheerful Preschool
formerly Yu Ming School
15 Ideal Street, Mandaluyong City
717-0498 / 717-0499
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bright-and-Cheerful-Preschool/184260021610298