Dana's first day of school

I decided to create this blog to sort of be an almost daily journal of my daughter's life. Dana Keziah is seven-years-old, and has started First Grade today at Stella Maris Academy. She woke up very early this morning and announced, "School! School Day today!"

Last year we attempted to homeschool her, even enrolled for a whole year at Peniel Academy, a good school in Cainta. Unfortunately, we were so far behind. It was already fourth grading period, the exams were in, and we were still on second quarter lessons. Homeschool has benefits and all, but it was not for us!

Now I want to say this in the face of all who say homeschooling is more spiritual. Yes, it is advocated, even endorsed--almost advertised in the church we attend (Christ's Commission Fellowship), and homeschooled children I meet are quite brilliant, but it just didn't fit our temperaments: mine, my wife's, and my daughter's. Besides, it's no secret that the son-in-law of the senior pastor of our church is the headmaster of The Master's Academy, a homeschooling program, and LIFE Academy which is based in the CCF Center itself, so no surprise that they advertise homeschooling.

We chose Stella Maris because we did our research and learned that its Grade Six graduates stand a good chance of being accepted to the Philippine Science High School, which we dream of for Dana. Veck wants Philippine Science, while I wish she can go to the Philippine High School for the Arts. So we'll see if God gave us a scientist or an artist, and we'll enroll her in the school she is better suited to excel.

Naturally, Veck and I asked her what she did on her first day, and she said, aside from the usual getting-to-know-you, and stand-up-and-tell-us-your-name-and-favorite-food (hotdogs), they did a Mirror game. Mirror! Like the classic Improv game. I am liking this school already.

She also said she has made friends already with a five-year-old boy named Ethan. She is now busy writing the story of her first day, and asking me how to spell "assignment" and how to make sure that when she writes Ethan's name that people read it right: long E sound. Looks like she's chronicling her day herself. I'll see if I can take a snapshot of her story and post it here.