Summer Fun Time in GuangZhou, China

Raffi- More We Get Together

At first, I was hesitant to have Zek take a long trip for a get-together. He was just recovering from flu and asthma attacks but we still decided for us to proceed to have fun times and activities with other kids. After the 5day stay at Tita Sally’s home, it was all worth our efforts.

 The most important thing they did the entire vacation was they were able to learn to pray together.

 It was a very productive vacation for Zek. We were blessed with good friends around us. Even when we are away from our family back home, we got them some bonding moments to remember.

 I’ve read in child development that from age 0-7 years old, kids cannot differentiate between right and wrong. They will simply imitate adults or older kids in everything they observed so it best to surround them with good people showing good examples so when they are exposed to uncertainty or something bad, they know how to respond righteously to the situation.

Posted on Sept.HomeRun monthly CFA ENewsletter at this link http://groups.google.com/group/catholic-filipino-academy/browse_thread/thread/b0a3904e39878ed9#

Beloved President Cory Aquino

Her love for her family and our country can only be surpassed by her unwavering love for our God. She was praying before she became president, during her presidency and well-beyond after willingly stepping down from the country’s top post. Her prayerful life and humble service to the Filipino people will always be her indelible mark in the heart of most Filipinos who love her.

By: Daddy

K-1Q Progress Report

Sessions/Activities:

Zek wakes up between 7:30-8:30am

We start the day with our Morning Prayer

Breakfast starts at 9am so we can do lessons between 10-12am when we started Q1 then if we didn’t finished a day’s lesson, we do it again between 4-6pm after his nap time at 2-4pm every Monday to Thursday. He is more attentive in the afternoon so we do it mostly at that time. After all the lessons are done, I let him play computer games he wants or the educational online games of www.starfall.com. Friday is we do short quizzes about 5-10 items, he usually gets 1-2 mistakes, before play the game he likes.

Most of the subjects are being taught by me while his daddy Rowin assist me in the CLE and Math subjects from time to time.
 

Then we end the day by saying the Rosary, Zek starts the 1st Mystery mostly before he fell asleep.

Progress per subject:

Its our 1st yr doing home schooling, so we are more in a lot of adjustment period and trials. Zek shows less interest in writing and reading at start but every time we show the result of his work and explain to him the details, he’s becoming more enthusiastic.  

Language: According to Darwin’s International School where Zek had his summer program, he can express himself well in english language. He uses polite expressions and can introduce himself. He likes making sounds and identifies them well to animals, what object and vehicle used. He is sometimes confused with the use of THIS IS A/AN, THESE ARE, THAT IS and THOSE ARE.

Reading: Zek can remember some sight words now that we usually read on his books. It is easy for him to see the pattern, same and different, recognizes directions.

CLE: Zek is starting to recognize Papa Jesus and Mama Mary but not completely as God made everything around us yet. He knows the basic prayers, Our Father, Angel of God and mostly how to pray the rosary which we do everyday before bed time. He can do sign of the cross but sometimes confused on using his left hand even in writing. He does have a little difficulty to initiate caring for things/toys around him but will eagerly join our cleaning and arranging at times.  

Math: He can count from 1-100 and knows missing numbers, what is next and some rhymes. Recognizes basic colors (attached is his project in mixing colors) and matching shapes and names.  

Science: Zek learns quickly most of the lessons with body parts, animals and plants. He recognizes uses of 5 senses very well. He could identify if a food is a go, grow or glow food.

Filipino: We do struggle understanding most of the Tagalog words in the book so I need to do explanation in English always, though he can do all the worksheet in Sining at Pagsulat book easily. 

Sibika: We do have difficulty pronouncing some words in tagalog in this book but he enjoys the IBA-IBANG MUKHA, recognizes them so well. The rest need more practice, as we do have to do the Tagalog speaking day only for this subject.

MAPE: We usually go to amusement center where we can play table hockey, but if weather is not too hot we go play badminton or ball catching.

We enrolled him on every saturday class for ARTS and doing some cooking lessons at YOMI-YOMI ( korean version of Gymboree classes).

Music, we downloaded the songs needed to be learned from his books from internet then have it sing it together and record for him to playback and listens for his mastery.

Problems/Solutions:

1. He whines doing a lot of writing or reading. We do have difficulty making him sit down for the lessons and stay until it finished.
   At first I have to patiently wait for him but there are times that I end up reprimanding him in frustration. I learned some tactics now to compromise with him every time he gets the lessons done.

2. He sometimes had difficulty remembering some words or reading.
   I learned to do some play with him on this, he likes cars so much and so one time I did a parking space with colors in words and play with him what color of  his matchboxes goes to where parking space. Then we print the “Twinkle, Twinkle Star” song and have him sing it while reading each word in lyrics. Hoping, he will always remember it.

3. During lesson, Zek keeps on changing the topic. Does not want to focus and draw anything he thinks on his book.
  We patiently listen to his stories first so he would follow the same example that when its time to the teacher (mom or dad) to talk he have to listen too attentively and show him the result as soon as we are done.

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!

It’s FATHER’S DAY!

We celebrated the day starting to a healthy jogging around the Beach at 7am in the morning then breakfast to the nearby McDo, Zek’ one of favorite dining place and he is also a member of the McDo kids club doing weekly activities.

Daddy always takes time to play with me everyday and patiently explains to me virtues in life that I need to learn. He do racing cars video game every weekend out with me while mommy is doing the groceries. He brings my toys to fix in his office whenever he can and surprises me with it when its done. We do putting back my toys on its proper places on some nights before we go to sleep and he had a hard time when I ask to sleep on my own room the first time because he can’t sleep without me by his side. When I started going for a summer class during our vacation in the Philippines, waiting for 2 hours seems too long for him to stand. He miss me already! What else can I ask for when I have a great DAD always beside me to watch me grow and teaches me the best things in life that comes from within us. Our time spent in prayers everyday too keep our bonding moments more stronger each day.

Before the day’s end, we tried the Zhuhai - Macau cruising Boat at Wanzai Tourist spot. They serve a buffet dinner while sightseeing lights display in the “City of Dreams” at night time. It’s an amazing view from the deck area of the boat, we are blown away (literally by strong wind) by the beauty of Macau architectural bridge design looking under it. Magical shows also provided for additional inboard entertainment.

We will never get tired of spending moments together.

Happy Father’s Day to the best Daddy in the world! We Love you!

YOMI-YOMI

He likes his chinese teacher Hebe even if he understand very little of the Putonghua, he enjoys attending the class and play with his chinese classmate Dou-Dou. Zek loves seeing EVA (the owner), he listens to her eargerly because she can speak english well with him. She understand his needs and happily play with him patiently wearing a big smile on everytime she welcome Zek in the place. 

Hooray to YOMI - YOMI! They just opened the 1st branch here in Guangdong Province of China and have attracted a lot of students already locally and foreigns.

Our Family wishes you more success helping young generation building head start to their future endeavors.

Annointing Day

The celebration started with a Holy Mass by Rev.Fr. Alex Balatbat followed by the parade of all grade levels and group presentation. Zek was very enthusiastic to joined the pre-school level even we weren’t able to attend their regular practices, he was posted on page 3 wearing blue mascara with another girl classmate of HOME RUN July issue of CFA monthly ENewsletter at this link http://groups.google.com/group/catholic-filipino-academy/browse_thread/thread/1ea0131b3c3cbeba#

Ended by the inspiring talk as always by Bro.Bo Sanchez.

May you all be Blessed.

Lupang Hinirang

Philippine National Anthem

by:  http://www.imeem.com/misteryo/music/aiguYZtI/filipino-children-lupang-hinirang/

Bayang magiliw,
Perlas ng Silanganan
Alab ng puso,
Sa Dibdib mo’y buhay.

Lupang Hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig,
‘Di ka pasisiil.

Sa dagat at bundok,
Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula
At awit sa paglayang minamahal.

Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y
Tagumpay na nagniningning,
Ang bituin at araw niya,
Kailan pa ma’y ‘di magdidilim.

Lupa ng araw ng luwalhati’t pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo,
Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi,
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa ‘yo.

SpiderZek

This is Zek favorite song from the soundtrack of Spiderman 2 and he loves singing this song all by himself in karaoke. 

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

by B.J. Thomas

http://www.imeem.com/tag/raindrops%20keep%20fallin%20on%20my%20head/playlists/ 

Raindrops keep falling on my head

And just like the guy

Whose feet is too big for his bed

Nothin’ seem to fit

Those raindrops are fallin’

On my head, they keep fallin’  

So I just did some talkin’ to the sun

And I said I didn’t like

The way he got things done

Sleepin’ on the job

Those raindrops keep fallin’

On my head, they keep fallin’

But there’s one thing I know

The blues they send

To meet me won’t defeat me

It won’t be long till

Happiness steps up to meet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head

But that doesn’t mean

My eyes will soon be turnin’ red

Cryin’s not for me cause

I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’

Because I’m free, nothin’ worryin’ me

It won’t be long till

Happiness steps up to meet me

A raindrops keep falling on my head

But that doesn’t mean

My eyes will soon be turnin’ red

Cryin’s not for me cause

I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’

Because I’m free, nothin’ worryin’ me

10 Steps to Start Home Schooling your child right away….

1. Review the 10 Core Principles of CFA
2. Discover the Learning Style of your child - Auditory Style for Zek
3. Discover the Passionof your child
4. Learn ways to turn your child into an avid reader
5. List the building blocks for a personalized Lesson Plan
6. Know the guidelines for successful home schooling- Focus, Discipline, Establish order,seek help and have fun
7. Learn how to use the Lesson Plan
8. Learn CFA’s Grading System - Pre-school Quarterly Progress Report
9. Join the CFA activities - CFA Clubs every Friday
10. Pray - In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen

        ” Father, I thank You for leading my family into this wonderful and exciting adventure of teaching our children at home. I entrust to You all my fears and worries - and surrender myself, my spouse, and my child/children to You. I know You will be with me. Supply me with the wisdom, the perserverance, the creativity that I need. Give me a bias for listening instead of lecturing, the habit of praising and building up my child/children daily - instead of criticizing and fault finding. Give me lots and lots of patience. Teach me to say “I Love You” and “I am proud of you” everyday. Lord, make me a more loving parent. Thank You again for trusting me with Your child/children.”

         I pray this in Jesus’ name. Mama Mary, pray for my family. Amen.       

         In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit, Amen.

By: www.catholicfilipinoacademy.com affiliated with Power Kids Academy

Zek Holy Week Procession

Holy week celebration has just started when we arrived in Philippines for our annual vacation. We always join the procession in honor of our family patron, St.Peter.This has been a Santos’ family tradion for years. This year Zek gave his self-sacrificing participation without any complaint throughout the way. He helped push the decorated and well-lit float of St.Peter with Papa Ben and Tito Rommel guiding him for more than a kilometer long way around the village followed with more images of saints.

Everyone who saw him was amazed of his perseverance and noble action as a child though this was just really like playing for him. He just turned 5 and his faith is bigger than us, his parents. We have a lot of hesitation everytime this season comes with a time for absolution, but he showed us a great example of how to be a real child of God.

This is how I saw him as an angel to us, his parent.

Great Job Kuya Zek! We are so proud of you.

Lord I Offer My Life - Hillsongs

Zek started singing this song this time so we downloaded it and put on his favorite for his constant listening.

All that I am, all that I have

I lay them down before you O Lord

All my regrets, all my acclaims

The joy and the pain, I’m making them yours.

Things in the past, things yet unseen

Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true

All of my hopes, all of my plans

My heart and my hands are lifted to you.

Chorus:

Lord, I offer my life to You

Everything I’ve been through

Use it for your glory

Lord I offer my days to You

Lifting my praise to You

As a pleasing sacrifice

Lord, I offer You my life.

(Repeat)

Zek "Happy Together" with Papa and Mama

Happy Together (Turtles)

Papa and Mama had a long vacation with us here in Zhuhai, China. They stayed for more than 3 month and Zek was so happy together playing with them everyday. He sings this song dedicated for them and the rest of his cousins back home. He loves them and miss them all so much!

Thank you Papa and Mama for spending some time with us in spite of your so busy schedule!

Happy Together by The Turtles

 http://www.imeem.com/tag/happy%20together/playlists/

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night
It’s only right
To think about the girl you love
And hold her tight
So happy together

If I should call you up
Invest a dime
And you say you belong to me
And ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be
So very fine
So happy together

{Refrain}

Zek Morning and Evening Prayer

If I were a Butterfly - Brian M. Howard

When He wakes up in the morning we say this prayer together,

Jesus, teach us day by day

What we should do and what to say.

Make us gentle, kind and good.

Make us loving as we should, Amen.

Our Father …..

AT night before going to bed,

Angel of God

My guardian dear

To whom God’s love commits me here

Ever this day be at my side

To light and guard

To rule and guide, Amen.

Glory be to the Father ……

I am 5 year’s old now

This is all our good friends here in china who travelled a long way just to join us in our celebration of my 5th Birthday, ate Lianne and Ate Patrice with Tito Ronald and Tita Joy, Tito RS with Tito Rey, Tita Norme and Baby Natania plus our very own special guest Pama and Mama.

   My Spiderman Collections

Thank you all for your presence and all the wonderful gifts that makes my birthday a memorable one this year inspite of the gloomy atmosphere we had here in the city of Zhuhai China.

It was really so nice to see and be with you all again, we had a great time!