Letter from the Senior Education Consultant

Dear Parents, Educators, and Friends:

A school that aims to ensure a firm grasp of life-long learning skills, with a liberal education orientation, and wholesome dispositions through personalized education … this sums up the education thrust and philosophy of Bannister Academy, located in the fast-rising Ortigas residential enterprise, Circulo Verde, and scheduled to start with First Year high school in 2010-2011.

The school is based on the perspective of teaching to learn for life, highlighting the focus on learning skills and attitudes premised on a continuing formation in character. Its motto is Transcendere, a Latin term that means “climbing over” or overcoming the challenges and difficulties that one is confronted with. We believe that the unique features of the school will provide one more but distinctive opportunity for parents to have their children receive integral education, featuring a time-tested core curriculum, a complementary co-curricular program, and an appropriate and potentially effective character education in collaboration with the home.

Personalized education is ensured through a) a class size of 30, deemed optimum (not too many nor too few) for a healthy interaction of personalities; b) a peer mentoring and individual coaching program complement (where, eventually, trained older high school kids act as buddies to grade school kids); c) sports and arts offerings that foster the nurturing of human virtues; d) complementary personality development programs on responsible decision-making; e) total school size of no more than 1,000; and f) teacher-student ratio of 1:10.

The school’s almost complete faculty comprises master’s degree holders in education and specialized fields from top local universities. The projected faculty members, including the prospective principal, have been working in projects addressed to young people. The team has directly dealt with the character formation of more than 25,000 boys and girls nationwide.

The school has an architectural team who has finalized plans based on a homey atmosphere where teachers are able to teach and students are able to learn in decent comfort. There is a marketing team that will ensure the delivery of an accurate message of the school’s vision and direction. There is a legal team that ensures compliance and performance in accordance with the parameters provided by the Department of Education and private accreditation bodies. The business experience of management ensures financial viability and sustainability.

Given the human resource expertise in teaching and school-related business activities, and the financial base of the project, the school is expected to grow steadily and build its niche in the world of the academe within and way beyond the site area. It can reasonably be expected to attract parents who wish to send their children to first-rate schools.

Finally, a possible question could be: Why consider putting the education of my child on the line with a new school or risk transfer from a well-established one? If your son or daughter is in very good schools that meet all your expectations, then there is no reason transferring. If you wish to have more visible guarantees of the education you wish for your children to maximize their worth and potentials, you may deem it sensible at least to find out what Bannister has to offer and look into its “evidence” of delivery: its message, its philosophy, its envisioned programs, the people behind it; and its education and corporate business sense. Then, make a decision. My sense from 40 years of experience in formal education in all levels says that this enterprise is at the very least worth considering.

Thank you and here is wishing you all the best in the delicate and delightful challenge of providing your children with the best education you have in mind for them.