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About The Bridge School
The Bridge School is a private, nonprofit, co-educational early childhood learning center modeled on standards of developmentally appropriate educational practices as set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, USA. It sits on a 1300-square meter tree-lined property on Cairo and Canberra Streets in the safe community of BF Northwest in BF Homes, Paranaque City. Founded in 2001 by Tere Del Rosario, Katrina Del Rosario, Michelle Tabuena Filart and Denise Tabuena Lumbad, the school provides an exceptional learning environment for children from age one and a half through age seven. Education at the The Bridge School is experiential, interdisciplinary, and collaborative and is rooted on Christian principles and on an understanding of Filipino culture and values. Our commitment is to the whole child – heart and mind, body and spirit.
We know that learning is an ongoing process and that children actively construct knowledge about the world. We see children as “makers of meaning” – resourceful, self-motivated learners.
Philosophy
At The Bridge School we believe that each child is special and unique, and worthy of respect. We recognize that children have distinctive developmental timetables for the unfolding of abilities, and become independent, self-confident, and motivated, and learn best in an environment that respects these developmental differences and is responsive to individual interests, ideas, cultures and family backgrounds. Our commitment is to the whole child; heart and mind, body and spirit.
We know that learning is an ongoing process and that children actively construct knowledge about the world. We see children as “makers of meaning” – resourceful, self-motivated learners. Their natural curiosity moves them to eagerly explore, observe, interact and experience people, places and things around them and then use these discoveries to establish understanding. The thoughtfully crafted and even sometimes emergent opportunities we provide for them to play, to pretend, to experiment, to express themselves in words, writing, actions, and art forms, to question, to build with blocks, to visit new places, to share and collaborate with their peers, teachers, family and the community are considered basic life experiences from which understanding, knowledge, skills and dispositions can be constructed.
We view children’s play as authentic learning and recognize its importance in childhood. We give children the freedom to create rich, complex, and sustained scenarios. In their play, children are capable of a high level of cooperation and imagination and are continually expanding their knowledge of the world. At The Bridge School, work and play are regarded as interrelated and of equal worth.
We see curriculum as a rich and vibrant process, which emerges from a teacher’s goals and understanding of child development and a sensitivity to the children’s ideas and interests, needs, experiences, values and abilities. Reading and language, writing, math, science, social studies, music and the arts are incorporated in meaningful activities. In this environment, education goes beyond the mastery of basic skills as children are challenged to analyze, synthesize, question and think critically.
Children who are treated with respect will in turn respect themselves and others. Teachers set an atmosphere that provides opportunities for the development of compassion, cooperation, interdependence, negotiation, and effective conflict resolution – all of which are essential for living and working in a complex world. Our teachers do not merely teach Christian values, they live it.
We believe that education is a lifelong process built on a foundation created in childhood. Good education is reflected in knowing oneself, a love of learning and is characterized by the knowledge, skills and dispositions that enable a person to grow and change, to solve problems, to work collaboratively and effectively in groups, to lead and to be a positive influence to the world in which they live. At The Bridge School, our goal is to give each child a foundation that is rich in experiences and relationships that ultimately prepare them for their life’s journey.