Ashley's Story
“She was happy in school!”
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We started in MGP in 2013. Ashley is our eldest, so she was the first to enter MGP among our children. As expected and as many know, Ashley is very shy and reserved. I remember when she would always look at the door/entrance to check if we were still there waiting for her. She couldn’t even eat her food properly during snack time because she was extremely shy to everyone inside the classroom. She was in Junior Casa then.
Suddenly, she gave in. Ashley was able to adapt to a new environment, and she was able to express herself. She was thrilled to dress up everyday to go to school and show everyone how much of a fashionista she can be. Her everyday excitement to meet her friends and teachers was immeasurable.
She was happy in school! She gained many friends, committed to her teachers, and even showcased her talent in many school activities and programs. She loves to dance and she really likes to wear different kinds of costumes for different school events.
In 2015, MGP contacted us about the DEPED age requirement for first grade wherein a child can enter the said level if they turn six by September—if I’m not mistaken. Ashley was in Senior Casa then, so I was informed that they needed to evaluate her to see if she could skip Advanced Casa and enroll to first grade by SY 2016-2017. So what happened was, she was recommended to skip Advanced Casa and was required a special class during summer to cope with the lessons since she missed a lot for not being able to attend the most “crucial” stage in preschool—the Advanced Casa.
Then, summer was over and we needed to go back to school. Technically, she entered first grade by the age of five. We were not ready yet, as we had mixed emotions—we were proud of her being able to go to first grade by age five, yet nervous that she might feel extremely shy and shocked with big groups and again, with unfamiliar faces. She just gained preschool friends and trusted her preschool teachers, right? So imagine the new process she had to go through over again. Believe me, it was never easy! She literally cried every single day and morning before entering the classroom. She even cried at night thinking she needed to go to school the next day again. At her age, she needed to endure being an “outcast”. Yes, she felt that way during her first few weeks being with different groups, as her new classmates already had their own friends and groups, especially because they had already been classmates during their Advance Casa days, and most of them were one year her senior.
Weeks passed, and she was still scared, nervous, and very anxious. It came to a point that we wanted her to go back to her old class and classmates and to just go through the standard process—Advanced Casa before first grade, to avoid trauma going to school.
It was never easy, we mean it!
But throughout this journey, teachers never gave up on her. They continued to assure us that Ashley can do it even if we knew everyday that she was very scared. And, the day I prayed for comes! Ashley is willing to start over! The eagerness to learn, the willingness to go to school, and the excitement to gain new friends, and a high spirited Ashley is back! We are really happy! It was all worth it! We never expected anything from her since she’s one of the youngest among her level. But surprisingly, she was able to prove herself in her class.
Fast forward to 2020, the pandemic came. Again, she had to go through new adjustments. Everything seemed unfamiliar to her. We were a bit worried she might have a hard time again, yet we trusted her. It was like deja vu. But this time, I can confidently say that she nailed it! She was able to do it independently for two years.
MGP helped Ashley unwrap whatever skills she has, especially with the new learning set up. She learned how to be independent and responsible. As a parent, all we want is for her to enjoy learning, and MGP made that possible.
We want to thank you all in MGP for being with Ashley throughout her preschool and elementary years. With the same excitement, we are looking forward to a fruitful journey with our two boys, Ashton and Asher.
Paul and Thessa Solano
Proud Dad and Mom of ASHLEY
Mother Goose Lipa Class 2022
