As promised, I’ve uploaded here the two videos of Justin performing in their Beauty and the Beast production and in their finale number for their graduation day.



That’s my son on the platform in the far right corner. He portrayed the role of Salt, one of the enchanted objects in the castle. He’s the one wearing the “S” headdress.


Justin is the second boy from the right; he’s beside his taller classmate Diego.
I’ve already mentioned in one of my previous Mommy Moments’ post that Justin is a born performer. He loves singing and dancing, and he enjoys taking part in their school production. Their Christmas production is a good proof of his love of performing and showcasing his talents.

Yesterday, March 13, 2010, was Justin’s graduation day at the Tektite Auditorium of the Philippine Stock Exchange in Pasig City. To show our support for the youngest member of the family, we came in full force. Justin’s lolo and lola whom he calls Tatay and Nanay, Tito Orlan and Tita Meann, Daddy and Mommy, and Ate April were there.

Prior to the commencement exercise, the children presented a Beauty and the Beast production. Justin played the role of Salt, one of the enchanted objects at the castle.


Justin wearing his Salt costume at home


The Beauty and the Beast stage


Gaston and Belle with the townsfolks


That’s my son with the “S” headdress


Justin pointing his finger in his lolo and lola’s direction


Justin’s supporters; Tita Meann was the one taking this picture


Chow time
Justin’s Dad also took videos of Justin’s performance during the Beauty and the Beast production and their finale number. I will upload those in a separate post.

Ten more school days, and it’s showtime! Justin’s school will be having their graduation production for 2010 at the Tektite Auditorium, Philippine Stock Exchange, on March 13, Saturday. They’ll be presenting a Beauty and the Beast production. My son was assigned the role of Salt. Today, I’ll be picking up his costume when I drop him off at school. We also need to buy him light blue long sleeves top and black pants for the graduation ceremony.

Justin’s class is dismissed at 11:30am. Before, I just fetch him from school and we go straight home. This allows me more time to do administrative tasks or work on a writing assignment. I realized, however, that I have been depriving my son of more playtime with his classmates and friends after class. That made me really guilty. I have resolved to give him more time after school every day to play in their school playground. He is particularly fond of the sandbox.


That’s my son with his current favorite classmate/friend Maxine. This photo was taken last Friday when they celebrated Chinese New Year in school and they had to wear Chinese costume.

I would just like to share some pictures of my son during their Christmas production last December 12, 2009 at the Tektite Auditorium of the Philippine Stock Exchange. We only got these pictures from Justin’s school last week; they hired an official photographer for this event. Please bear with the quality of the photos; we have them scanned so we can upload them here. The first four pictures are those of my son performing “Frosty the Snowman.” The last one is our family picture (with his Tito O. and Tita Meme) with Santa.










My son’s performance was captured in a video here.

Justin’s school presented its Christmas production for 2009 aptly titled “Holiday Inspirations." The show was held at the Tektite Auditorium of the Philippine Stock Exchange last Saturday, December 12, 2009. All the students, from Toddler Level to Kinder Level, performed to the delight of parents and guests alike.

Justin’s Nursery class performed “Frosty the Snowman.” I was too excited, teary-eyed even, to watch my son’s first time on stage. I’ve been getting positive comments from my fellow parents about Justin’s performance during rehearsals in school, and I couldn’t wait to see him perform.


That's my son in brown bonnet, brown scarf, brown winter gloves, and green jacket

The children and their families also had a chance to have their pictures taken with Santa. The children were given gifts, too. Everyone went home with a smile on their faces, and the parents couldn’t be prouder of their kids. We’re so looking forward to their next Christmas production.

Justin’s school held its second Parent-Teacher Conference for this school year last Friday. I was glad that I was able to persuade (a.k.a. coerce) Justin’s dad to go with me to meet Justin's teachers and discuss our son's progress in school. He was late, though, because aside from walking from his office to Justin’s school for 10 minutes, he also waited for us at the lobby of our condo building when Justin and I were already in school. I couldn’t call him because I was already inside Justin’s classroom talking with his teachers. LOL! Our appointment time was 9:15am; my husband arrived a few minutes late.

According to his teachers, Justin can now work with minimum supervision. The teachers will just give him instructions on what he needs to do, and he can be left to finish the task on his own. He is also the only one in his class who can write his first name without any of his two teachers guiding his right hand. Our son really made us proud that day.

Justin can now pee by himself in the toilet bowl, but our first attempt at making him wear briefs to school today was unsuccessful. When I was getting him ready for school this morning, I asked Justin if he wants to wear briefs when he goes to school. He said yes, and I was glad to do as told. I asked his teachers to assist him when he wants to use the bathroom and to ask him from time to time if he needs to pee.

I made my graceful exit afterwards and stayed awhile watching my son through their classroom window. I saw him playing with blocks (Their first 30 minutes in class, Mondays to Thursdays, is playtime). Then, he was talking to one of his teachers. Apparently, he forgot he wasn’t wearing diaper today. He peed in his briefs and pants.

I hurriedly went home to get him a new pair of shorts/pants. Good thing, his school is very near our place. When I came back, Justin was already back in his classroom wearing new briefs over his diaper. He wasn’t ashamed to be seen without his pants on because his usual getup at home is sleeveless shirt and diaper when he sleeps or sleeveless shirt and briefs when he’s awake.

I therefore conclude that Justin is not yet ready to wear briefs to school. We’ll try again next week. Wish us luck!

In celebration of Grandparent’s Day, Justin's school invited all grandparents (whose grandchildren are studying in the same school) to come to their school during class hours to spend time with their grandchildren. Grandparents and grandchildren were treated to a bowl of heartwarming homemade soup.


Our souvenir photo: Justin’s lolo, Mommy Tetcha and Justin

Last Friday, I attended my very first Parent-Teacher Conference at my son’s school. The parents were given 20 minutes to meet and talk with their kid’s teachers for any school concerns, while the teachers discussed the student's performance in school for the first trimester.

Justin’s school has a different term for a report card. They call it “Developmental Portfolio.” Students are evaluated based on the following areas: Physical Development (Large Muscle Coordination and Small Muscle Coordination), Personal Development (Emotional Development, Work Habits, and Self-help Skills), and Readiness Skills (Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing, and Math).

Justin scored highest in Work Habits, earning all G’s in this area. Letter grades were used to evaluate student's progress in various areas (M for Mastered, G for Good Progress, W for Working on Skill, and NY for Not Yet). His Speaking and Listening skills are also all G’s, except for his fluency in the English language.

These were his teachers’ comments on his Developmental Portfolio: “Justin is showing more appreciation for our class activities. He also enjoys sharing his thoughts with his teachers and can diligently work on his tasks. He is also becoming more familiar with the English language. Practicing at home will be very helpful.”

Last Friday afternoon, Justin, his dad, I, and his cousin Ate Ayie trooped to Justin’s school for their Back-to-School Night. It’s a chance for parents to meet their kids’ teachers, know their kids' schedule, and see their kids’ classrooms and some of their artworks.

This is Justin’s classroom where some of their artworks are displayed.



The kids were treated to a free magic show and ice cream. Ruther, the magician, was also a good ventriloquist, and he’s quite funny, too. Here’s a picture of him performing one of his tricks.


Because patience is not one of my son’s virtues, he got bored halfway through the show. We headed to the mall afterwards.

As part of the school enrollment requirements, we have to submit two 2”X2” pictures of my son. We had Justin posed for that shot in a Kodak kiosk in the mall. At first, I thought one of those pictures was going to be used for his school ID, but nope, both will be used for my son’s school records. I have posted a copy of that ID picture here so Justin will know what he looked like as a nursery student. I also think he looks cute in this picture. Do I sound like a doting mom?

Just in case I won’t have Internet connection for the rest of the day and until tomorrow, I’m posting my entry now using my phone as modem while I still have cell phone load.

Because Justin enjoyed his five-week summer class and he’s the right age, we enrolled him in nursery for this school year. Classes in their school officially started last June 17, and I say I’m one excited mom! I made my mornings less hectic so I can accompany him to and from school, which is very near our place, by the way.

He’s just been attending class for a week now because classes for preschool were suspended yesterday and today due to typhoon Feria. He’s actually getting bored just staying in the house and playing. I really think he missed school.

Justin is still quite clingy, but last Tuesday, I left his classroom to be with the other parents waiting at the lounge for their children. He cried a little, but he soon forgot about mommy as soon as I was out of his sight. He was even grinning widely when their class was dismissed. “Did you cry?” I asked him. “No,” he said, but he did.

He still actively participates in all their classroom activities, but I noticed he gets distracted and a little bit bored sometimes probably because they now have a three-hour class as against their two-hour summer class last May. He’s gotten a little bit more complacent, too, that he sometimes doesn’t listen to his teachers (two teachers are assigned per classroom) like when he’s asked to lie down on the mat during rest time. He doesn’t want to rest; he wants to play after recess.


Justin during play time


Justin doing “Ring around the Rosie” with his classmates


Justin proudly wearing his school shirt
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We learned from my husband’s officemate that the school near our place is holding summer classes for young children. Since Justin already knows how to count 1 to 30, identify all but five letters of the alphabet, distinguish between shapes, and sing some nursery rhymes, we decided to let him have his first taste of school.

Parents are allowed to observe first how their children would react to being in a classroom setting, so that’s exactly what we did yesterday, the first day of summer classes. Justin was initially placed in the classroom for nursery students because of his age (2 years and 9 months old). He was later transferred to the toddlers’ room for reasons only the teachers knew. I was guessing it’s because we haven’t paid yet.

How was Justin’s first day of school? When he was in the older kids’ room, he immediately got hold of toys that were lying on the table. He wasn’t intimidated by the presence of the other kids. In the toddlers’ room, he participated actively in the singing, dancing, coloring, eating, hand-washing, and storytelling that went on for two hours. He did not want to go home when it was dismissal time already.


Justin intently listening to Teacher K.'s story


Justin coloring a kangaroo cutout
Justin was too keen on playing and has to be reminded by the teacher often that it’s not time to play yet. His fondness for play has caused him a lot on his first day of school because when he was reaching for a toy truck, it slid and his face ended up flat on the floor. He bit his lower lip in the process, and it bled profusely.

He also has one bad habit when playing. If he likes a particular toy even if his classmate is already playing with it, he would just take it without permission. He feels he has a right to take every toy he pleases. I had to be constantly by his side to prevent him from doing this. According to Teacher D., this type of reaction is normal for kids his age. I really wish he outgrows this negative attitude soon.

We’ve been going to this school for two days now, and so far, so good. Justin is still excited to go to school every day. I hope he finishes his five-week summer class.