SP Guide to Preschools: Cascades School l Smart Parenting
In this episode of SP Guide to Preschools, we introduce Cascades School- a harmonious blend of home, creative space, and advocates for children.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which celebrates art-based expressions, Cascades fosters an environment where creativity and warmth shape early childhood education. Rooted in this approach, Cascades seamlessly connects with the community, encouraging children to express themselves through art and various forms of creative exploration. The small class ratio at Cascades ensures a comfortable transition for kids still warming up to schools, emphasizing the belief that feeling safe accelerates learning. Join Cascades School, where artistic expression meets education, and children are empowered to contribute to their community as responsible citizens. #SPGuideToPreschools #CascadesSchool #PreschoolsInMetroManila
In this episode of SP Guide to Preschools, we introduce Cascades School- a harmonious blend of home, creative space, and advocates for children.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which celebrates art-based expressions, Cascades fosters an environment where creativity and warmth shape early childhood education. Rooted in this approach, Cascades seamlessly connects with the community, encouraging children to express themselves through art and various forms of creative exploration. The small class ratio at Cascades ensures a comfortable transition for kids still warming up to schools, emphasizing the belief that feeling safe accelerates learning. Join Cascades School, where artistic expression meets education, and children are empowered to contribute to their community as responsible citizens. #SPGuideToPreschools #CascadesSchool #PreschoolsInMetroManila
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:16 Hi Smart Parenting fam! Welcome to another episode of Smart Parenting Guide to Preschool.
00:20 [Music]
00:27 We're here today at Cascade School in Mandaluyong and with me is my son Alessandro
00:31 who's going to join the Explorers class.
00:33 [Music]
00:39 Cascade School is located here in Mandaluyong City.
00:43 The 750 square meter school has three creative classrooms,
00:46 [Music]
00:51 a kitchen area,
00:52 [Music]
00:56 a tell-a-tale room,
00:58 [Music]
01:03 play access area,
01:04 [Music]
01:07 and the heart of the school, the atelier
01:10 that transforms into different looks for different occasions.
01:13 [Music]
01:18 So with me today is Miss Irene Mauo, Director and Founder of Cascade School.
01:24 Welcome to Smart Parenting!
01:25 Hi!
01:26 I want to ask you, could you tell me about what makes Cascade School a unique school?
01:31 Cascade is not just a school, it's actually a home and a creative space for children
01:36 and actually it's also a space for advocates of children and teachers.
01:41 We base it from a Javaje or Emilia space where the environment is very nurturing and warm
01:47 and it's a space with the elements of home.
01:51 So basically when you're here you melt and you're comfortable and safe.
01:56 So we believe that if you feel safe, you learn faster, you get things faster.
02:04 So Cascade is like that.
02:05 [Music]
02:09 Could you tell me more about the Regio Emilia approach?
02:13 We started using a Regio-inspired way of teaching
02:16 but we have our very own teaching strategy, we call it Cascade's Hiraya.
02:21 I love the word Hiraya because Hiraya means fruit of your dreams, like a creation of your soul.
02:26 The program revolves around the care, mindfulness, active citizenship that is rooted all in kindness.
02:33 Regio Emilia is more of art-based and expressions
02:36 but as we use that so we can connect in the community.
02:40 This art and creativity play a big influence in the curriculum of the students
02:45 and also I think nature-based, is that correct?
02:48 Yes, we believe for us to express better, the easiest way is connecting with arts.
02:55 It's allowing you to bring everything out
02:57 but the difficult part or the challenging part as an individual is how brave are you to bring it all out.
03:04 But kids already are naturally brave, so we want to keep that.
03:08 So Cascades in the space, in the process also, we use arts for them to communicate
03:16 and bring themselves out.
03:17 But for a lot of parents who are probably more familiar with the traditional approach,
03:21 so in Cascades, who will they also learn the academics, the math, the science, the engineering?
03:27 Right, because a lot of people will, you know, the first time they'll see something that's play-based
03:32 or the approach is play-based or it's on nature or art, they feel that, you know, kind of play.
03:37 We are DEPEDA accredited so we really hit all those things that they gave us plus there's more.
03:44 So if you talk about academics or contents or concepts that we are really teaching the children,
03:50 it's higher than the level that they have.
03:51 Cascades International's classes caters to mixed ages.
03:56 It has three classes, the Wanderers, Explorers, and Navigators.
04:01 Wanderers, it's 16 months to 3 years old.
04:05 We give them like a tag, brave and kind.
04:07 It focuses on children exploring in different textures,
04:12 their senses, that their limbs are connected to their body.
04:15 And then the next level is Explorers, 3 to 5 years old.
04:19 This is creative and kind.
04:21 Assuming that they are with us in Wanderers, we think that they are ready already for creating.
04:28 So we focus on creativity and process of creating.
04:31 And then 5 years old to 8 years old, the Navigators, mindful creators.
04:35 So we give highlight or strength on research.
04:39 So we're teaching children to do research first before they create.
04:43 And we have another one, Baha Tari Program.
04:46 This is a program that helps children with special needs.
04:49 So you accept children with special needs?
04:53 Yes, but for now, since our room is so small,
04:56 we only have a few slots and it's already filled at this time.
05:02 But hopefully, if we have a bigger space, then we can have more slots for other kids.
05:07 Do you give your children homework?
05:09 We don't do homework.
05:10 We believe that they have to have time with their families, less stress for the parents.
05:15 But we do give our busy book.
05:17 Our busy book is an original book created by the team.
05:21 And it's hand-drawn by our atelier.
05:24 We want them to use it when they're at home or when they're traveling.
05:28 So basically, that's the homework.
05:30 But they are not forced to do it.
05:32 It's supposed to be like a bonding tool for the family.
05:36 Sometimes we also give them work, like helping their mommy do something.
05:40 Only that, but not like the homework that we usually add.
05:44 So it's really all about helping a child contribute to their community,
05:48 to their family, to where they are, and being little responsible citizens.
05:53 Yes.
05:54 They are wondering, how can a two-year-old be an active citizen in the community, right?
05:59 You're wondering, how can they do that?
06:01 Even them can be part of it.
06:02 If you can see the poster, you can see the video of a little kid, how they take care of a strato.
06:08 We are feeding it.
06:09 They're doing projects to help those animals just outside our school.
06:16 It's something else, right?
06:17 It gives you an idea.
06:18 If these kids can do that, I can do that too.
06:20 Do you grade the students?
06:22 Or how do you grade the students?
06:23 For Explorers or 4 and Below, we don't use numbers.
06:26 We have our documents, or we call it a journal.
06:31 A SIBO, we call it SIBO.
06:32 In SIBO, you can see the progress of the child.
06:36 You will understand also, you will know as a parent, what kind of prompting we use,
06:41 what level we use it, is it maximum or less.
06:45 You can see how they progress from the start till the end.
06:49 Each class has one lead teacher and two teacher assistants.
06:58 It accepts a minimum of 10 students to a maximum of 15 students.
07:02 Do you want to tell us the story of why you chose Cascades School as the name?
07:08 The word "Cascades," why we use the term "Cascades."
07:11 Cascades is more of like cascading things that you are doing right.
07:16 Cascading kindness, happiness.
07:19 It has a ripple effect of good things.
07:22 So when we created this, we felt like even if we started only in a small number of kids,
07:28 if we do it right, when they go outside and play with their friends,
07:32 they will be cascading these things inside.
07:36 This feeling of being valued, connected with something bigger.
07:41 So when they go home, they bring that energy.
07:45 It's cascading something that we're doing here, and we see the effect.
07:49 And I think that's happening also right now.
07:52 Whatever that we're doing here, the children are cascading it outside.
07:56 And sometimes some of the parents, they will message us, "Teach!"
07:59 Especially when they're on vacation at the beach.
08:01 "Teach! He's picking up trash. He's a trashman today."
08:04 Like that. He has a video.
08:06 Or, "Teach! My kid brought all these leaves and rocks
08:11 because he wants to bring it in school to share it with the other kids."
08:14 So I think the main cascade, I'm so happy that it fits on what we are doing right now.
08:20 And I hope that in the future, near future, there will be more cascades.
08:24 [music]
08:47 What I loved about Cascade School is its emphasis on creativity and warmth
08:51 in early childhood education.
08:53 The small class ratio is also perfect for kids
08:56 who are still warming up to schools and large settings.
08:59 I imagine there would be an easier transition from home to school
09:02 because of Cascade International's approach.
09:04 Hi, Alessandro!
09:06 Hi!
09:07 How did you like your school today?
09:08 Good.
09:09 Good? What did you think about Cascade School?
09:11 Do you like it?
09:12 Yeah.
09:13 Yeah? What was your favorite?
09:14 Drawing.
09:15 Drawing! You liked the drawing most of all.
09:19 What did you tell me about the school?
09:21 The school is so...
09:23 [music]
09:24 That's it for today's video.
09:26 Thank you for watching.
09:27 For more videos like this, don't forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
09:31 Bye!
09:32 [music]
09:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]