Here's a "pogi" pictorial of my eldest son, Wiji. It's rarely that he can flick a natural smile when being photographed. But looks like the photo guy did an excellent job.
Does he look like me? Or more of hubby? Safe answer would be a mix!
I'm going like crazy. I'm still undecided whether I should let Wiji start Kindergarten next year. In Australia, schools have different "school-age" definition. While most schools will accept children into Kindergarten if they turn five on or before 31st of July in that year, some schools I visited have a cut-off that falls on the first quarter (Wiji's birth month is on the 2nd quarter of the year).
Last month, I received an Enrolment Acceptance Return Slip from St. Michael's Primary School. It's a low-profile private Catholic school in our parish funded by the Catholic Education. Fees start from $2,000 a year. Wiji can start Kindie with them by next year because their cut off date is end of July.
Two years ago, I attended the Open Day of Redfield. It is an independent school for boys. "Independent" is a private school which is not funded by the government. In short, SOARING school fees out of the parents' pre-tax money. Their fees start from $7,000 a year. I was notified last year that he is enlisted to start Kindergarten in 2008. Wiji cannot start Kindie with them next year because their cut off date is end of Feb.
Based on my computation, Wiji's child care/preschool fees over the last three years has come almost close to $10,000 a year. It's as if I've been sending him to an elite school already. :))
Should I go for St. Michael's Primary next year? Then, transfer him to an Independent School by 2008? But what if Baloni and I can't sustain the very high fees in the long run? Imagine, four years from now, we'd be having two school-aged boys!!!
When my boys are all grown up, I don't want them to think that we didn't do our best to give them the best education. Ahhh, these schools are giving me a headache.
But then again, if they'll do very well, they might just have the chance to get into a selective school. Now that's synonymous to our Philippine Science High School. And I wouldn't have to worry about their school fees - only uniforms.
Oh by the way, I was cheking the price list of St. Michael's pre-order unitform. Que horror! Mahal pa sa wardrobe ko. Hehehe! Just exaggerating! But you know, because we have 4 seasons, they have separate summer uniforms and winter uniforms.
I'm still unsure if it's a good idea to start him early. But I just want to give it a try. He'll be attending an orientation next week. And we'll see how he will fare. I'm still not confident that he can look after himself.
Anyway, that's my OZ-Types-of-School 101 for you.
For the past 24 hours I have been trying to satiate my desire to know more truth into the death of Daniel Pearl.
His name sparked interest in me after reading from the Herald last night, that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are now in India for the filming of "A Mighty Heart". A movie based on a book written by Mariane - Daniel's widow. Interestingly enough... (for me at least!) that I share the same first name as his wife. (Only, I got two "n" at the end). And what coincidence that she gave birth to their son Adam on the same date I gave birth to my first son Wiji!
The last fact was more heart breaking for me because her son never had the chance to know his father. Daniel, a well-known American journalist, was held captive and then, beheaded by Islamic extremist in Pakistan on 21st of Feb 2002. Just a few months away before our respective sons came out to this world on 28th of May 2002.
And because of too much surfing, I came upon a website hosting Pearl's decapitation video. I played the beginning and saw at the end that they were holding his head - or maybe something to that effect. I didn't look closely anymore. I think what I have googled on how he was murdered is enough to make me sick.
So if you happen to watch it in full length, then probably you can give me some feedback... On second thought, I'll probably just wait for the new movie from Plan B (a production of Pitt and Aniston), starring Angelina Jolie. And maybe, to be satiated enough for now, I might buy Mariane's book "A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband Danny Pearl."
God bless your soul Daniel!
