The Heart of Education: The Lasting Significance of Values Education in Schools

The challenge for educators in today’s world that is changing quickly and where knowledge is easily accessed is to convey wisdom—truth that changes the heart as well as the mind—instead of merely facts. From Preschool through Senior High School, our teachers at Pasig Green Pasture Christian School Inc. embrace this precious calling by guiding our Green Shepherds toward lifelong learning based on God's Word. Teaching Beyond Lessons Each classroom becomes more than a learning space—it becomes a ministry ground. Whether it’s teaching a preschooler how to read, guiding an elementary pupil through math problems, or mentoring a senior high student discerning their life purpose, our Christian teachers aim to connect knowledge with Kingdom values. They teach not only how to think critically but also how to live rightly. Lessons are intentionally designed to be relevant—equipping our students to face real-world challenges while anchored in faith, compassion, and integrity. Faith-Driven Learning At the heart of every lesson is the belief that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Our teachers infuse biblical truth into every subject, helping students see God’s hand in science, His order in mathematics, His creativity in arts, and His grace in language and literature. This integration of faith and learning ensures that our Green Shepherds do not just grow intellectually—they mature spiritually and morally, becoming lights in their generation. Raising a Generation of Difference-Makers From Preschool’s first alphabet song to Senior High’s final research defense, our goal remains the same: to nurture hearts that love God and minds that seek excellence. Christian teachers at PGPCSI do not simply aim for academic success—they aim for life transformation.  Each day, they sow seeds of faith, hope, and perseverance. They remind every learner that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, called for a purpose, and destined to make a difference in the world. A Legacy of Faith and Learning The story of Pasig Green Pasture Christian School continues to be written—one child, one teacher, one lesson at a time. And as our Christian educators faithfully serve in classrooms, they leave a lasting imprint on the lives they touch—an imprint that goes beyond grades and diplomas, one that echoes eternity. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

The rainy season has officially arrived — bringing cooler days, cozy mornings, and the occasional surprise downpour. While we embrace this refreshing shift in weather, it’s important to remember that our students need to stay safe, dry, and healthy on their way to and from school. To help your child stay prepared during this season, we encourage every Green Shepherd to bring the following Rainy Day Essentials: Compact Umbrella – Lightweight and easy to carry Raincoat or Jacket – For added warmth and protection Non-Slip Footwear – To prevent slips and falls Extra Socks – For extra comfort in case of wet shoes Tissue or Small Towel – To wipe off rainwater Waterproof Bag or Plastic Cover – To protect books, notebooks, and gadgets A little preparation can make a big difference! Having these items on hand ensures that our students are not only safe but also ready to focus on learning, even on the rainiest days. Let’s stay dry, warm, and learning—rain or shine!

The Lifelong Benefits of Reading for Kids Reading isn’t just a fun activity for kids — it’s one of the most powerful tools for their growth and development. Here are some key benefits: Builds Vocabulary & Language Skills Children who read regularly are exposed to a wide range of words and sentence structures, helping them speak and write more effectively. Boosts Brain Development Reading activates cognitive processes, strengthens neural connections, and improves memory and critical thinking skills. Enhances Communication & Comprehension Kids learn how to express themselves more clearly and understand others better through stories and characters. Improves Focus & Concentration Reading helps children sit still, follow a story, and develop the attention span needed for learning. Develops Empathy & Emotional Intelligence Through stories, kids step into different perspectives, which helps them understand feelings, relationships, and diversity. Encourages Creativity & Imagination Books transport children to new worlds, encouraging them to dream, explore, and create. Boosts Academic Performance Reading is foundational to learning. Strong readers tend to excel in all school subjects. Expands Knowledge & Awareness Books introduce new ideas, cultures, places, and possibilities that help kids grow into curious, informed individuals. Encourage reading early and often — the benefits last a lifetime. Even just 15 minutes a day can make a huge difference!

Parents wonder how best they can set up their kids “at-home” learning space. The possibilities can seem overwhelming, whether you’re modifying an existing space, adding onto your home, or building a new house from scratch, there are some structural features that can make your at-home learning space a better environment for learning. Online learning area doesn’t need to look like a classroom. You will need a work area with a flat surface, comfortable seating, good lighting, and space for storage. Ideally it should be located near the student so that they can reach the things they need when needed. Here are some tips on how you can create an at-home learning environment where your child will thrive in this predicament times in learning. PRIORITIZE COMFORT 1. Have a chair that your kid don’t mind sitting in for a long period of time. 2. Make sure the climate of the room is comfortable because your kids may have a hard time learning if it’s too hot, too cold, or damp. 3. Make sure you have windows for natural light because light and bright spaces are generally better for learning and creativity. However, it’s a good idea to install blinds or shades if you get direct sunlight during the day. Otherwise, you might find yourself uncomfortably hot every afternoon. If natural light is not an option, you may get a good artificial light during the evening or on overcast days, you will want good overhead lighting to keep everyone’s spirits bright. SET UP YOUR SUPPLIES & MATERIALS NEARBY Some families create a school space by dedicating a room in their home that is just for school time, while others use the kitchen tables, some use a large chalkboard for lesson work or a seasonal drawing. Make sure to have all your supplies handy, and have your children keep things organized. Also, you can put lots of fun colors. You don’t need to paint your walls like a Crayola box to have a colorful and inspiring classroom. Colors can be on storage bins, throw pillows, artwork, maps, manipulatives, and more, but be sure your space has a bright and cheery vibe. Many homeschoolers find that painting walls a soothing color create a calm and nurturing atmosphere. ELIMINATE CLUTTER & DISTRACTION Eliminating visual clutter from the child’s school space and play space can be quite calming. Noise is a common distraction that can put home learners off their game. The neighbor’s annoying dog barks all day. Your spouse bangs around in the kitchen or outside doing loud chores during study hours. All of this and more drive your child learning focus crazy and make it difficult to learn. Control as much noise as you can and create a calming counterattack with soothing background noise or music.

As we have written about the top 3 things you should know about homeschool and online learning, now we want to help you make a more concrete decision, that is why we’ve closely examined and laid out the pros and cons of homeschool vs. online learning below: Pro's of Homeschool: More Time with the Family Homeschooling offers an incredible opportunity for families to bond and share experiences as parents to teach their children everything and even plan educational field trips or family vacations. It also allows parents to build family bonding time into their schedule. For example, if one parent works an odd shift and is only home during the typical school day, families can build their school day around that schedule. Control of Content Whether you want to weave faith-based conversations into every lesson or have strong beliefs about how to teach science, you have control of the lessons and the information your child receives. This is also particularly helpful if your child has been through trauma such as sexual assault or recent death of a close family member. Many books and works of literature taught in online or in-person classes touch on these difficult concepts, but teachers don’t often take into account that these topics can be triggering for some students. Schedule Flexibility Because you get to completely choose your schedule, you have incredible flexibility. Even though online schooling offers flexibility, students are still tied to deadlines, the general school year schedule, and sometimes even live lectures. With homeschooling, you can control when your kids learn, so they’re not stressed about completing work while on vacation, for example. Rigour of curriculum One of the main reasons families decide to homeschool is because they are not satisfied with their private school options. Parents can make homeschool curriculum as rigorous as they want all the while ensuring their child's needs are being met. Interest driven Students and parents can work together to cover topics and create elective courses that are tailored to their interests. For example, if a student loves "The Start Up," parents can work that into the curriculum to teach reading, writing, and speaking skills. They could even create an art elective class based entirely on the start up series. It’s hard to tailor to interests specifically in online classes that are generalized for a large group of students. Pro's of Online Learning: Learn from a Licensed Teacher While many homeschool parents do an excellent job teaching their kids, some parents feel more comfortable knowing their kids are being taught by a licensed teacher who has been trained to educate students. It takes some of the pressure off, whether it’s teaching your kindergartener how to read or explaining physics to your high schooler. Online School Cost Less The cost of an online school tends to be much cheaper than homeschooling, and online public schools are free, meaning you can keep your kids at home to learn without the financial burden of homeschooling. This also frees up some of your time to work so you can earn additional income while your kids are learning. Student Independence Students who crave independence from their parents find that they have much more independence in homeschooling, where their parents aren’t involved in every aspect of their schooling. Independence is an important aspect in child development that can be easily fostered through distance learning. DepEd Requirements are Covered Depending on where you live, there may be state standards that need to be met, and students might also be required to take standardized tests even if they don’t attend school. An online school will ensure students meet requirements and will facilitate standardized tests. This helps ensure students don't fall behind. Less time consuming for parents Parents who have other responsibilities often find that they have more time on their hands when their children take their classes online. This doesn’t mean you can’t still help your kids and be involved, but it frees up much of your time when compared to homeschooling. Con's of Homeschool: Work load for parents Homeschooling can be very time consuming and stressful for parents. It takes time to plan lessons, put together materials, and teach students. Just like teachers, parents may end up putting in extra work outside the “school day.” Parents might also find that homeschooling takes more time and effort than they thought, leaving them stressed and potentially even cutting corners. Difficult Concepts Some parents, especially those who struggled in school themselves, feel inadequate and struggle to teach their kids. The older kids get and the more they learn advanced concepts, the worse this struggle may become. Even a seemingly simple concept like learning to read is much more complex than it seems at first glance. Organized Study Place Homeschooling requires a lot of physical and mental organization. You need an uncluttered space for your kids to keep their materials and for you to teach them every day. You also need to organize and plan out your day to create a routine for your kids. Some people find this level of organization difficult. Expensive The cost of a curriculum itself can be expensive, and then you need to add on the cost of materials and educational trips. Homeschooling could also mean that one parent needs to stop working or cut down on hours, which can make the cost burden even higher. Lack of regulation Lack of regulation sounds like a benefit to some families who choose to homeschool to have more freedom for themselves and their kids. However, in states that have very relaxed regulations for homeschool students, it’s easier for students to fall behind or even get no education at all. Con's of Homeschool: More Stationary Learning There often aren’t as many opportunities for real life experiential learning. A large portion of students’ learning is done sitting in a chair, while homeschool learning can happen anywhere. Science labs, for example, often leave a much stronger impression when students can do them hands-on rather than by watching a video or participating in an interactive tutorial online. Internet Connection Most people have access to strong and fast internet connections today, but online learning can obviously be very difficult and stressful for students who have to deal with slow or unreliable connections. More Screen Time Full-time school online requires a lot of screen time to attend classes, read materials, watch videos, complete assignments, etc. Focus It can be difficult to get young kids to focus on online learning for an extended period of time. While homeschooling parents can switch between topics and activities often to hold short attention spans, it’s harder to accomplish this with online learning. Lessons Aren’t Individualized Distance learning lessons are more generalized so teachers can reach an entire class of students. While teachers will be available to help and answer questions, lessons aren’t tailored to each individual student as they can be in homeschooling. Those are the top pros and cons of homeschool and online learning which we hope will help you decide on which you’ll go for, for the coming school year.

When you make a decision to do school from home for your kids there are two options for you, it is homeschool and online learning. Some parents do a combination of the two options, while other prefer to go all in one way or the other. The choice between homeschooling or online school involves careful consideration of unique needs and circumstances. However, there are some clear benefits to attending an online school for parents who may have thought keeping their children home wasn’t an option for them because they are also busy at work. Here are the top three (3) things you should know about homeschool vs. online school: Teachers: In homeschooling parents are in charge of teaching all material to their kids. This can be difficult when a parent isn’t particularly well-versed in certain subjects or the parents are working. In an online school, certified teachers provide instruction as well as guidance and support. Teachers are available via online class sessions, phone, email, one-on-one tutoring, and face-to-face meetings. Teachers will work directly with parents to ensure each student’s unique learning needs are met. Curriculum: Parents who homeschool must research and find their own curriculum and make up their own schedule and lesson plans or you may enroll from a homeschool provider where they will provide you with lesson plans and curriculum that you would teach your child. An online school comes with its own curriculum, which is approved by the DepEd. Lesson plans are provided, which provides structure to students’ learning and daily schedule. In addition, many online schools will provide free hands-on materials that allow students to experience offline activities in addition to their online work. Socialization: While homeschool parents can take it upon themselves to make sure their children interact with their peers, online schools provide structured socialization opportunities. For example, online school have a number of clubs that students can join as well as established field trips and outings. Remember that many families choose to do a combination of homeschooling and online learning, but they often find their base in one or the other. We hope the top 3 things you just learned about homeschool and online learning will help you determine which one fits your lifestyle better.

A pet is an animal kept primarily for a person’s company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock or a laboratory animal. The two most popular pets are dogs and cats, but there are a lot of pets that one can have such as rabbits, hamsters, parrots, guinea pigs and many more. Pets offer a lot of benefits to kids, as pets teaches valuable life lessons to us humans - such as responsibility, trust, compassion, respect and patience. Both enjoy high energy of play as well as having a cuddle buddy during nap time. If your child asks for a pet, talk with them about responsibility and the permanency of owning a pet and you should set up and discuss what your child’s pet responsibilities will be ahead of time. Remember, no matter how committed they are at the time of getting a pet, you will have to consider yourself as the backup plan if and when they cannot or will not continue to care for the pet. First Life Skill: Responsibility Pets requires food, water and love. Many, some more than others, require exercise. They also require grooming and bathroom time – this is a lot of responsibility, but a good start for kids. Second Life Skill: Trust A pet also offers unconditional support when a child (or anyone) is sad, angry or upset. They can teach your child to trust the pet, themselves and build trust in other relationships as well. Third Life Skill: Compassion When a child takes care of a pet, they learn to be kind to others through taking care of their furry friend’s basic needs – how they interact with the dog says a lot of how they interact with other humans. Getting a pet isn’t bad, in fact it has a lot of life skills that your child can learn, but before thinking of which pet to add to your family, pick one that fits your lifestyle - A fish, turtle or hamster will require less playtime than a cat or dog. If your family travels a lot, then maybe an animal that can be left at home with minimal care would be a good choice. If you prefer to go for long walks and play in the yard, then a dog may be a perfect fit. Having a pet at home does bring joy as well!