Raising kids aren't a simple task. You need an extended patience seasoned with love in rearing them. Of course, you need to be a kid in heart in order to blend with them. You also need to show to them that you're in control, otherwise, they will do it for you- you might realize someday that they are the ones controlling you!

Rule of thumb: Never spoil them. Play with them but be in-charge.

Believe me coz I got three!

The McKay Scholarship program provides the parents of special needs students in the State of Florida the opportunity to enroll their child in an educational program that may better accommodate the student's learning needs. While the scholarship will only be awarded to special needs children attending public schools in Florida, this program allows students to attend a different public school or a participating private school. Eligibility is determined by the existence of an Individualized Education Plan, which is commonly referred to as an IEP.

Eligibility Details and School Selection

While students eligible for the McKay Scholarship program must have an IEP to be eligible, there are several other criteria that must be addressed when parents are applying for funding. For instance, parents choosing a private school must ensure that a scholarship student has been accepted at the school, Similarly, a student's disability or other circumstances must not impact attendence to the point where he or she fails to be reported as enrolled and eligible for funding. Finally, parents should be aware that other requirements may apply, depending on their student's situation.

McKay Scholarship Program students may attend another school in their district or a nearby district if a parent so desires, but those who would prefer their child to attend a private school will need to verify their student's eligibility for attendence, the curriculum and other factors that they feel are important. Parents who want their children to attend a religiously oriented school will need to be certain that the institution's teachings are in line with their personal beliefs.

Research is Key

Because the program has fairly specific requirements for families seeking eligibility, parents should head directly to the program's website rather than doing an internet search for "McKay scholarships Tampa." If the information provided on the website leaves families with additional questions, they are encouraged to contact the Florida Department of Education; after all, having all of the facts is the first step toward choosing an appropriate school for a child.

Since the school year started in public schools, it has been reported via social media (Facebook) that there were already four teachers who committed suicide and the stated reason was SCHOOL-RELATED PRESSURES.

But is that really a good enough reason to commit such act? As for me, we cannot really judge them because I know for a fact the intensity of pressures in DepEd and unless those in authority would do something about it, things will always be the same.

With all the required paper works that each teacher are obligated to comply, patience, is indeed, a virtue. We need that in order to cope up all the pressures in meeting the deadlines, not to mention the classes that you have to handle everyday.  Pressures are real, multi-tasking is real! But if we learn the art of saying NO to some of the delegated tasks, then maybe we can control the pressure. And I am a firm believer that committing suicide is never an option to stop the burden that most of the teachers are experiencing right now. And maybe this is the right time that the department should look into consideration so that such incident won't happen again.

Gone were the days that the only thing that a teacher should attend to are teaching and recording children's progress, no more, no less. We could only hope that it will be just like the old times. In that way, quality of education can really be assured. 

Why not hire a non-teaching staff to do all the paper works like record keeping, etc. instead of putting all the burdens to the teachers. that can be possible. After all, teacher are mandated to teach- other than that are an added pressure. But am not saying that they will not help in the recording anymore-of course they have to since they have the data.

So what's an ideal school then?

There are students, teachers, admin consisting of the school heads, the assistant to the school head, non-teaching personnel to function as follows: 1 registrar, 1 school record keeper, 1 property custodian, 1 librarian, 1 nurse, 1 guidance counsellor, 1 prefect of discipline, 1 disbursing officer, social worker (for the 4Ps), ICT technician (to do all ICT-related tasks).

Whew, if only this simple wishes will be heard, teaching life would be awesome!

If Only.

When you or your child would like to take music lessons Boston area, check out Main Street Music Boston in Waltham, which has been an excellent choice for music enthusiasts for more than 25 years. That is an excellent example of an all-around music store that will fulfill your needs for a piano, a keyboard, a guitar, other instruments, accessories, and where you can take lessons on a piano to learn how to make beautiful music or learn how to strum an acoustic or electric guitar. Their specialties are piano and organ sales, tuning, restoration, service, supplies, storage, and moving. 

The lessons are available for students of any experience level with music instructors for any type of favorite instrument whether you live in Waltham, Cambridge, Wellesley, Newton, or other New England community.

A portable keyboard is an alternative to a regular piano. It opens up a world of music, is quite portable, requires very little space,  has full-size keys, built-in rhythms, high-quality tones, and sometimes can be used with batteries. There are those with a Dance Music Mode, authentic sounds using samples of key oriental instruments, classic music, and others, and they are great learning instruments for children. 

You can learn basic or advanced techniques depending on if you have never played that instrument before or are upgrading for upcoming performances. There is a wide selection of options to help you advance your individual playing skills since there are always new things to learn.  Also, when you purchase any instrument from Main Street Music, their music instructors will teach you the basics of that instrument with a complimentary music lesson. 

A full staff of knowledgeable music experts would be happy to share information, answer any questions, and make recommendations to help guide you in the right direction as to where your desires lie. The instructors have extensive experience with playing the instruments and are proud to pass along the knowledge to the current musical generation.

Getting a birthday surprise from your colleague and students is indeed, a worthwhile experience. It was simple but really sweet. got my roses, cards and money! This one colleague of mine was so generous that she gave me money, wish everyday is my birthday! LOL

It can be difficult to leave your child at preschool for the first time. With these tips, however, you can take out some of the sting with the knowledge that you've chosen a high-quality school for your child!


1. Determine Your Values

Is there any particular reason that you're sending your child to preschool? If you want them to get a good start academically, you'll want to choose a preschool with an emphasis on education. If you're hoping to socialize them before kindergarten, find a preschool that offers plenty of playtime and group learning.

2. Do Your Research

This is absolutely essential when it comes to choosing a preschool. You don't want to entrust your child to a shady organization that's gotten a lot of citations and health violations over the years. Do some digging into the school and ask yourself the following questions:

- How long have they been in business?

- Are they certified, licensed or affiliated with anyone in the childcare industry?

- Do they have good reviews from other parents?


3. Stay Close

You don't want to drive an hour every morning to take your child to preschool. Not only will they be fussy during such a long commute, but you'll also be out of range during an emergency. Do yourself a favor and stick to your neighborhood when it comes to schools. Plug something like "preschool near me" into a search engine.

4. Ask About The Future

How are you going to gauge if your child is doing well in your chosen preschool? Will the school send out progress reports? Will they schedule meet-and-greets for parents, kids and educators? Can you actually monitor lessons and playtime through a webcam? Don't be afraid to ask about your options. A little planning today can make all of the difference tomorrow.

These are just a few tips for choosing a good preschool. There are many other things to consider, including the safety of the building and the quality of the staff, but these ideas should be enough to get you thinking in the right directions!