How a school united a Filipino, a Turk and an Italian

MANILA, Philippines - Ilhomi Kilia’s day is a handful — juggling his job at the Embassy of Turkey while striving to raise a family. His work as chief of embassy takes most of his time away from his wife and two children, but he makes sure that the education of his children is given top priority. For Kilia, he wanted a school that would best develop her independent thinking, enhance their creativity, and open new doors for them in the future.

Kilia finally found that in Fountain International School (FIS).

“I looked into its background, its administration, and curriculum. And once I set foot inside the campus, I knew this is the perfect school for my children,” he says.

Dominic Guevarra, another father, agrees. His daughter is in nursery school.

“The school has broad acceptance of different cultures and I would like to expose my daughter to that setting for her to become independent,” he says. The school’s smaller class ratio is also advantageous, as Guevarra stresses, since attention to the growth and development of every student is given top priority.

The stringent curriculum of FIS — focused on English, math and science — has been instrumental in the advancement of Guevarra’s daughter who at an early age of three has become more sociable and independent. FIS, he says, recognizes the importance of communication between parents, teachers and administration.

“They strongly recommend the participation of parents in the learning process of the child. I can talk with the teachers to discuss how my daughter is faring,” Guevarra notes.

Enhanced diversity, shared ideas and expertise, and learning from each other form the core of a well-rounded education, and this is what led Italian mother Silva Riganelli-Jimenez to have her son study at FIS.

“We found FIS good for him. He did not have to make many adjustments despite the fact he speaks Italian and came from a different school setting,” Jimenez recalls. The school’s English Language Program has helped her son expand his English proficiency. Coming from a strict Italian curriculum, Jimenez reveals that her son has been able to adapt to the rigorous FIS curriculum well.

Jimenez appreciates the various programs and activities FIS provide both students and parents. She recalls the time parents came to the school to prepare international dishes for the class to savor.

For more information, visit www.fis.edu.ph or www.icad.org.ph or call 723-7307 to 08 for high school inquiry and 724-2177 for elementary concerns.