South Crest School

Infobox Secondary school
name = South Crest School

established = 1983
motto = "A South Crestian is a MOVER"
principal = Mrs. Remedios A. Madrid
address = MBAI Commercial Complex, Soldiers Hills
country = Philippines
state = Metro Manila
city = Muntinlupa City
type = Private, Non-sectarian
grades = Preschool, Grades 1-6, HS I-IV

South Crest School is a private primary and secondary educational institution in Muntinlupa City in the Philippines. It is situated between two subdivisions, Agro Homes and Soldiers' Hills, thus giving it two addresses: 101 Canary St, Agro Homes Subdivision, Putatan, Muntinlupa City and MBAI Commercial Complex, Soldiers Hills, Muntinlupa City.

It was founded in 1983 as the Agro Homes Early Education Center (AHEEC) and since then has evolved into one of the leading schools in Muntinlupa, training students to become well-rounded individuals. Proof of this is the ability of the school to place its students among the Ten Most Outstanding Students of Muntinlupa City for the past 14 years, almost annually. Excellent alumni went on to further their studies at some of the best universities in the Philippines such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University-Manila, University of Santo Tomas, Assumption College and many others.

Beginnings

The late Major-General Santiago R. Madrid Jr., together with his family, settled at Soldiers' Hills Subdivision after his stint as commander in Cebu Island. When his first child, Judy, was already of schooling age, they began searching for a school they could entrust her in. To their dismay, not one was present in the vicinity of Soldiers' Hills and even in the adjacent Agro Homes.

Wanting to give their child the best education she could have, they are already considering to take the matter in their own hands: they would start a preschool. Mrs. Remedios Madrid, the general's wife, is particularly confident for she was a teacher herself. Thus, armed with enough knowledge, the municipal government's permission (Muntinlupa was still a municipality then) and sheer determination, they founded the Agro Homes Early Education Center in 1982. As an initial step, Mrs. Madrid invited some of her teacher friends to man the fledgling learning center, teaching basic skills such as writing, speaking, mathematics, values, and the like. In the short span of two years, the school has gained the respect and trust of parents within the area for its excellence in instructing children who go home everyday after school much smarter and inquisitive. From then on, majority of the toddlers would begin their early learning at the AHEEC.

Expansion

In 1992, after constant requests from parents and the pupils themselves to elevate the service of AHEEC to the community, the school administration has decided to ask permission from the government to establish Elementary and Secondary Levels, registering itself under the name South Crest School. To meet the needs of the growing student population then, they expanded the school complex to the former cogonal area of Soldiers' Hills (whose remnants are still preserved today as a study area for students and as a site of observation for Biology subject activities).

Mission Statement and Philosophy

According to the South Crest School Student Handbook of 2006, the school summarizes its sworn promise as an educational institution with the following:

"South Crest School, believing in the ultimate quest for truth and the dignity of the human person, has committed herself in giving its students a balanced education to develop them into wide-awake, self-directing, cooperative, responsible and useful citizens."

General Objectives

The school states that its main focus of instruction falls on five core objectives which will form its students upon graduation into responsible and productive Filipino citizens. As stated in its Student Handbook:

"South Crest School aims to train and develop the students into well-rounded individuals, equip them with the essential character and knowledge and imbue them with skills, attitudes and values more particularly on:"

* "Leadership Responsibility"
* "Environmental Consciousness"
* "Adherence to Moral Uprightness"
* "Discipline"
* "Self-Esteem and Confidence"

Affiliations

As part of the school's intent to further its commitment of forming well-rounded, responsible and excellent students, it has affiliated itself with organizations that are not only carrying prestige in their own right, but will allow the students to practice their leadership skills while also forming values of patriotism, sense of selflessness, social awareness and physical development. The following are the organizations it has been an active member up to this date:

* Aerospace Cadets of the Philippines (127th Squadron)

* Rotary Interact (under the supervision of the Rotary Club of Muntinlupa North)

* Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Philippines

Awards Received

* 1993-2007 - Consistently Placing among the Ten Most Outstanding Students of Muntinlupa City

* "Ronalynn Joy Cayobit (SY 1993-1994, 6th)"
* "Romelanie Macapinlac (SY 1994-1995, 7th)"
* "Lovella Inumerable (SY 1996-1997, 8th)"
* "Adem Joy Paras (1997-1998, 7th)"
* "Jay Patrick Santiago (SY 1999-2000, 1st)"
* "Carla Casimiro (SY 1999-2000, 7th)"
* "Melizza Anne Calupe (SY 2001-2002, 8th)"
* "Jasmine Egana (SY 2002-2003, 10th)"
* "Jana Patricia Lim (SY 2005-2006, 5th)"
* "Hansley Juliano (SY 2006-2007, 2nd)"

* 2001 - Center of Mathematics in the City of Muntinlupa cited by the Division Office of the Department of Education (DepEd). The School offers specialized training, innovative programs and new instructional techniques in Mathematics.

* 2000 - By the Rotary International District 3810 as one of the Rotary Interact Clubs with Excellent Community Projects in National Capital Region and Recipient of Ambassador of Goodwill to Japan and Outbound Youth Exchange Team to Singapore and Malaysia

References

"Student Handbook", 2006, South Crest School, MBAI Commercial Complex, Soldiers' Hills, Muntinlupa City