Faith Academy, an international Christian school

Last week, I was invited to join a group of mommies to visit Faith Academy, a K-12 international Christian school in Cainta, Rizal. Oh yes, right smack in the small, yet bustling, town where I live. I never knew we had an international school in our town. Moreso, I never knew that our town had a big and beautiful international campus that's just so conducive for learning.




Faith Academy was founded in 1957 primarily as a school for the children of foreign missionaries who are assigned to the Philippines and in Asia. Today, the school accepts kids of non-missionary parents. It currently has 500 students from 25 different countries which includes the Philippines. The school also accepts children from all religions. But since it's a Christian school, it should be understood that all students must enroll in a Bible class and be taught Christian values.




For students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, the curriculum is based upon the highly-regarded principles from US states. By Grade 9, the pupils can choose to take courses offered under the International General Certificate of General Education (IGCSE) program from the University of Cambridge such as First Language English, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Religious Studies/Bible Knowledge, Geography, World History, First Language Korean, and Spanish.




Meanwhile, students in Grades 11 to 12 can enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) courses such as Literature, Language, Calculus, Chemistry, US History, World History, Computer Science, Biology, and Psychology. The school is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) which is one of the six regional associations accrediting public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the United States.





Faith Academy has all the amenities where their students can discover their skills and talents in various extra-curricular activities. Pupils can engage in basketball, chess, rugby, soccer, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.







For those inclined to the arts, the school has programs for theater, drama, music, and art.







The kids of Faith Academy are also given the opportunity to learn outside the classroom. Middle school kids are sent to week-long Outdoor Education trips yearly where they get to spend time in the real world. Moreover, the children learn to respect each person regardless of race or ethnicity. As they progress in the school, they grow up to become a Third Culture Kid - one who develops a sense of relationship to different cultures, while not having full ownership in any.

But aside from the amenities and the curriculum, what amazed me most about Faith Academy are the teachers and staff. They do not receive a single cent from the school and they only rely on sponsorships from individuals, churches, and mission organizations from their home country. You definitely can't get a more dedicated team of educators than what this school has! It's also important to note that most of their teachers are Faith Academy alumni themselves. They loved the school so much that they returned after getting their degrees in their home countries.




All of these features set Faith Academy apart from the others. The school aims to help parents raise morally upright global citizens who will definitely be productive contributors in our world. They are being molded into what Steve Schwarze, Director for Development of Faith Academy, says, "Christ-like lifelong learners."

Faith Academy is now accepting enrollees for schoolyear 2012-2013 until May 31, 2012. To book a school tour, you can log on to http://explore.faith.edu.ph. You can also contact Ms. Cheryl Ramos-Roldan, Student Activities Coordinator of Faith Academy, at 248-5000 local 324.

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