Parents Veronica and Jaime tell us why they chose Overseas Family School (OFS) as the school of their choice, and why their two kids, Regina and Israel, love going to school everyday…
Parents, aren’t we so lucky to live in multicultural Singapore, where inclusivity and diversity is the norm? That’s the kind of environment we hope our kids get to grow up in, especially in their schooling years. And that’s precisely what parents Veronica del Pilar Gongora Gutierrez and Jaime Israel Gonzales Esteves were looking for when they moved to Singapore. They wanted a school that celebrates diversity and inclusivity every day. We spoke to them and found out why they decided to enrol their two adorable children in OFS! Read on…
Hi guys! Please tell us more about your children, Regina and Israel.
Hola, we are a Mexican family! Our daughter, Regina is seven years old and is in the second grade, and our son Israel is four years old and is in pre-K2.
What were your considerations in choosing a school for the kiddos?
As an expat family, it was important for us to make sure our kids would be in an environment where they felt included and welcomed. We wanted a school with diversity and inclusion as its core values.
What attracted us to OFS was its environment – we immediately noticed that the teachers and staff have managed to create a safe space where children can feel comfortable regardless of their nationality. It was also clear that OFS had excellent curriculum, facilities and educational equipment available to their students.
How did you choose OFS as the school of your choice?
When we went for the interview with OFS, we found that the focus of the interviewer was on the child and not on the school’s rules and processes. In other schools, they were more focused on telling us about how prestigious the school is, the school system it follows and how lengthy its waitlist is.
In contrast, OFS’ sole focus was on our child, addressing our questions and showing us the school’s facilities and resources available to our kids, which we loved!
Since then, is OFS as good as you thought it’d be?
We’ve found out that if your kid is “happy to go to school,” then it means that the school is doing something great! OFS has put a lot of effort into promoting an inclusive environment where they celebrate and feel proud about having a diverse student population.
Awesome! What does Regina like most about attending OFS?
Regina loves participating in extracurricular activities! She enjoys baking, and is very engaged with her “Mother Tongue” lessons because it allows her to communicate with her grandparents and relatives easily.
How does OFS engage with parents?
The school uses a variety of channels to communicate with parents, from emails, parent portals and whiteboard notices, to notebooks between parents and teachers – we love getting them!
OFS also involves the parents in various events that promote culture and family values. The most important event is the annual Global Picnic where all parents participate, and we are so happy to have had the chance to share a little bit of our culture through our delicious food and colourful costumes!
What do you like most about OFS?
OFS has a wide range of creative spaces for children such as labs, studios and theatre. It also has a football field, swimming pools, playgrounds, and other top-class facilities.
How does OFS make your child feel welcome?
OFS’ teachers and staff are the school’s greatest assets. They really live up to the values of the school and create the best place to study and see your child grow.
Last question! What advice do you have for parents who are looking for a school?
We would recommend other parents to choose between three or four different options, depending on their personal preferences and decide from there. For us, it was important to find a school with great curriculum and values.
To find out about Overseas Family School, contact the admissions team to book a tour.
This post is sponsored by Overseas Family School.