“My husband and I are Filipino-American scientists. Both of us were born in the United States to Filipino parents, so we had visited the Philippines many times before. However, we never really had the chance to experience everyday life in the country. When we were invited to come here by the Philippine government for a stint to build the Philippines’ research capacity in genomics & nutrition and education & mental health, respectively, we jumped at the opportunity to develop stronger roots here.
We particularly wanted to have our children immerse in the land and culture of their heritage during this stint. We were looking for a school that promoted Philippine culture and values while also offering a global education in step with their schooling in the US. Beacon School came on the radar when my husband’s colleague recommended it. We liked what we initially saw, it was a Filipino community offering a global IB education. It would allow our kids to develop a deep and intuitive understanding of their heritage while also allowing them to easily integrate back into the US school system upon our return. We joined the Beacon community in 2024.
We have loved that at Beacon, our kids get to interact with peers like them, rooted in the Philippines but also globally-facing. They have made lifelong friends already in a short period of time, a testament to the kindness of the Beacon community, the authentic practice of its shared values, and the richness of its hybrid culture. These friendships have been forged at birthday parties, sleepovers, sports, at recess, and after-school activities.
As a parent, I appreciate that the school community was easy to jump right into, particularly important given our limited time here. Everyone was so welcoming. The transition to a new school felt natural.
My favorite community event so far would be Field Day. It was great to see the entire school (especially parents!) coming together in friendly competition, getting to know even more families, and experiencing the traditions of Beacon that bind this special community together.”
– Dr. Christina Cruz, Beacon parent since 2024
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