Homeschooling

1. What is PAREF?

2. What is homeschooling?

3. What is the PAREF Homeschooling Program?

4. Who does the program cater to?

5. What is the curriculum like?

6. What are the subjects in the program?

7. What comes with my child’s enrollment in the program?

Your enrollment provides you with much more than just a box of books. It provides an accredited education, a strong support system, and a community of staff and homeschoolers who are in your corner. It provides access to academic and support counseling, grading and record keeping, and a solid Catholic curriculum that promotes strong Catholic values in each and every subject.

A. Catholic Materials

After realizing that there was a dearth in the industry for the kinds of books that families needed: solidly Catholic, academically excellent, and geared toward homeschooling, our curriculum partner, Seton Home Study USA, started the long-term process of writing and producing its own books for the curriculum, specifically designed for Catholic homeschooling families.

Today, Seton is one of the largest publishers of Catholic textbooks in the United States. Publishing its own Catholic books has become a central part of Seton Home Study School. Producing its own books has allowed Seton to incorporate Catholic teachings throughout the program.

We believe that Catholic families who have chosen to homeschool their children deserve nothing less than the highest quality Catholic materials — and we continually strive to meet their expectations.

B. Lesson Plans

Your enrollment includes daily lesson plans that are detailed, but entirely flexible.

PAREF’s detailed Lesson Plans are academic, faith-centered parent guides, carefully designed to remove the stress of planning your daily lessons for your child.

These Lesson Plans provide a daily schedule of assignments. The Lesson Plans can be adjusted in the Teacher’s Plan Book and they can be adjusted online and printed out for each day.

Because every child is unique and may need different levels of study in certain areas, the Lesson Plans indicate what is required, optional, and supplemental. You can then adjust the Lesson Plans to meet the needs of your child and family.

C. Online Resources

Your enrollment also includes access to MySeton, multimedia resources, and much more.

PAREF families receive a MySeton account that provides personalized resources for parents and students. At all grade levels, you can submit papers electronically for grading, and correspond with the Seton Staff. You also have access to a growing collection of multimedia aids, including video tutorials. MySeton has daily online Lesson Plans that you can adjust according to your own family schedule.

D. Academic Counseling

Enrolled families can call or email our academic counselors for homeschooling help.

PAREF Homeschooling enrollment includes access to our professional academic counseling for students and for the parent-teacher.

Our counselors are available for every subject and grade level and are even available to offer advice on topics like organization and general homeschooling. With our partnership, PAREF and Seton’s teachers and counselors are eager to assist you in making your experience a successful one. With a Seton counselor, just a phone call or email away, you are never alone in your homeschooling journey.

Our staff is dedicated to making your homeschooling experience simple, rewarding, and successful. We are standing by to help whenever you need us.

E. Grading and Records

PAREF Homeschooling provides report cards for students and keeps all student records. We maintain transcripts, send report cards, issue certificates upon completion of Kindergarten.

Tests in grade school are usually submitted to Seton for grading about every nine weeks. Along with the tests, the parent-teacher sends a quarterly report form, which includes the student’s grades for weekly assignments. Tests and report forms can be sent via email or uploaded in MySeton account. Seton staff will then grade your child’s tests and record the grades on the report card.

Our staff constantly strives to maintain a close, supportive relationship with parents so that we can support your family’s specific needs and goals.

F. Accreditation

PAREF Schools are accredited in the Philippines by the Department of Education. Through its partnership with Seton Home Study School, it is also accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

This means when you enroll your child in the PAREF Homeschooling Program, he gets units that are recognized both in the Philippines and in the United States.

What does accreditation mean?
Accreditation means that PAREF Homeschooling has been inspected/audited by an outside, independent agency that has determined that PAREF meets accepted standards for schools. These standards include standards regarding seriousness of our course of studies, handling of academic records, accounting practices, and business practices.

Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation is important for several reasons. First, you know that an accredited school has submitted to a detailed inspection by an objective agency. Besides this inspection, the school is required to follow accepted educational practices established by the accrediting agency. You know that the school has met standards and must continue to meet standards to maintain its accreditation. An accredited school cannot be a “fly-by-night” operation or a “diploma mill.” An accredited school is a bona fide, high quality, educational institution.

Second, it is much easier to transfer credits from an accredited school than a non-accredited school. A student who receives credits from PAREF knows that these credits are backed by the prestige of the accrediting agency. We cannot guarantee that other schools will accept PAREF credits. However, accredited schools do routinely accept credits from other accredited schools. Schools are much less likely to accept credits from non-accredited schools.

Third, accreditation is especially important when applying to college. Credits from an accredited school will likely be viewed as much more important than credits from a non-accredited school. The reason is simple: colleges know that accredited schools maintain accepted standards. Colleges know nothing about credits from a non-accredited school.

Does accreditation influence the content of your curriculum?
No, accrediting agencies do not tell schools what to teach. They merely try to ensure that schools do teach what they say they teach, and that they provide a high-quality program.

G. Mentoring System

Every student is assigned a personal mentor who becomes the student's life coach and friend. The PAREF mentoring system paves the way for each individual’s character growth and development, which consequently impacts the student's academic performance.

H. Personal Formation Activities

The PAREF personal formation program consists of means of formation and activities over and above the academic program that aim for one’s integral development. These means of formation endeavor to lead each student to a greater self-knowledge to prepare the student for life here and hereafter.

The personal formation that PAREF provides is not only for the students, but for the parents as well. As parents are the primary educators of their children, they are equipped to become better parents through parenting courses like the New Parents Education Program (NPEP), School for Parents and other Parenting Talks or Get Togethers. Peer coaching will also be part of the parent formation which PAREF provides to mothers and fathers. Mentoring chats with parents will also be done regularly with the child’s mentor.

8. Is the program accredited by the Department of Education?

9. What are the benefits of homeschooling?

10. Are there any downsides to homeschooling?