BALIWAG CITY, Bulacan — Montessori de Sagrada Familia, Inc. (MDSF) is strengthening its digital learning program by piloting iPad-supported instruction as part of its long-term bid to become the fourth Apple Distinguished School in the country.
The ICT Office, Grade School Academic Council, and Grade 4 teachers convened a Teaching with iPad workshop on Feb. 9 at Preschool Conference Hall to align classroom practice, and instructional goals for the possible integration of iPads as a school learning device.
The school’s Education Technology Consultant, Francis Jim Tuscano, shared findings from Xavier School, an Apple Distinguished institution, showing that about 90 percent of learners reported improved engagement and understanding when iPads were used for class activities and projects.
Tuscano said digital tools also allow teachers to deliver feedback through short voice recordings, helping learners recall instructions more easily while reducing the time teachers spend on written comments.
“Mas natatandaan ng bata kapag naririnig niya ang feedback via voice recording, at mas nagiging mabilis din ang pagbibigay ng gabay ng guro,” Tuscano said.
Grade 4 ICT teacher Russel Dimla said the initiative is anchored on improving classroom practice rather than simply adopting new hardware.
“If we become an Apple Distinguished School, we can further elevate how learning happens in MDSF, especially in collaboration and digital skills,” Dimla said.
School administrators confirmed that the 1:1 Apple Program will be implemented for incoming Grade 4 students in School Year 2026–2027 as part of a pilot rollout. The initial trial group will be Grade 4 Cylene, identified as the section with the highest number of current Apple device users. This data-informed selection aims to ensure smoother program testing, stronger technical readiness, and more reliable evaluation before possible wider implementation.
The program was explained to all Grade 3 parents during an online meeting presided over by the School Principal, Mrs. Maria Cristina S. Silamor.
The meeting also served as an open dialogue for parents’ feedback and inquiries. Among the concerns raised were screen time, device cost, and overall student well-being. Parents expressed that if the program proves beneficial to the welfare and learning of their children, they are willing to support its implementation.
The school emphasized that the pilot phase will allow administrators to gather data, assess learning impact, and refine safeguards before scaling the initiative further.
The initiative is being supported by Power Mac Center, MDSF’s official Apple Education Partner, as the school moves forward in strengthening innovative, future-ready learning experiences for its community.
Written by: Gav Andrei De Belen
Photo by: Mirielle Angela Sarmiento