The information on this school’s profile is taken from publicly available sources, and has been collated by AI and curated by human moderators. Every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy, but factual inaccuracies are possible. If you would like to report inaccurate information please email support@doris.school
Curriculum Reggio Emilia Approach, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Bespoke Curriculum, SEN focussed
Taught languages English, Filipino
Strengths Visual and Creative Arts, STEM, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Elementary
Introduction
Cascades School offers a Regio Emilia-inspired early childhood and primary program across several campuses in Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Cavite. The school applies the Cascades Curriculum, a hands-on, project-based approach centered on sustainable development and community involvement, with the environment described as the third teacher. Preschool programs run as Wanderers (16 months–3 years), Explorers (3–4 years), and Sr. Explorers (5 years), feeding into Elementary sections called Navigators (Grade 1–3, 6–8 years) and Discoverers (Grade 4–6, 9–11 years). Learning is organized through ateliers (Life, Materials, Taste, Movement and Sound) and is supported by co-teaching and co-learning structures. Special programs include Cascades Play (18 months–3 years) and Bahaghari (3–9 years) to support inclusive education. The founder and leadership emphasize a home-like learning environment, active citizenship, and real-world learning experiences.
Cascades operates in Metro Manila, Philippines. The preschool campuses are at 6 Silangan Street, Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City; Unit 6, GF Creekside Square, 74 Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City. The elementary campus is at 286 Sto Rosario Plainview, Mandaluyong City. There is also a Cascades Hiraya location in Silang, Cavite at Likha Village, Biluso Poblacion.
Stages
Cascades uses two campuses to cover its levels: Cascades School Inc. operates the Kindergarten program, and Cascades Hiraya School Inc. operates the Elementary program. The overall Cascades framework covers ages from about 16 months up to 9 years in the primary offering.
Type
Cascades consists of private early-childhood and elementary campuses organized as separate, campus-based programs (Kindergarten at Cascades School Inc. and Elementary at Hiraya). There is no public information about boarding facilities.
Additional learning support
Bahaghari Program provides targeted support for children with special needs, including collaboration with special education teachers and other professionals. It is designed for children aged roughly 3 to 9 years.
Country affiliation
Philippines (no formal country-affiliation listed).
Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated by the Cascades programs.
School day structure
School days are generally Monday to Friday. On-site hours run roughly from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with office hours listed as 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Bus service
A published Cascades-provided bus service is not listed in official materials; families should contact the school to arrange transport details.
Fees
Application / Registration fees - No fixed one-time application, registration, enrolment or acceptance fee amount is published for general admission. The school does publish a fee for short special programs (see Special-program fees below).
Tuition fees (annual and program types) - Annual tuition for whole‑day early years programs (preschool / kindergarten ages 16 months to about 6 years) starts at PHP 250,000. This rate applies to whole‑day in‑person programs and includes lunch and two snacks for whole‑day placements where specified. - Annual tuition for half‑day early years programs starts at PHP 175,000. - Annual tuition for fully online early years options starts at PHP 115,000. - Annual tuition for blended learning (combination of online and in‑person) starts at PHP 135,000. - For children enrolled in the school's Bahaghari (special‑needs) program, annual tuition for a five‑day‑a‑week whole‑day placement starts at PHP 430,000; this program's fee includes specialist support elements such as occupational therapy and individualized intervention.
Tuition by year group / age group (program names used by the school) - Wanderers (Toddlers 16 months to ~2 years): tuition is covered under the early years program pricing above (whole‑day / half‑day / online / blended options). Specific per‑group pricing is not published separately. - Explorers (Nursery 2 and Kinder 1; ages ~3–4): tuition is covered under the early years program pricing above. Specific per‑group pricing is not published separately. - Explorers 2 (Kinder 2; age ~5): tuition is covered under the early years program pricing above. Specific per‑group pricing is not published separately.
Per‑term fees / term breakdown - The school offers payment schedules described as Annual, Semi‑Annual, and Monthly payment options. However, a per‑term fee table or explicit per‑term amounts for each program or age group is not published in the available materials. Parents should note that the school lists the available payment frequency options but does not publish a public breakdown of exact per‑term amounts.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment frequencies offered: Annual, Semi‑Annual, Monthly. Specific billing dates, deadlines, deposit amounts on acceptance, penalties for late payment, or the exact invoicing schedule are not published in the publicly available material. The school does publish discount schemes that apply to fee payments (see Discounts).
Discounts and concessions - Sibling discount: 3% applied to the second child's fee. - Early‑bird discount: 3%. - PWD discount (with valid ID): 3%. - Maximum combined discount allowed is 6% (discounts stack up to that maximum).
Boarding fees - No boarding facilities or boarding fee schedules are published. The school lists multiple day campuses (preschool and elementary addresses) and operates as a day school. No boarding charges apply.
Special‑program and extracurricular fees (other costs) - Cascades Play Program (short‑course early years play sessions, 8 sessions) is listed at PHP 10,000. Enrolment in special classes and workshops (for example ballet, hip‑hop, character design and other skill‑based workshops) carry separate fees; those workshop fees vary by offering and are charged in addition to regular tuition. - The school lists additional skill‑based workshops (taekwondo, ballet, hip‑hop, cooking, baking, etc.) and notes that separate fees apply to those enrichment classes. Uniform, materials, transport, and other incidental charges are not shown as fixed public amounts.
Refund information and deposits - No published schedule of refundable or non‑refundable deposits, specific refund conditions for withdrawal, or detailed cancellation/refund policy is publicly listed in the available materials. Refund terms and security deposit details (if any) are not published.
Fee payment options (methods) - The school publishes available payment frequency options (Annual / Semi‑Annual / Monthly) but does not publish a public list of accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit card, GCash, or cheque) in the materials examined. Specific accepted payment channels and whether credit‑card payments incur a surcharge are not published.
Summary of what is not published - Exact one‑time application/registration/acceptance fee amounts, explicit per‑term fee figures by program/age group, deposit amounts, invoice due dates, late payment penalties, detailed refund/withdrawal policy text, and the list of accepted payment methods are not published in the materials reviewed. The school does publish headline annual tuition starting rates, the Bahaghari program rate, short‑course fees, payment frequency options, and discount rates.
Practical notes for parents - Tuition is shown as annual figures for each program modality (whole‑day, half‑day, online, blended) and the school offers Annual, Semi‑Annual, and Monthly billing options; discounts for siblings, early payment and PWD are available up to a combined maximum of 6%. Special classes and workshops are charged separately. No boarding fees apply because the school operates day campuses.
Academics
Cascades School teaches Reggio Emilia Approach, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge IGCSE, Bespoke Curriculum, SEN focussed for students aged 1.33 to 11.
Curriculum
The Cascades Curriculum centers on sustainable development with hands-on projects, emphasizing work, resources, money, and time to foster responsibility and active citizenship. Co-teaching and co-learning are core, with weekly teacher collaboration and cross-teacher professional development. The environment is treated as the third teacher in a Reggio-infused approach, with 'hundred languages' of learning and documentation. Year groups map to Wanderers (16 months–3 years), Explorers (3–5), Sr. Explorers (5); Navigators (Grade 1-3; 6-8) and Discoverers (Grade 4-6; 9-11). The curriculum features Atelier of Life, Materials, Taste, Movement and Sound, and Digital Literacy as integrated subject areas. Special programs include Cascades Play, Bahaghari for special needs, Child Minding, and Friday/Saturday Special Classes.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Cascades School supports SEL through the Bahaghari Program for 3–9-year-olds, offering long-term, targeted interventions with collaboration from special education teachers and other professionals; the environment is the third teacher, and co-teaching and co-learning practices support social-emotional development.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
SEN is provided via the Bahaghari Program for 3–9-year-olds, delivering long-term support and guidance with targeted interventions and collaboration from special education teachers and other professionals.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through mindfulness-oriented elements in the Atelier of Life and through Cascades' co-teaching and collaborative learning framework.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is supported by leadership such as the Head for Safety and Health; the leadership page lists a Head for Safety and Health, and privacy protections are described via a Data Privacy Disclaimer on the Contact page.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Initial inquiry and details. Parents begin by messaging Cascades School with the child's name, nickname, birth date, and age, along with the parent's name and contact information (Viber/SMS number and email address). Providing accurate contact details and the child's information helps the school assess fit and plan the next steps. This first contact sets the timeline for the rest of the process.
2. Campus tour and trial class. The next step is to schedule a campus tour and a free one-day trial class to experience the school environment and observe how the child interacts with the setting and with staff. The trial class provides a practical sense of daily routines and the Cascades approach in action. Following the tour and trial, families have a clearer sense of logistics and whether Cascades is the right match.
3. Submit required forms. For new students, submit the Enrollment Form, Fetcher's Form with an ID photo, and a photocopy of the birth certificate. If transferring from another center or school, provide a Recommendation Form from the previous institution and the latest Report Card. Submitting these documents completes the documentation package the school uses to evaluate eligibility and placement.
4. Assessment, payment, and verification. After forms are received, the school conducts an assessment to determine appropriate placement and programs. This step is followed by the payment process and verification of the submitted documents. The outcome determines program assignment and invoicing timelines.
5. Parents Circle Time (Orientation). The final step is a Parents Circle Time orientation, where caregivers receive essential information about school policies, routines, and expectations. This session helps align home and school practices and answers remaining questions before enrollment is finalized.
6. Open enrollment and program mainstreaming. Enrollment is open for the year as long as there are available slots. New enrollees will be gradually mainstreamed into the relevant programs based on age and progression. Parents should be aware that slots can fill, so timely inquiry and scheduling are advised.
7. Fees overview within admissions. Program-specific fees and payment options are published for reference. For example, the Cascades Play Program costs 10,000 PHP for 8 sessions, and the Bahaghari Program lists annual tuition starting at 430,000 PHP for five days per week, full day, with included services. Discounts and payment options (annual, semi-annual, monthly) are also available for eligible families.
Scholarships
The school runs its own Kids & Ideas foundation, which provides a pathway to subsidized education for underprivileged families. The foundation offers free access to select programs, training, and educational materials, with parents also receiving training from professionals in arts, crafts, farming, and other skill areas. This approach aims to create income-generating opportunities for families through community-based activities. Interested families can learn more and get in touch through Cascades School's contact channels.
Waitlist
Cascades School operates open enrollment for the year, provided there are open slots. There is no published waitlist policy; enrollment proceeds while slots exist and new enrollees are gradually mainstreamed into programs. If all slots are filled, enrollment would be paused until a slot becomes available.
FAQs
What age range does Cascades School serve?
Cascades School serves students aged 1.33-11.
What curriculum does the school follow?
The Cascades Curriculum centers on sustainable development with hands-on projects, emphasizing work, resources, money, and time to foster responsibility and active citizenship. Co-teaching and co-learning are core, with weekly teacher collaboration and cross-teacher professional development. The.
Where is the school located?
Cascades operates in Metro Manila, Philippines. The preschool campuses are at 6 Silangan Street, Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City; Unit 6, GF Creekside Square, 74 Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City. The elementary campus is at 286 Sto Rosario Plainview, Mandaluyong City. There is also a Cascades Hiraya
What learning support is available?
Bahaghari Program provides targeted support for children with special needs, including collaboration with special education teachers and other professionals. It is designed for children aged roughly 3 to 9 years.
What extracurricular activities are offered?
The Cascades Curriculum centers on sustainable development and hands‑on learning. It emphasizes collaboration and community involvement, with real‑world projects that make a tangible impact on the local community. The educational philosophy treats the teacher, the child, and the environment as three
How do I apply?
1. Initial inquiry and details. Parents begin by messaging Cascades School with the child's name, nickname, birth date, and age, along with the parent's name and contact information (Viber/SMS number and email address). Providing accurate contact details and the child's information helps the school
What is the school's approach to wellbeing?
Cascades School supports SEL through the Bahaghari Program for 3–9-year-olds, offering long-term, targeted interventions with collaboration from special education teachers and other professionals; the environment is the third teacher, and co-teaching and co-learning practices support.
What are the school facilities like?
The environment is the third teacher. The school is built as a house with child-sized furniture and tools; repurposed furniture and small interactive installations ignite children's curiosity; exploration tables are set up in the open area to support inquiry. The environment is designed to foster cr
What are the school hours?
School days are generally Monday to Friday. On-site hours run roughly from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with office hours listed as 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
What is the school community like?
The Cascades community is described as child-centered, with founder Irene Theresa Mawo and a leadership team guiding Sibol Main Campus in Mandaluyong and other campuses. The school emphasizes a home-l
