Brainworks School

Dear Friends,

My name is Rachel Red Amparo and everyone except my family members calls me Teacher Red.  I am the founder and school director of Brainworks School.  I graduated with academic excellence awards for both my bachelor's and master's education degrees from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. I also received training from the Slingerland Institute and from the Teachers' College (UK-Singapore).  I have attended teachers' workshops abroad on Multiple Intelligence (with Dr. Ellen Arnold), Behavior Management (wtih Dr. Barbara Kaiser), the Project Approach (with Dr. Chard) and the Reggio Emilia Approach (with Dr. Ezeh).

Last year, I earned a master's degree in Educational Management from Holy Cross College (where I also teach graduate classes).  At present, I am enrolled in my last semester of pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership at the University of Immaculate Conception.

I am grateful that I am not alone in running Brainworks School. Brainworks-Davao is currently led by a community council composed of four people, including myself, Jing Amparo (our executive director), Teacher Hope Felongco and Teacher Chatty Manalo. The council makes decisions and ensures that the Brainworks way of doing things are preserved yet always progressive and evolving.

I am the one who continuously trains all our teachers and teacher-aides, including Manelyn Cabaya, Joy Togon, Robelle Relativo, Marivic Urbuda, Rizza Sullano, Julius Placer, Rachel Pafin and Kris Ea.  I make sure that our teachers use Brainworks strategies and materials and remind them to be SIMPLE AND HAPPY in life and at work.

I am pleased to welcome you to BRAINWORKS!

Teacher Red

What We Care About

We are passionate about training our parents and teachers to provide SMALL learning and living environments that encourage

• independence together with collaboration
• competence together with creativity
• confidence together with character and community service.  

THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN!!!

Some of Our Unique Policies

We have our reasons and we can share them with you when you visit us.

Gender Separation (All-boys classes and all-girls classes from Grades 1 to 5)

No uniforms and no big, heavy bags

No TV on weekdays

Pack your own snacks and lunch

No softdrinks and no junk food 

Zero-waste policy (Take home your wrappers and other trash)

Travels with family encouraged (as long as student presents trip documentation to the class when she or he gets back)

All projects done in the school BY THE KIDS not by the parents

All homework done BY THE KIDS not by the parents

Parents may not tutor their kids or hire others to tutor them

Shorter school day than most schools (so that students can enroll in other lessons on music, dance, art or sports)

No numerical grades shown to parents throughout entire program

Standardized testing twice a year

No boyfriend-girlfriend relationships (or find another school where they allow that!)

Family days at the beach with no tiring activities prepared

Teachers who stay with Brainworks must be happy people

Students who stay here must be happy to learn

Parents who stay here are RELAXED, HAPPY PARENTS who have a good relationship with their children because Brainworks does not contribute to their stress.