In May 2001, borne out of a young woman’s determination to share her God-given talents, passion for teaching, and eagerness to transform the dream that was Starland Kiddie School (SKS) became a reality.
Rooted firmly in altruistic action, Starland, or “Star of the Land”, is the manifestation of a deep desire that Dr. Jean Dumago- Descallar has had in her heart for as long as she can remember.
In a tiny living room, the young but indefatigable then-Teacher Jean Dumago patiently, enthusiastically and single-handedly taught each of the twenty (20) nursery and kindergarten pupils reading, writing and counting (with the basics of arithmetic).
The cherished aspiration of providing quality education and holistic development to enable learners to flourish while effortlessly taking on the challenges of a global community had now become a sweet reality.
The year 2005 saw the number of pupils ballooned to 387. It became clear to the driven and persevering Teacher Jean that it was time for SKS to expand. This paved the way for the Cubao and the Caloocan campuses to open, and SKS, which was then already offering a complete elementary level course as well as first to third-year levels of High School, became known as Starland Academy Incorporated (SAI).
Academic Year 2006-2007 was a landmark year for SAI, as it was the year a prompt response had to be given to the barrage of inquiries that flooded Management for foreign enrollees to be accepted. That year, Korean, Chinese and Arab nationals were welcomed into the Starland family.
By January 19, 2007, with complete Preschool, Elementary and High School courses and more than 1,400 students, what we now know as Starland International School (SIS) came to be. SIS opened its doors for Preschool and Elementary-level pupils in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, the first of its Mindanao campuses, (the third branch) on June 16, 2008.
On June 14, 2010, SIS-Caloocan began providing secondary courses for the first and second year high school levels and added the third and fourth year high school levels in the academic year 2012-2013. To accommodate parents’ requests, SIS-Cubao began offering a complete secondary course during the said academic year.
In 2011, SIS started catering one-on-one approach to local and overseas learners through Online Schooling for learners from the entertainment industry and those who migrated to other countries llike USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Greece, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan but would like to continue with Starland.
Likewise, foreign nationals who would like to learn the English language enrolled online for a regular class in Basic Education. Soon after, Starland expanded to serve the children of OFWs from the Middle East countries like Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates particularly Dubai.
The online schooling is also a part of Starland Learner Support Program especially to learners with disabilities and those with medical issues who are evaluated and recommended to attend a regular class.
In 2013, SIS-Butuan started accepting enrollees for the secondary course for the first and second year levels.
SIS welcomed the Cagayan de Oro branch, the fourth branch and the second campus in Mindanao, which catered to Preschool and Grades One to Three in the same year. In 2014, the sixth SIS campus and the third to open in Mindanao welcomed Preschool and Grades One to Six pupils of Davao into their halls. SIS-Davao has offered secondary courses beginning June 2017.
The seventh SIS campus had opened on June 19, 2017, it is the sixth branch and the first campus in the island of Cebu located at Hawaiian Marigondon Lapu-Lapu City. Starland continues to open its doors in Northern Luzon. The seventh branch had launched last July 15, 2019; the first campus in Northern Luzon located along Gatioan Compound, Provincial Road, San Andres, Santiago City.
From the humble 20-pupil living room, Starland International School has grown to beautiful new heights with its nine campuses and continues to grow . . . and now, the birth of the eighth branch that opened on June 3, 2022. Starland Cauayan, the second campus in Northern Luzon located along 188 Banigan Street corner Maharlika Highway, Cauayan City, Isabela.
Still the desire to reach more learners and to provide them with affordable, quality education remains with Dr. Jean Dumago-Descallar.
With its continued expansion and growth, Starland International School maintains its goal in providing better facilities necessary in the achievement of the internationalized quality education
and service to the student body.
Upwards and onwards, Starland International School goes!