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 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 branches 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 in 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 branches, 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 foreign learners through Online Schooling for learners from the entertainment industry and those who migrated to other countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Greece, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan but would like to continue with Starland. Likewise, foreign nationals who would like to learn the English language enrolled online. 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 SIS Online Schooling is also a part of the Starland Learner’s Learning Support Program (LSP) especially to learners with medical issues and physically challenged.
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 second branch in Mindanao and the 5th Starland campus which catered to Preschool and Grades One to Three in the same year.
In 2014, the 6th Starland 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 first campus in the island of Cebu located at Hawaiian Marigondon Lapu-Lapu City.
The eighth Starland campus opened on July 15, 2019; the first branch in Northern Luzon located initially at Patul Road, Barangay Rosario, Santiago City, Isabela then it has transferred to a better and bigger campus in Gatioan Compound, Provincial Road, San Andres, Santiago City, Isabela.
The second campus in Isabela province of Northern Luzon opened on May 2022 located in 188 Banigan Street Corner Maharlika Highway, Cauayan 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.
Still the desire to reach more learners and to provide them with affordable, quality education remains with Dr. Jean Dumago-Descallar, the Founding President. 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!