Why COJ?
Who COJ is?
A School Founded on Formation, Learning, and Purpose
Cradle of Joy (COJ) is a Catholic progressive school committed to forming young people who are competent learners and compassionate leaders. From the beginning, the school was founded on the conviction that education must address the whole person—mind, character, and spirit—and that these cannot be separated without losing what truly matters in the formation of children.
We exist to partner with parents who want more than short-term academic success for their children. We serve families who are thinking carefully about the kind of person their child is becoming, and who believe that education should prepare children not only for the next level of schooling, but for life.
Our Integrated Philosophy:
Learning and Formation Together
At COJ, progressive pedagogy and Christian formation are not two parallel programs. They are integrated into a single educational vision.
Our approach to learning is progressive. It respects how children actually learn. Students are encouraged to think, ask questions, explore ideas, and make meaning under the guidance of attentive teachers. Learning is active, structured, and intentional. Understanding matters more than memorization alone, and responsibility grows alongside independence.
At the same time, learning is always connected to formation. Education shapes values whether we intend it to or not. At COJ, we take this responsibility seriously by forming students in habits of honesty, perseverance, empathy, and care for others. Character is shaped not only by what is taught, but by how people are treated, how mistakes are handled, and how daily life is lived in the school.
This integration allows students to grow as thinkers who are grounded, reflective, and responsible—able to use their abilities well and for the good of others.
Rooted in a Living Christian Community
COJ was founded in partnership with Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon, a Catholic covenant community with a long-standing mission of evangelization and discipleship. This partnership has deeply influenced the school’s culture and understanding of formation.
This integration allows students to grow as thinkers who are grounded, reflective, and responsible—able to use their abilities well and for the good of others.
The tradition of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon emphasizes personal faith, lived discipleship, and the formation of Christians who engage society with integrity and compassion. This spirit informs the school’s vision—not by creating a closed religious environment, but by grounding education in a clear sense of meaning and purpose.
Faith at COJ is not reduced to religious instruction alone. It is expressed through reflection, gratitude, service, and the daily practice of values that shape conscience and character. Students are guided to see their lives as meaningful and their gifts as something to be used responsibly in the world.
What Distinguishes COJ from Other Schools
What sets COJ apart is not any single feature, but the coherence of its vision.
We are intentionally small, allowing students to be known personally and guided closely. Teachers are able to mentor students academically and personally, responding to their needs with care and clarity. This close attention is especially important during formative stages, when children and adolescents benefit most from guidance and encouragement.
We hold high expectations while remaining deeply supportive. Students are challenged to grow, but they are not pressured through fear or comparison. Discipline is calm and purposeful, learning is demanding yet humane, and formation is steady rather than performative.
Parents often find that COJ offers something increasingly rare: an environment where academic seriousness, emotional security, and Christian values are held together without tension.
Our Long-Term Formation Vision
Our vision extends beyond any single grade level.
We aim to form students who are capable learners, thoughtful decision-makers, and compassionate leaders. Leadership, as we understand it, is not about position or recognition. It begins with character—the ability to think clearly, act justly, and care for others even when it is difficult.
We believe that this kind of formation must begin early and continue intentionally through the years of growth. Children who develop strong foundations of learning and values are better equipped to navigate future academic environments, relationships, and responsibilities with confidence and integrity.
COJ exists to support parents in this long-term work of formation. We do not promise shortcuts or guarantees. What we offer is a coherent educational environment where learning and values reinforce one another, and where children are guided patiently toward becoming the persons they are meant to be.
For families who share this vision, COJ is not simply a school. It is a formative community, walking with parents as they raise children who are prepared for both the challenges and the responsibilities of the future.
Our Story
COJ was founded out of a desire to bring about God’s plan to bring children to Himself. In 1988, at the Lord’s prodding, Teacher Marion A. Cruz began to conceptualize a preschool for Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon community.
Ten years later, with the collaboration of three (3) sisters-in-the-faith and co-educators (Raissa Bayani, Bambi Lazaro, and Rophemme Mendiola) and the blessing of LNP, COJ opened its doors to 17 students in 2 vertical classes.
In February 2023, COJ celebrated its 25th year of existence. It now offers Basic Elementary Courses form Preschool to Junior High School (Grade 10).
Vision
COJ is a Catholic school utilizing the progressive method of education, with a mission of developing Christian Servant Leaders through character formation and academic excellence.
Mission
In keeping with its vision, the mission of COJ is:
- To form children in authentic Christian character and academic excellence, training them to be responsible, patriotic citizens.
- To work closely with teachers and parents in bringing up children in the Christian faith, offering opportunities for children and the parents to come to a personal relationship with Christ.
- To help children grow in their awareness of the plight of the poor and the less fortunate.