ISF vs CIS vs SIS

Babybaby2011

呢三間嘅中文係比較好，唔知佢哋嘅校風、功課深淺及量、學生多數係讀邊間幼稚園容易入到呢？希望有小朋友讀緊嘅家長比啲意見 ～ 謝謝！

HKTHK

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Are you transferring or applying for reception years?

Babybaby2011

原帖由 HKTHK 於 13-04-24 發表
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Are you transferring or applying for reception years?

Plan to apply for reception year later ~~~

shadeslayer

Apply to all.  None of these schools are easy to get a place.

Babybaby2011

原帖由 shadeslayer 於 13-04-24 發表
Apply to all.  None of these schools are easy to get a place.

Yes I know ~ thatˊs why I would like to know which kindergarten should my bb go to so as to have better chance to these schools ~

HKTHK

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The applications are at different years.  CIS and SIS starts at K2 and ISF starts at K3.  So you should just apply and then see if you can get in.  I don't really think you can go wrong with any one of them unless you have specific or idiosyncratic considerations.

elmostoney

It's probably not important to worry about which one is better.  More important to worry about whether the child can get in.  I don't think they are particular about which kindergarten the kids come from. I have heard rumours that CIS is trying to improve their Chinese standard (their Chinese, up until the past 2 or 3 years, unfortunately, is not as good as many people believe.  The kids with good Chinese were those who transfer from local schools at Year 7).  So during the last few years, unless you are a foreigner, they prefer taking Chinese children with strong Mandarin.  Some parents have found sending their kids to 蘇淅 local section (mostly Mandarin) to be helpful.  Again, this is a rumor.  

Remember, CIS has 88 openings at reception, half of which is reserved for applicants who have affiliation (alumini's children, corporate debenture holder, staff's children, siblings).  So only 44 seats go public.

If you are a Singaporean, whether citizen or resident, you have priority.  In recent years, there seems to be an upsurge of Singaporean applicants, so spaces opened to non-Singaporeans have declined.

For ISF, surely helps if you are a corporate debenture holder.

To gain entry into anyone of them, the child needs to be fluent in English or Mandarin.  Cantonese doesn't count.

elmostoney

homework load - isf has loads of hw.  Chinese level probably the highest of all 3.  

sis - hw load probably moderate.

cis - probably least hw.

Babybaby2011

Thanks a lot for your detailed reply.

112200

sis had changed their chinese curriculum this yr, which is close to LH as i know.

CutieHeart

I've also heard that the workload in ISF is much heavier than before.  Any current can give more details?

HKTHK

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On weekdays, about 20 mins to 1 hr of homework, usually can be finished within 30 mins.  In the beginning of the school year, it feels like there was a little bit more but lately, the amount of work seems reasonable.  If the child can focus, you can come back, have a snack, finish the homework and still have time to play for a bit before dinner.  Typical homework will be corrections of errors in class, sentence making, memorizing Chinese poems or classics, read-aloud of passages, or review to prepare for assessment.  Children are also supposed to do 15 mins of Chinese and 15 mins of English reading a day.
On weekends, 1-2 hrs of homework.  We like to finish all of it over the weekend though usually they don't need to be handed in till later on in the week.

CutieHeart

Thanks HKTHK for the details!  Which grade is your kid in ISF?  
How do you find the 校風 and discipline of students?

HKTHK

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Discipline is OK.  Obviously more free than a LS.  I think some parents have unhappy experiences before.  Suggest you search the old threads.

112200

for sis, written hw is reasonable and teacher encourage kids to read diff chinese books everyday follow their new reading scheme. kid can read the bk to teacher everyday then teacher will give a stamp. kids are selfmotivated. for eng., they add spoken eng and presentation skill training too. fyi

missq

HKTHK 發表於 13-4-25 15:43
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On weekdays, about 20 mins to 1 hr of homework, usually can be finished with ...

May I ask which grade is it? Thanks.

112200

start from PY