教育王國
標題: Comments on RC, ISF, YC, VSA [打印本頁]
作者: angela11 時間: 13-2-27 23:56 標題: Comments on RC, ISF, YC, VSA
I am asking this for a colleague of mine who will relocate to HK from Shanghai later this year. Her daughter will be in Year 1 (= local K3) for School Year 2014-2015 (i.e. deadline to submit applications: around this Sep. - Oct.). My colleague wishes her daughter to get into a school strong in English (hence, IS and a few others such as ISF) and Putonghua (compared with other IS). I met the kid once - she speaks native Putonghua and is quite ok in English (mainly due to her home and kindergarten learning I believe).
My colleague did some research, and wants to learn more about these schools: RC, ISF, YC and VSA, from the parents here. She is most keen to know about:
- Teachers' quality;
- Curriculum rigor;
- Language spoken between students (out of class);
- Overall parents' style (pushy, laid-back...);
- ...
Location is not an issue at this moment as the family will decide where to live considering factors including the kid's schooling.
Your help will be much appreciated.
作者: Shrimpiggy 時間: 13-2-28 00:27 標題: 回覆：angela11 的帖子
Apply all, no one can guarantee you a place! Except YC, all you can buy debenture or NR for chance of interview.
ISF is strong in Chinese, RC is more international but also many locals target it also. YC and VSA mainly are locals whilst YC kids speak Cantonese after school and VSA is the one like a Local school the most.
作者: mingmingyinyin 時間: 13-2-28 09:17
Apply for RC through the nomination rights scheme. Personally I would opt for RC as my first choice among the ones you mentioned.
作者: angela11 時間: 13-2-28 09:32
Yes, I also suggested my colleague to apply all (and more) due to the competition.
My colleague asked me to say thank you for sharing your opinions! She can browse the forum but can't post here because she doesn't have a HK phone no. in order to register an account.
mingmingyinyin, may I ask why you take RC as your first choice? Thanks.
作者: poonseelai 時間: 13-2-28 09:35
angela11 發表於 13-2-27 23:56 
I am asking this for a colleague of mine who will relocate to HK from Shanghai later this year. Her ...
1. Teachers' quality: see link below
http://www.vsa.edu.hk/en/senior_mgt_sec.aspx
2. Curriculum: IB all way through
3. Language spoken between students: the school does not prohibit the use of Cantonese in school. As far as I know, more students from Mainland families have been accepted in recent years at primary school
4. Overall parents's style: generally not pushy
If the girl is targeting K3 in 2014/15 school year, she should go to Victoria Kindgerten. VSA year 1 is equivalent to primary 1 of the local stream.
作者: HKTHK 時間: 13-2-28 10:47
回復 angela11 的帖子
If she is considering these types of schools, she should also consider CIS and SIS.
Re ISF
Teacher's quality: not sure how to compare
Curriculum rigor: Chinese follow HK standards supplemented by own workbook and worksheets. English and Math both follow US standards. I don't remember which state and city though.
Language spoken between students: English and PTH. Kind of depends on who is talking and who else is in the group. But all kids are comfortable with both language so they switch back and forth. Not sure if I have ever heard Cantonese other than parent talking to child.
Overall parents' style: Mixed bag of pushy and laid-back. You have parents who have their kids doing tutoring in Eng, Chi and Math and you have parents who don't really enroll their kids into anything else. Having said this, I think most, if not all, parents take a pretty keen focus on their child's education and upbringing.
作者: HKTHK 時間: 13-2-28 10:49
回復 angela11 的帖子
Probably also should consider CKY though I think they do their first year of Chinese in Cantonese
作者: mingmingyinyin 時間: 13-2-28 11:26
回復 angela11 的帖子
You just mentioned RC, ISF, YC & VSA. Among the 4 schools, RC is the best (to me). I don't mean to offer others. Personally I think VSA is a bit "commercial" in the sense that education should not be done in this way. ISF tends to place more emphasis on Chinese and less on English at the early stage. In your friend's situation, she's native in Chinese; then I'd think she needs more English rather than Chinese. In this sense, RC seems to be more appropriate as it is run by ESF which is more 'western' and English-focused.
But if your friend would consider CIS, of course CIS is the best (to me).
作者: Shrimpiggy 時間: 13-2-28 11:34 標題: 回覆：mingmingyinyin 的帖子
I also agree that RCHK is the best choice. IB results RCHK is better than ISF whilst the tuition fee and all in cost for ISF is nearly double of RCHK.
on the other hand, if your friend decided to stay in HK south and working in financial or ibank, ISF is a ring fence for ibankers.
apply all first, she can spend more time to do the research by herself. as I always say, choose the school that fit for you.
作者: Radiomama 時間: 13-2-28 11:36 標題: 回覆：angela11 的帖子
Interesting question about parent's style!
RC's parents:
- show great concern to the school's staff matters, food, curriculum and etc
- bonding among parents is strong
- pushy? laid back? I meet both.
作者: chansiub 時間: 13-2-28 11:48 標題: 回覆：mingmingyinyin 的帖子
Please elaborate more on why VSA is commercial. Thanks.
作者: HKTHK 時間: 13-2-28 11:51
Agree with others, apply to all first and then decide
作者: HKTHK 時間: 13-2-28 12:16
Can someone share the % of caucasian and mixed ethnicity children at RCHK? Have never visited the school myself
作者: Shrimpiggy 時間: 13-2-28 12:37 標題: 回覆：HKTHK 的帖子
1:5. In those 5 are Asian faces including jap, Korean, etc.
作者: cppc20 時間: 13-2-28 15:08
回復 angela11 的帖子
Apply all first! Since your friend's kid speaks native PTH, that will be an advantage in ISF interview.
作者: chansiub 時間: 13-3-1 10:12
本帖最後由 chansiub 於 13-3-1 10:13 編輯
回復 mingmingyinyin 的帖子
Again, it is not the experience of someone who have kids studying in VSA. It's from an unhappy ex staff. I think it is very difficult for an organization to make all their staff happy. My kid is studying at Victoria Kindergarten. A lot of parents here on BK said this kindergarten is commercial. But what does it mean? It means that they will only concern about money?! I have no clue. The impression of Victoria Kindergarten in my mind was really bad after reading numerous posts on BK. Then I visited the school and decided to give it a try. This school is not "perfect" (think no school is) but I am happy with this school and my son loves the school. Hence, I am thinking whether I should let him join VSA as I believe that the whole organization should have the same mission and culture. However, the comments on VSA is even more terrible than those on Victoria Kindergarten. Sign............
作者: mingmingyinyin 時間: 13-3-1 10:23
回復 chansiub 的帖子
I agree with you that no school is perfect. But it is good to hear that your boy loves this school. Isn't it a through train school? That's good enough.
作者: wenwan 時間: 13-3-1 13:04 標題: 回覆：chansiub 的帖子
My older son studied in VSA for two years. Both my son and I love the school. I am not sure why this school has bad comments in BK. The strange thing is those who gave bad comments do not have kids studying there.
Anyway, the teachers are caring and responsible. 28 - 29 kids per class with two home room teachers. Students are happy and they do not have many homework in year 1 and 2. But as they move to upper primary, their homework volume will increase. Students speak mostly in English during recess and break. A few groups speak Cantonese. But everyone have to speak only English and Putonghua in the classroom. Students are polite and well mannered. academically, Math and English are strong. For Chinese, although it is not as good as those local elite schools, their standard is not too far behind.
作者: lui 時間: 13-3-1 14:03 標題: 引用：+本帖最後由+chansiub+於+13-3-1+10:13+編
原帖由 chansiub 於 13-03-01 發表
本帖最後由 chansiub 於 13-3-1 10:13 編輯
回復 mingmingyinyin 的帖子
作者: chansiub 時間: 13-3-1 16:18
回復 lui 的帖子
True. But it appears to me that the term "commercial" on EK is very negative and evil. That's why I want to know what's the difference between Vic and other IS (e.g. YC, ISF, ESF, CIS) when it comes to "commercial"? I am looking for fair and constructive suggestion/comments and feel very frustrated when I see these "commercial" type of comments. The term "commercial" on this forum makes no sense to me. It's just like the term "口感" mentioning in almost all 飲食節目。
作者: lui 時間: 13-3-1 16:23 標題: 引用：回復+lui+的帖子
True.++But+it+appears+t
原帖由 chansiub 於 13-03-01 發表
回復 lui 的帖子
True. But it appears to me that the term "commercial" on EK is very negative and e ...
作者: Mayandrew 時間: 13-3-5 03:52 標題: 回覆：Comments on RC, ISF, YC, VSA
I did some teachings in both CIS and ESF schools before. I would say all are pretty "commercial". A good school needs a strong value chain from intake, curriculum, staffing, to alumni works. I would say 20 years is a cycle to build up a good school and that's what CIS has done. If management of ISF and VSA keep going on a right track, I anticipate there will be a big room for them to reach highest in next 5-10 years. In addition, emphasizing Chinese is a must running an IS in Asia pacific these days.
作者: chansiub 時間: 13-3-5 09:22
回復 Mayandrew 的帖子
Well said. Comparing to long established IS like CIS and many others, I believe that VSA and ISF may be less developed in a lot of aspects e.g. staffing, curriculum. But when it comes to "commercial", I don't see any differences among them.
作者: pppwong 時間: 13-3-6 09:28 標題: 回覆：Comments on RC, ISF, YC, VSA
Dear mums, I was so glad to find this thread of discussions. I'm a new mum and new to the game of IS. Would you all be kind enough to share what kinds of kindergartens should I target if I'd like my boy to be admitted to RC and ISF? I wonder if ESF kindies still hv a niche but if course I'll still give it a try. Other than ESF kindies, what would be your recommendations?
作者: luckyveronique 時間: 13-3-6 09:57
actually, esf kinders will no more enjoy priority starting next academic year, thus if I were you, I'd rather choose some IS kinders with strong academic education instead of free-play.
It seems that anfield, boxhill, kingston are all good IS kinders, which could answer my needs. Whilst my kid will start K1 this august, and given I am targeting ESF/PIS, I may still let her go to ESF kinder to get a priority.
作者: luckyveronique 時間: 13-3-6 10:02
actually, esf kinders will no more enjoy priority starting next academic year, thus if I were you, I'd rather choose some IS kinders with strong academic education instead of free-play.
It seems that anfield, boxhill, kingston are all good IS kinders, which could answer my needs. Whilst my kid will start K1 this august, and given I am targeting ESF/PIS, I may still let her go to ESF kinder to get a priority.
作者: ramen 時間: 13-3-6 10:09
本帖最後由 ramen 於 13-3-6 10:11 編輯
Deleted Deleted
作者: pppwong 時間: 13-3-6 14:13 標題: 引用：actually,+esf+kinders+will+no+more+enjoy
原帖由 luckyveronique 於 13-03-06 發表
actually, esf kinders will no more enjoy priority starting next academic year, thus if I were you, I ...
It's such a headache as there are so few good kindies in preparation for IS. To triple the problem mine is a small boy born in October which means that he doesn't stand a very good chance for ESF and will even lose the opportunity if he has to be admitted as a big boy for good kindies that cut off early...
Any comments would be very much appreciated!!
作者: daffodil 時間: 13-4-29 13:02
My son is now studying Year 2 at VSA and he started going to Victoria Kindergarten as early as in the Playgroup. Frankly speaking, my husband and I as well as many other parents I know are happy with the school. I really don't see anything "commercial" about this school. It's not like you get better chance to get into the school or receive more attention from the teachers if you have a better family background. Most of the parents I know are from the middle class. I would say no school can please everyone. Just that I don't think this is a fair judgment especially if this comes from someone who doesn't have any kid studying in this school before.
I do go to the school as a parent helper and I get a lot of chance to meet or talk to the kids there. Seems quite a lot of them especially in the upper years speak English outside the classroom. In fact many kids in my son's class are fluent in English and quite a number of them are native English speakers.
One thing I like about this school is that they emphasize both English and Chinese (taught in PTH in Traditional Chinese) in the primary years. I am not too worried about my son's Chinese as he can read the Chinese books by himself without too much struggle though he does prefer reading English as it seems easier for him. He has no problem communicating in PTH nowadays. It seems to me that there are more native English speakers than native PTH speakers as I observe.
作者: whitesky 時間: 13-4-30 11:27
回復 wenwan 的帖子
I always take the same bus with Victoria secondary kids when they get off from school. Most of the time, a group of them speak Cantonese with each others although once in a while, a few of them switch to English but very soon they switch back to Cantonese. To me, they don't seem like other IS kids speaking English with friends. I wonder why.
Discipline seems okay. They just talk and talk with each others, never distribute others.
作者: lsm0113 時間: 13-4-30 15:02 標題: 引用：My+son+is+now+studying+Year+2+at+VSA+and
原帖由 daffodil 於 13-04-29 發表
My son is now studying Year 2 at VSA and he started going to Victoria Kindergarten as early as in th ...
作者: elmostoney 時間: 13-5-16 19:47
Can any parents share the hw load in upper primary years? A friend whose child in Y2 told me that workload in UOI has increased a lot lately, so nowadays, her son needs 6 to 7 hours/week hw time. She said her son is not especially slow as she talks to other parents and compare hw time. She advises that I should expect 1 hr of hw for Y1, then increase 1/2 hr for every year.
| 歡迎光臨 教育王國 (/) |
Powered by Discuz! X1.5 |