any comments on PIPS and Small World Christian Kindergarden?

marinachira

Has anyone attend PIPS or Small World Christian Kindergarden? Pls. comment on both schools.

502

Small World Christian Kindergarden is a wonderful school.  Teachers and staff are kind and caring.  The school fee is not cheap but reasonable.  Taught in English but with Mandarin once a week.

Located in an old-fashioned building.

YYFUNG

原文章由 502 於 08-4-8 13:02 發表
Small World Christian Kindergarden is a wonderful school.  Teachers and staff are kind and caring.  The school fee is not cheap but reasonable.  Taught in English but with Mandarin once a week.

Locat ...

Could you plesae tell me more about the Small World?

Also, how do you go to the school?

Thanks,
Maria
(Ava mama)

502

Any specific area you want to know?

Also, how do you go to the school? - School bus

YYFUNG

原文章由 502 於 08-4-8 13:55 發表
Any specific area you want to know?

Also, how do you go to the school? - School bus

Thank you for asking me.
In what sense you have seen SWCK is really good?

What benefits and positive developments you have seen on your kiddie?

Will the school organise activties for students? For example, picic, field trip, school concert, parent/ teacher conference.

Will the school principal have connections with some international schools/ ESF schools and make positive comments etc?

Will the school principal talk to the parents regarding the school selection for P1? What is the support from SWCK?

You tell me your kiddie travel by bus.
Are you living on HK island? Or in Kowloon?

We are still considering among a few school: starters, SWCK, Kowloon English Baptist Kindergarten, ESF kindergarten.

Thanks,
Maria
(Ava mama)

marinachira

thanks for your comments. where do most of the students go to P1 after SWCK or PIPS?

502

1) We live in HK side.

2) Although we are not Christian ourselves, we really appreciate the bible teaching as the core values (love/respect/forgiveness) are common to everyone.  The kinder is really not commercial and other than the school fee, I can't recall any extra money is needed.  They care about the kids' well-being instead of the finance side or the statistics of the graduates!

3) We have monthly curriculum from the school and have a good idea of what the kdis are being taught.

4) We had attended several trips (like visit to Ocean Park / HK park).   Christmas concert (conducted in the classroom) is an important event to us!

5) Most kids, from my understanding, go to ESF schools or other IS such as SIS/FIS.

6) The principal is a very nice lady.  I had a chat with her regarding the choice of school for my elder one.  I really treasure the valuable advice she provided to me.  Some ESF primary schools use to make a visit to SWCK in Jan/Feb  before conducting the formal interviews.

iristony625

Dear Maria,

I remember that your kid is studying Anfield's playgroup, I just want to know why you don't choose Anfield's kindergarten for your kid.

Thanks,
Iris

原文章由 YYFUNG 於 08-4-8 16:04 發表


Thank you for asking me.
In what sense you have seen SWCK is really good?

What benefits and positive developments you have seen on your kiddie?

Will the school organise activties for students? For ...

YYFUNG

原文章由 iristony625 於 08-4-9 11:22 發表
Dear Maria,

I remember that your kid is studying Anfield's playgroup, I just want to know why you don't choose Anfield's kindergarten for your kid.

Thanks,
Iris

Dear iris,
I appreciate your "remember" my case : )).

The sister-in-law does not whole-heartedly like the school although she acompanies my daughter in the playgroup class.

She always emphasises to me the school location should be easily accesible by bus.

Her point is her parents (my parents-in-law) may need to help to go to school with my daughter in the future - They are not familiar to HK and need to take one bus preferably. (my husband family is from San Francisco)

That's why, she suggests "Starters" to us, "YMCA international kindergarten" to us - these are taken by one bus / one min-bus from Homantin without changong another car.

That's also why I can choose "Kellett School" in Pok Fu Lam because it can be easiliy accessible by bus 171, just downstairs of her flat in Homantin.

Another reason is we find some past students had no interviews to ESF primary although they studied in Anfield, although I personally feel good about the school, and she also likes the playgroup class teacher.
They finally got the interview and the offer to JIS (Japanese International School).

I do not know what to do now, very confused.
As I send the application letter to Starters but there are some bad comments recently in the forum that I feel frustrated.

In fact, I know SWCK is good in general.
It is not actively considered in my mind because they are on Borrett Road where I do not know how to go.

Iris, do you want to share your case or what you think?
I am happy tolearn from you.

Kin dregards,
Maria (ava mama)

502

If you live in Homantin, SWCK should not be your choice as I understand no school bus service is available for the Kowloon side.

I might suggest YMCA to you as we had very good (although not long) experience with this kinder a few years ago.  Of course, things might change over time.

YYFUNG

could you share more on YMCA?

502

Our experience is brief - why don't you post for recent experience?

iristony625

Dear Maria,

I am happy to share my experience with you.  My case is similar with yours.  For my boy's primary, I will plan to send him to study ICS.   I know that ICS has kindergarten, but there are few comments about the ICS's kindergarten so that I will make a school visit there if possible.  On the other hand, sometimes, I will accompany my boy to attend the playgroup class, as mentioned previously, I am happy with the teacher/playgroup.  I will keep on observing the kindergarten class and will make decision later.  As I cannot always go with my boy, normally once per month or maximum twice.  Up to now, I have not yet made up my mind to choosing which kindergarten for my son.  This is the reason why I ask for your opinion about your decision.  By the way, what's your plan (primary) for your daughter!  

Regards,
Iris

原文章由 YYFUNG 於 08-4-9 12:20 發表


Dear iris,
I appreciate your "remember" my case : )).

The sister-in-law does not whole-heartedly like the school although she acompanies my daughter in the playgroup class.

She always emphasises t ...

lisamcbee

原文章由 502 於 08-4-9 11:06 發表
1) We live in HK side.

2) Although we are not Christian ourselves, we really appreciate the bible teaching as the core values (love/respect/forgiveness) are common to everyone.  The kinder is really  ...

hi 502,
may i ask how long b4 they accept application from parents.  thank you.

YYFUNG

Dear Iris.
Regarding primary school, we will put her either in ESF (kowloon junior most likely as living just a few blocks away) or in other international schools (we sent in the applications for JIS and Kellet school's reception (4-year-old) classes to get direct into primary section - of course, these are our initial considerations. Whether picking these is all based on a lot of factors as well).
The last choice would be letting her be back to San Francisco in Primary 1, which we think it may be too early.

For kindergarten (K1), I shortlist the following initially:
Starters in Wan Chai (form sent)
YMCA in TST (requested to send in 09/2008)
KBCK in Kowloon Tong (form sent)
Anfield in Kowloon Tong (not yet)

I consider SWCK currently just because the "bad comments" of Starters I have heard in recent days.
I may send in also for the school visit.
My sister-in-law advises me "spend more time in touring as many your targeted school as possible ".
SWCK may be too "indirect" to me although it sounds like an open and a caring school.
Meanwhile, I think there may be other ways to solve this if this school is worthwhile for us doing more.

We have visited the KG sectioin of ICS in Fo Tan.
The feeling is good.
Our reservation is their future plan to move all sections to Ma On Shan, where is really very far for us, although we drive every day.

In fact, my selection criteria for school (no matter if kindergarten and primary) is
English speaking and,
Promoting the positive personality of the child and their potential talent
(We are not wanting my child to be a molded child)

Iris, I have emailed some parents for the comments of Anfield and JIS.
(She has a son currently in K2 class of Anfield, will graduate this summer and promote to JIS primary 1.)
(I know she struggled between JIS and ICS before - you may ask her inputs.)
If you 'd like to have, I can PM you as a kind of reference.

It is my pleasure to talk to you.

Regards,
Maria

iristony625

Dear Maria,

Please check PM.  You can send the comment to me either PM or email.

Regards,
Iris

原文章由 YYFUNG 於 08-4-10 11:46 發表
Dear Iris.
Regarding primary school, we will put her either in ESF (kowloon junior most likely as living just a few blocks away) or in other international schools (we sent in the applications for JIS  ...

[ 本文章最後由 iristony625 於 08-4-10 17:40 編輯 ]

Agieoma

My experience with PIPS:

http://forum.baby-kingdom.com/vi ... ;extra=#pid22732536

Overall, very confusing.  They can say it's teething problems, but I do not like the way things are handled there. Just don't know what to expect next, seem they can change things whatever and whenever.  As I said, looking back, I regret putting my kid there.