CAIS vs. ICS any thoughts?

C-Line1127

We have offer from both school. Which one will you pick?

random_dad

C-Line1127 發表於 16-2-13 16:15
We have offer from both school. Which one will you pick?

- Proximity to home would be a big decider- CAIS will have a better larger campus in 18 months, but with a higher debenture
- CAIS school fees are lower (currently)
- ICS (currently) has a larger student body, and as such has the critical mass to offer more extracurricular activities
- ICS is American curriculum, CAIS is Canadian curriculum
- Some feel ICS is more focused on academics than CAIS, but CAIS seems to have progressed on their academic levels in the last few years

Both are good choices, unless you have a very particular reason to choose one over the other.

random_dad

steveycwu 發表於 16-2-14 03:12
回覆 ritz_ng 的帖子

I heard about this decision when I attended the campus tour earlier this month. ...

I would highly doubt that...  In CAIS, more choose Traditional over Simplified in the lower grades.  It was through consultation with parents that Traditional was introduced 3 or 4 years ago.  Unless there were issues in the execution of the curriculum (which I've not heard), I would doubt that the school would switch back to Simplified only.

Traditional was made available because they were growing the number of students in each grade, and once it met a critical mass, it made it possible to offer both streams.  Since the school isn't shrinking, in theory it shouldn't be an issue to offer a choice.

ritz_ng

原帖由 msmiu 於 16-02-15 發表
We opt for cais because it offers better Chinese teaching
And no, definitely never heard of simplif ...

Better to check with school for the latest info. As info, in school web, it mentions traditional Chinese is used now.

msmiu

We opt for cais because it offers better Chinese teaching
And no, definitely never heard of simplified Chinese only! Where that's from? Can someone clarify please?

careysum

我是CAIS 家長，我小朋友讀緊G1, 如果小朋友唔識中文，就學簡中，識中文就繁中，學校中文程度高，用本土啟思出版社教課書，每教兩課考一次試，有分數，無名次，但有評估書，話將來只教簡體，我地現任家長完全無聽過，如果咁大件事，學校一定公佈。
認同ICS 和CAIS也是一間好學校。

964000

原帖由 steveycwu 於 16-02-14 發表
回覆 ritz_ng 的帖子

I heard about this decision when I attended the campus tour earlier this month. ...

Thanks for your information, I wonder when and how are they going to transit to simplified Chinese. Sign, then of the two school maybe I will choose ICS.

steveycwu

回覆 ritz_ng 的帖子

I heard about this decision when I attended the campus tour earlier this month. The lady said they just reached consensus in a management meeting that they will only provide simplified Chinese in the future, because that's what most people use in the world. It's really a pity that students won't have the option to learn traditional Chinese, which is more preferable in many parents' mind, in the future.

momotam168

原帖由 964000 於 16-02-13 發表
Congrats your kid got good placements, may I know which kinder is he in now?

I want to know too.... So jealous
And you have foreign passport?

ritz_ng

原帖由 steveycwu 於 16-02-13 發表
CAIS currently offers simplify or traditional Chinese for students with different Chinese level. But ...

Can you share more about how confirmed is it? In the past CAIS provided simplified Chinese only. They added traditional Chinese later on due to parent feedback and the society needs. Curious on the reason why the school considers to change it back?! Tks

964000

原帖由 steveycwu 於 16-02-13 發表
CAIS currently offers simplify or traditional Chinese for students with different Chinese level. But ...

Oic, what a pity there seems to be very few choices left for traditional Chinese IS school now.0

964000

原帖由 C-Line1127 於 16-02-13 發表
回覆 964000 的帖子

We are from other kinder into CAIS or ICS.

Congrats your kid got good placements, may I know which kinder is he in now?

lamwwjd

Yes, I think so!

yinichanwang

hi Steveycwu, may i know the detailed information about teaching simplified chinese only in the future?

steveycwu

CAIS currently offers simplify or traditional Chinese for students with different Chinese level. But the management said in the future they will only teach simplify Chinese to all students. Just FYI.

Both are good schools. If location is not a concern, I would choose ICS.

lovecasey

回覆 readymama 的帖子

ics pre grade one is harder to get in is due to the it's kindy students, not because of the entrance requirements. consider after providing spots to kindy, there is only 10spots left for outsider. whereas Cais everyone has the same chance (ex siblings and other priority ) which gives a higher number of places.

C-Line1127

回覆 964000 的帖子

We are from other kinder into CAIS or ICS.

Riesling

I haven't talked about this with my friend....sorry 964000! 😅

964000

I heard ICS is better in art subjects than in science subjects in higher grades, is it true?

Riesling

ICS . From what I heard from my friends, I can feel that ICS is more serious in teaching n discipline, also curriculum is more popular, student English standard is relatively higher. Cais is also caring and deciplined, teaches more Chinese. Just my personal feeling from what they told me, one whose kid in Ics, one in Cais. But from my experience on the interview day with the vice principal, I can feel that they are more causal, less strict.