Think International School

WYmom

It's good if a Mandarin teacher can be there full time.   For Primary school application, there are a lot of criteria to consider apart from the kid's performance (family background, professions, siblings, contribution to school ...etc).  I have experienced this before la, so I know a bit.

We have to decide to reserve K1 seat at Think or not very soon.  I am still thinking but quite intend to stay...

List on who's studying in MeiFoo Think:

maria_lai......Ki Sum......LN (join from Jan05)
小奇媽媽-Longlong-LN
WYmom - YY - LN

maria_lai

What's the minimum PTH time in a week you think is ok?

maria_lai - Ki Sum - LN (join in Jan05)
小奇媽媽 - Longlong - LN
WYmom - YY - LN

jujuy

而家LN class 是沒有PTH?!

maria_lai - Ki Sum - LN (join in Jan05)
小奇媽媽 - Longlong - LN
WYmom - YY - LN
Jujuy - PP - LNC

maria_lai

jujuy,

There's no PTH until K2.  In fact, Cantonese is the main language in LN.  As I know, the English teacher shows up during playing time.  From K1, Cantonese and English is half and half per day.

How's your son?  How many students in the class now?



List on who's studying in MeiFoo Think:

maria_lai - Ki Sum - LN (join in Jan05)
小奇媽媽 - Longlong - LN
WYmom - YY - LN
Jujuy - PP - LNC

WYmom

I think starting PTH from K2 is OK, as the kids need time to learn to speak Cantonese and English properly first.  I know even in SC, there are only 2 classes of PTH every week starting K2.

So if Think Mei Foo can provide PTH class from K2 2 to 3 classes a week will be quite OK.  If some parents need more PTH class for their kids, they can transfer to study at Think Kowloon Tong, which has PTH everyday (as I understand previously).  Can check with the school.

maria_lai

WYmom,

Thx for your info.

I think the Principal will do something soon, otherwise this school can't compete with others.  ie. many students will go to other kindergartens.

jujuy

maria_lai
到12月為止都係得5個小朋友in the class (LNC)

是否有人因pth比較多而轉去kln tong?
kln tong 學費會貴多幾佰元!!

WYmom

jujuy,

As I understand, some kids will join LNC by Jan 05 as they can study only when they reach 2 years old.  There are already 24 kids studying in LNA and LNB starting Aug 04.

For PTH, kids can transfer to Kln Tong branch by K2, not from LN.  There is no LN class in Kln Tong branch.  Kln Tong only has K1 to K3.

so.san

piyanmum 寫道:
So.san

I also want to send my daughter to Think pre-nursery in MOS, any comment?

School fee?  Any English lesson?

Thx :

piyanmum,

I chose Think's pre-nursery at that time mainly because of the school campus, which is very open and friendly, neat and clean. Unlike some KGs I visited in the neighbourhood. I think the environment is most important for such a young kid!

I can tell you the the PN teachers are really nice, esp Ms Wong who has been so loving and caring for my son! Though my son was such a shy and timid boy, she was able to "open his heart" and communicate with him. I and my husband were touched by her professionalism indeed!

At such level I thought academic standard was not so important, and Think helped a lot in building up my son's social skills and taught him to be independent. I think we have made a good choice.

I remember there was some English "lessons", they have native speaking teachers to conduct some activities.

so.san

WYmom 寫道:
so.san,

Thanks for your advice.  May I know if you feel the Chinese, English and Maths development of your son is satisfactory in Think? Can your son speak fluent English after studying there for 1 to 2 years?

Do you plan to apply for local primary schools? Will you consider good DSS?

As there is not much info. regarding the academic standard and primary school allotment of Think, especially Think at Mei Foo is so new, I am not sure if my kid should continue to study K1 upto K3...

    

WYMom,

I am satisfied with my son's standard in English, Chinese, Maths, and please take note I am NOT a demanding mom! For example, I have never expected that my son can write some Chinese words, like "香", but he just wrote them in front of me! For English, he is attending International class in the afternoon, he likes his teacher very much! He can speak complete fluent sentences, and he can express in his own words. However, I must say that his vocabulary is still limited (just 4 yrs old!) For Maths, what the school is teaching is quite simple up to this moment.

I must also say that I like the "topical" approach of the teaching. They have different themes for each week / a period (e.g. shops, Autumn) and then they teach a lot of knowledge around the topic, vocabulary, artwork, activities are all related. I know my son cannot remember all the details but that is how his general knowledge is being built up. Somehow he seems to have gone a big step from K1 to K2!

I should also tell you that we observe that most kids are very happy in the school. We can identify a few teachers who are really good at teaching kids.

Yes, we will sure apply for local primary schools, including good DSS.

小奇媽媽

Mis Liu confirmed that there will be two 30min PTH sessions per week for K1 whole day class. It's still not good enough. But we need to pay $550 reservation fee now.

Btw, can any moms tell me what's the books fee for? Do they have a book list which valued at $1020 or part of the money goes to the school?  

WYmom

So you mean PTH starts from K1 instead of K2?

I think we can request the book list from school to know what will be used in K1 and why it costs so much for one term.

After thinking for various reasons and discussion with the schools and some friends, I will very likely let my girl to continue K1 at Think.

WYmom

小奇媽媽,

I ask Victoria HMT about their PTH class, they have 20 mins. PTH starting K1, but due to studying by group, each student in fact will have 2 sessions of 20 mins. PTH every week, so not every day wow.

This is also same as SC.  So I think if Think Mei Foo can provide 2 classes of PTH every week from K1 is OK as there is always trade off and need to strike for a balance.  Maybe you can double confirm with your target kinder.

maria_lai

What's about half day class?

I want to know if the books are so expensive.

How many Mei Foo LN students will take K1 whole day class in 2005?

Thx again for all moms's effort on 'flighting' more PTH time.


List on who's studying in MeiFoo Think:

maria_lai - Ki Sum - LN (join in Jan05)
小奇媽媽 - Longlong - LN
WYmom - YY - LN
Jujuy - PP - LNC

小奇媽媽

WYmom,

Thanks. I will clarify on the day of interview.May I know your grounds for letting your kid staying in Think?

If my boy attends whole day class, i.e a.m. international class pm billigual class, they charge me $5000 tuition fee as an international stream student(whole day billigual class is $4500).
However, for the books fee, they charge me $1196(for K2 or K3) as a billigual student (international stream is only $1000).
It seems we are charged as whichever is higher. That's why I wonder if the books fee is the exact cost of the books.

WYmom

Yes, my girl is studying whole day already.  Fee is one of the factor I have to consider.  I will ask why the book fee is so high.

The decision of K1 is difficult, but I mainly consider my girl's character, which type of school is more suitable for her, the teaching approach, teachers' quality, school campus, location, transport, flexibility, quality output, path to primary etc.  

Think's teachers and staff are very caring, I can see this through many incidences.  My girl has become much more open and outgoing after joining Think.  I believe the more personal and cozy feeling triggers my decision.  I took my girl to visit various target kinders as well and ask for her preference as well.

After understanding a bit more of primary schools' selection criteria , I have confidence with my girl that she can be accepted by good primary schools with her own effort more than bet on the branding of the school.  Of course if the school becomes more popular in the next few years, it will be more favourable then.

I think everyone's situation and requirement are different.  So have to set priorities for the selection criteria and see what is really the best for our kids.

WYmom

小奇媽媽,

Almost deadline for paying registration fee, will you pay it for K1 first?

小奇媽媽

WYmom,

Sure, I'll pay first. Actually most probably I'll let my kikd stay in Think.

maria_lai

小奇媽媽 and WYmom,

Will you let your child study K1 half day or whole day?  Will you take international, bilingual or both of them?

My son will join LN next month so I haven't been asked to reserved the seat of K1.  I'm thinking of taking the whole day or half day class.  I'll probably let my son take whole day class in K2 but not sure if it's necessary to do it earlier.

What's your comment?

thx

WYmom

maria lai,

My girl is studying whole day LN.  I will let her continue whole day in K1, but have not decided for K2 and K3.  I think the other way round vs you as I cannot arrange a lot of activities for my girl in the afternoon when she is only 2 to 3 years old.  When she grows up to 4, I may arrange some extra-curricular activities for her, so may not need whole day school.

So far the whole day school is quite satisfactory for my girl, she has more time to learn English in a small group (4 only) in the afternoon through playgroup approach.  In the morning, she can learn through formal training.  She can speak simple English now and sing a lot.  So will continue and assess further.

I am told by the school that there will be 2 mandarin classes in the afternoon per week starting K1.  For half day class, mandarin will start by K2, which may be increased from 2 classes to 3 classes, yet to be confirmed.