Beacon Hill or ICS??

Ruby1219

Oh, MomMom, you are really sweet.
First, congratulations that your son is enrolled in ESF (btw, again, which ESF is it ?).
I seemed like ESF so much cos' I cannot think of other choices (not many choices of int'l schools in Kowloon and I don't want those require too high tuition fee and debentures), and some of my friends whose kids are studying in ESF told me that ESF is good.
I can only apply for Beacon Hill since I just live opposite to it, you know, they accept application according to 'catchment area' around the school. I heard that KJS is easier, but I have no choice unless I move my home
thank you for your tips regarding handing in the form, my friend also told me so. she lined up there at 5:00am that morning and got the 1st round interview, but her son still failed after the interview, she is now waiting for the 2nd round, very painful.
So, lucky you ! Congratulations !

MomMom

I told you already.  Beacon Hill admitted my boy.  May be you overlooked.

To my understanding, no matter for Easter enterance (for big boy) or Sept. enterance.  They have do the interview in the same time.  So you will not have two chance.

Moreover, it really has 2nd round interview if failed?  

cpmummy

Ruby1219,

Thanks for your reply.
My daughter was born in Februray 2002, she was studying the playgroup (once in a week) in Anfied since middle of March, she is quite enjoy it now. So I am consider to let her study in Anfield for coming October/ November once she reach the age of 2 year and 8 months.
How many days in a week did son attend the pre-programme? because I know they even offer 5 days pre-programme.
My question now is my daughter cannot goes into their pre-programme for summer term as she did not reach to 2 years 3 months when the term start in April. So do you think there is any difficult for the kid if they go direct to K1 without joining the pre-programme before?
Another question is when she complete K2, she does not reach the minimum age of 5 for apply ESF P1. I know Anfield did offer K3 class. I just doubt that if every kid go to int'l school P1 after K2, then no one will be stay for study K3 in Anfield. Is this a good choice to let my daughter study K1 in coming Oct/Nov or I should better to let her study K1 in Sept 2005?

cpmummy

Ruby1219

sorry, i missed your point.
so, you make me really jealous...haha.

I heard there's 2nd round interview if there are still vacancies left after all the 1st round ones.

So, where do you live ? if your son is enrolled in BHS, then you must be living quite near to me ?

Ya, I also consider BHS more convenient for me than ICS because of their locations.

Ruby1219

sorry, I really don't know the answers to your question, cos' that's not the case of my son. But I think you should talk to the principal or the admin officers in Anfield (you can ask Elsa, she is very nice, Karen is rather cool) to sort out your 'problem'.
I think Anfield Kindergarten is also good. When my son started in their prep-programme (actually I don't see the difference between playgroup & prep-programme, so i don't think your girl will have special problem transitting from playgroup to K1 versus those from prep-programme, don't worry), he started with 3-day and then 5-day. the teacher was Justin and he's really good. Now, he's with Michelle and Angie and they are equally good. I heard from the parents of the other classes, the teachers are very nice, and patient to the children. So, I think i if you are considering int'l kindy, Anfield is quite a good choice.

MomMom

As I know, my son was in 3rd round interview already.  Does your friend's kid get the 2nd interview?

I live in Oxford Road, so the catchment is BHS.  But I just moved to Village garden (Yau Yat Chun) which should be in the catchment of KJS.  I don't know whether I should apply for the transfer (from BHS to KJS).  What is your comment on it?

Ruby1219

Oh, your son was in the 3rd round interview ? but some of my friends told me that many kids are enrolled after few rounds. As far as I know, my friend still haven't got 2nd round interview, it should be in June ?!
I think if your new house is in Yau Yat Chuen at a walking distance to KJS, you should consider transfer to KJS. It just don't worth paying the time and cost of school bus, right ? The comments that I got regarding BHS vs KJS are mixed, some said BHS is better, some said KJS is better.
btw, are your renting or buying a house in Yau Yat Chuen ? How much is it ? how big ? I might consider moving to Yau Yat Chuen as well...

cpmummy

Ruby1219,

Thank you so much on your comments.
By the way, does your son speak Mandarin? As I know Anfield offer half hour mandarin class. Does your son enjoy this mandarin class? Will they learn chinese character during this mandarin class?

cpmummy

MomMom

Yes, We can walk to KJS is the only reason for me to consider to change him to KJS.  But personally I like BHS.  The office of BHS told me once I admitted, I can choose to stay in BHS or do the transfer.  I still hesitate to make decision.  Moreover, I don't know whether KJS has space and I don't want to transfer anymore once the school open (in Sept.).  What should I do?

For the rest questions, I will reply you by PM.

Ruby1219

my son can listen quite well in Mandarin, speaks some words (e.g. colors, 1 to 10) and sing quite a lot of Mandarin songs. in fact, i pay a Mandarin teacher to come to my home to teach him one extra hour of Mandarin every week, with another friend. it's really good cos' they learn through some activities. but I don't that they should learn character so early. my son can recognize around 10-20 chinese characters just because my husband taught him, not from Anfield
but it's true that Anfield offer half an hour Mandarin everyday for kindy. it's quite attractive to parents, right ?

cpmummy

Ruby1219,

Thank you for your comments!

cpmummy

MomMom

Somebody told me Rose street's KJS will move to Perth street's campus in 2006.  Any people can confirm me this news?  If positive, I think I will not let my boy change from BHS to KJS because Perth street is more far from our home than BHS.

Right?

Jokey2828

Hi MomMom,

The rumour is definitely unfounded. The truth is the Perth Street campus will undergo renovation in the coming future, and its students will be transferred to Rose Street.

Jokey2828

MomMom

Thanks for your information.  I have asked the same question to  KJS, Rose Street but they said they don't know.

Does your kid studying in KJS?  Which campus?  Do you know if I apply the transfer, I need to do the transfer once have seat?  Can I still have a chance to consider switch or not when they have seat?

Jokey2828

Hi MomMom,

My child is not in KJS. But the vice-principal told the parents about this at the presentation early this year.

Jokey2828

ChunMaMa

Hi Moms

Sorry for interrupt. I am also interested in ESF but I don't know when and how to apply. Would anyone tell me please?

My son was born on Nov 2000 and I want to apply P.1 in ESF for him (School started on Sept 2005, is it right?)

Thanks in advance.

502

Children born in 2000 should apply P1 in summer of 2004 for April 2005 or September 2005 intake.  Try to contact the admission office of the school you would like to apply (depending on where you live) for details.  

ChunMaMa

Thanks! I live in Wong Tai Sin. Then which one should I call?

Jokey2828

ESF accepts applications at any time for entry to Primary 2 and up.
  
For Primary 1, applications from siblings are accepted in June. All other applications will be accepted in September.

You may check your school zone by surfing ESF's website at http://www.esf.edu.hk or call 25742351.  Here is a quick guide:

Kowloon Junior School

The east side of Nathan Road to Boundary Street, including Yau Yat Chuen, then eastwards to the Choi Hung interchange. Areas south of Clearwater Bay Road including Kowloon Bay, Telford Gardens, Lam Tin, Yau Tong and Laguna City, but excluding Tsueng Kwan O.

Beacon Hill School

The west side of Nathan Road from Tsim Sha Tsui to Boundary Street, the area north of Boundary Street, including Kowloon Tong. Diamond Hill, Hammer Hill and Caldecott Road. Extending westward along the Lung Cheung Highway including Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi Island, Tuen Mun and Tung Chung.

Children born between January and March will be admitted to school in April. All other children will be admitted in September.

Jokey2828

creammy

Jokey2828,

Where did you get the news that Perth st campus will undergo renovation in the coming future? My child is in kjs,and I have call the office.They said the rose st campus is too small cannot fit both school student.