ESF Abacus Kinder application

bbprince

Bigears, Let's keep sharing the updated news of the ESF SW application.

PatsyChiang

What is the difference between Cat 1 & 2? .....we receive Category 2

原帖由 vvnpo 於 09-11-8 01:05 發表
I have no idea.  However, I am very suprised that the way kids to be classified as Cat 1.  A friend of mine holding SAR passport, her kid was classified as Cat 1 student too as the only language they  ...

Wong_bb

Priority for places will go to children who are from families whose first or alternative language is English but do not speak Cantonese (Category One). All other children will be regarded as Category Two, and places can be offered to such children should places be available after the Category One applicants have been admitted.

Quote from ESF website

原帖由 PatsyChiang 於 09-11-8 19:32 發表
What is the difference between Cat 1 & 2? .....we receive Category 2

PatsyChiang

Wong_bb, thanks for your reply!! Then we really don't understand why we put into Cat 2 as my child is holding Canadian passport and we do talk to her in English at home. So what should we do now???

原帖由 Wong_bb 於 09-11-8 19:39 發表
Priority for places will go to children who are from families whose first or alternative language is English but do not speak Cantonese (Category One). All other children will be regarded as Category  ...

Julian_mama

**Deleted**

[ 本帖最後由 Julian_mama 於 10-1-19 22:05 編輯 ]

bigears

原帖由 bbprince 於 09-11-8 15:20 發表
Bigears, Let's keep sharing the updated news of the ESF SW application.

Dear bb price,

Sure!  Will keep you posted.

Bigears

bear2

Hi, I've also submitted an application to Abacus via registered post in the 2nd week of Oct.  I just got the confirmation letter last week, and there's no stamp of Cat. 1 or 2.  I did mention in the form that the primary language we speak to our son is English, and daytime he's taking care by our maid who also speaks to him in English.  Oh this is so worrying!

tomnice

Just received letter from Abacus and my daughter is on waiting list with preliminary visit on 19th Jan. She is in Cat.1.

Julian_mama

**Delete**

[ 本帖最後由 Julian_mama 於 10-1-8 21:15 編輯 ]

koala_xin

I'm Cat 1, got letter today too. waiting list, visit on Jan 19.

I'm very curious, whether they give any 'offer', or everyone is on 'waiting list'?

If Cat 1 already have some on waiting list, then does that mean no one in Cat 2 will get offer?

RabbitPeter

Just got the letter from Abacus that my son is on waiting list without arrangement of interview yet.  My son is in Cat 2.

I think there is no room for Cat 2 in Abacus as there are so many applicants.

My son will probably goes to St. Catherine, a local famous kg.  On the other hand, in order to enhance his English level, I am also planning to let him to attend Garden House in Silverstrand Beach as well.  However, I would spend around HK$10k per month for such arrangement.  So sad!

bear2

Hi RabbitPeter,

Does it mean that your kid will go to 2 classes per day?  Could that be tough for the little one?

I didn't apply for any local kindy, but since I haven't got an offer from abacus (on waiting list w/ no visit date) I will put him to the new Woodlands in Marina Cove from Jan10.

RabbitPeter

bear 2,

After serious consideration, I think it is not possible for my son to attend 2 kgs in the same day because there is no lunch time (less than 30 mins).

Btw, how's your class in Woodland?  I checked their website and there's not much details.

I'm living in TKO and I don't know much for those int'l kgs in Sai Kung.  How would you rate for Woodland, GardenHouse or the others?

bear2

Hi RP,

I've never visited Garden House and other Int'l kindies in Sai Kung.  My son is now studying pre-nursery at Greenville at TKO and he loves it.  But I will switch him to Woodland starting from Jan10.

Actually the Woodland in Sai Kung just opened in Aug/Sep this year.  I attended their open day at Repulse Bay campus back in May.  Woodlands have playgroups for 1 year old + but it must be accompanied by an adult.  I'm a working mum so not allowed to attend playgroups with him on weekdays.  So he will start their stepping stone class early next month when he reaches 2.4 years of age.  The stepping stone classes are relatively shorter, only 2 hours per day, and 3 days per week, it's for kids to get ready for K1 (min. age requirement is 2.8 year old).  Woodlands have K1, K2 and P1 classes too.  So in case he can't get in ESF or RC for P1, he can stay with Woodland and we will try other IS or DSS.

lottieclee

You know what?  ESF policies changes so often that it is hard to keep up now.  This visit with a child thing was unheard of before.  I don't think they are picking the "brightest" kids like local kindy.  They just want to make sure the child likes the school and they can accomodate the child's need.  That is why they want parents to indicate if there is any SEN and therapy on the info form.

I have heard of "conditional offers" with KJS before, I don't know if the same applies to kindy now.  If that's what the kindies is looking for, most of us ordinary parents have nothing to worry about.

lottieclee

AL_mom... pls check pm

tomnice

原帖由 bear2 於 09-12-12 23:56 發表
Hi RabbitPeter,

Does it mean that your kid will go to 2 classes per day?  Could that be tough for the little one?

I didn't apply for any local kindy, but since I haven't got an offer from abacus (on ...

Bear2 mama,
Did you enrol your boy in Woodland Sai Kung already ?
May I know how you like the school because I am going to apply their K1 for my girl and we are very upset for the long waiting list.

bear2

hi tomnice,

Sorry for my late response.  Yes, my boy is attending their Stepping Stone class for about a month now and he's enjoying the classes.  It's a 2-hour class on every Mon/Wed/Fri.  So far everything seems fine, except that he gets quite messy after school everyday and my parents (they pick him up from school) need to change his clothes most of the time.

It's because they have the sensory session & activity time.  They will do different kind of things during these 2 sessions to match with their weekly theme.  For example, last week the main theme was "Family and carers" so in the sensory session they let the kids do some washing up cups & dishes in bubbly water; and they decorate a cup and plate with printed burgers and fruits.  That day my boy was wearing a chef hat when he's off school!  Even though I don't like the messy caused by all these activities, I love the way they let the kids explore and experiment different things.  KWIM?  Feel free to PM me if you wish to discuss further. :)

tomnice

原帖由 bear2 於 10-1-26 13:11 發表
hi tomnice,

Sorry for my late response.  Yes, my boy is attending their Stepping Stone class for about a month now and he's enjoying the classes.  It's a 2-hour class on every Mon/Wed/Fri.  So far ev ...

Thank you for your information.
Pls check pm.