ICS (International Christian School) in Fo Tan

Dommom

Dear Tatmingpoon,

The way you described ICS really scared me.  What were the so-called problems of your son that make ICS terminated him ?  My son has developmental delay especially in speech.  His speech therapist actually told me ICS is very accomodating for the less-able children.  I have applied for their intake in September 2005.  MY son is now 3 years old.

Please share your experience.

tatmingpoon

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[ 本帖最後由 tatmingpoon 於 11-4-25 17:17 編輯 ]

Prema

I agree with you that ICS did make a mistake for not keeping their promise and not even giving their love and effort  to help a student.   I can't  imagine how much it will hurt a kid's heart....


    

tatmingpoon

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[ 本帖最後由 tatmingpoon 於 11-4-25 17:18 編輯 ]

gracemama123

I am also sad to hear this story and the mistake taken by the school.

I have just received the interview letter from the school, but I already had this "not good" impression, I am still considering this school.

Ruby123,
Have you received confirmation of acceptance to your son?  Just in case you want to share.  Any tips for interiew?  Is this school also consider family background, say parents are professionals or kid is from rich family?

gracemama123

Sorry, it should be Ruby 1219.  Sorry for the mistake lah!!

Ruby1219

My son got accepted already.
I really don't know much about their selection criteria, did not ask them.
Just from the experience of my son's interview :
It takes quite long time around 45minutes to an hour
it is 1 on 1 (no parent's companion)
he was first interviewed by a man (heard he's the principal) and then a lady
my son said he was asked to 'read' a book (I guess is tell the story from a book) and play some color matching games. also he was asked some simple maths questions such as 2 + 3 = ?
i guess the most critical is their English proficiency.

That's all I know.
Ruby

gracemama123

Thanks for the information. Congratulation to you.  I have completed the interview today in CAIS and received a phone call in the afternoon to confirm acceptance.  I still want to have a look on ICS. Will you put your kid into ICS or you still consider Phoneix?

Ruby1219

Gracemama,

I would prefer Phoenix over ICS, for 3 major reasons :
1) IB system
2) Chinese emphasis
3) New campus in Ma On Shan (I'm living in Ma On Shan).

After the visit to Phoenix, though in the current campus in Cheung Sha Wan, I'm quite impressed by them. The principal is a very nice guy and I can feel that he is passionate (aggressive ?) to make their school a top-notch int'l school.
The teachers in my son's kindy also told me that they believe that Phoenix will become a top school in HK.

However, I'll pay the reservation fee of ICS to just play safe.

How about you ? How do you compare CAIS vs ICS ? Did you apply for Phoenix or other ESF schools ?

Ruby

gracemama123

Rub1219
Seem like you and I are choosing the same choice of schools.  I applied CAIS, ICS and another ESF school (Bauhinia) in Kwai Chung where I currently living.  ESF, as usual, is on waiting list.  I do not apply Phoneix as I believe the CAIS' already suit for my requirement in Chinese.  My standard on Chinese is : my kid know how to write and read (Mandarine).  As for the further peoms or Chinese culture, I do not expect too much.  Of course, this is only my standard and cannot compare to other parents.

Once I finished the interview in ICS, I can tell you my comparison between CAIS & ICS.

FYI, Bauhinia also have a plan to have a new school in Ma On Shan. I know Phoneix is going to have the IB system, however, you may need to check if they have already approved by IB organisation or just on the road to IB.  As far as I know if a school is truelly IB, they are required to have at least 3 years assessment by International IB organisation to confirm their entitlement.  Say Kingston, it is a truelly IB school.  BTW, if you also emphaize on Chinese, have you considered Kingston?

Ruby1219

Gracemama,

Yes, do let me know your comments on ICS after the interview. Thanks.

I did not apply for Kingston nor CAIS becos' it's too far away, I'm now living in Ma On Shan and I prefer schools in Shatin/Fo Tan/Ma On Shan. I did not know CAIS before, they do have Chinese ? How much ? As for Phoenix, I know they have 1 Chinese lesson everyday. Of course it's not comparable to that of local schools. However, as per our observation during my last school visit. Their P.3 students can write a short passage/diary in Chinese, which I guess, about the standard of P.1 in local schools. To me, this is already quite good in terms of int'l school. And, I'm now teaching my son to read Chinese, so, I think he should be able to 'meet' my expectation of "proficiency in reading Chinese", I do not expect him to be even able to write Chinese  well.

Regarding IB system, Phoenix is now the "candidate school" and they aim to achieve as the "authorized school" by 2006 or 2007. That's what I heard from their principal. I think it's still ok though they are not yet "authorized" cos' they are already applying IB in the syllabus and they are aggressively hiring new teachers (also for their new campus) and training their existing teachers to gear themselves towards IB. Honestly, I do have faith in this school.

Ruby  

gracemama123

Ruby1219
To answer your question...
Yes, CAIS do have Chinese.  3 times a week.  1 hour per lesson.  I don't know the student standard on Chinese as I cannot compare.  
Just some information for your reference on IB.  
Bear in mind "IB" system is not a perfect system in the world. (don't get me wrong, I also support IB system). To my understanding, IB system allow the school to select the syllabus from different countries.  Such as a long list for the school to choose the Mandarine syllabus.  Kingston choose Singapore's syllabus, which is good. However, Kingston choose other country(I forgot) math syllabus, which is very simple and cannot meet with the standard in Hong Kong.  Hence, some of the parents are worried about their kid's math standard.
Hence, you may further investigate the syllabus which Phoneix adopt in each subject.
Under the IB system, kids are more emphasize on their learning things through practice, explore and self-learning.  Parents involvement and encouragement is vvvv. important. For me,I also like IB system as it really help the kid to explore things by themselves so that they can enjoy learning, which affect their rest of the life.  I agree "Study is not to purse marks only".

Ruby1219

Gracemama,

So, did you reserve a place in CAIS ? How much is it ? When's your interview with ICS ? Do you know that they need you to pay $5000 as reservation fee once admitted ?

As it's the only back up I have (in case my son fails in Phoenix),  I have no choice but to pay it.

Ruby

WYmom

Gracemama,

Do you know if CAIS teaches simple Chinese or traditional Chinese?  I understand that most international school teaches simple Chinese (Phoenix teaches traditional Chinese instead).

gracemama123

WYmom, Ruby1219
CAIS: I guess traditional Chinese as I saw in the Chinese classroom all the words are in traditional.  Since the teacher is absent on that day, I have not asked.
School fee : K3 is 24,000/year, G1 is 56,0000/year
I received the letter to paid the reseveration fee within 14 days.  My kid will have interview in ICS today, so I still have sufficient to consider which one.

Ruby1219
I was told that school fee for ICS pre-Grade 1 is 64,000/year, is that true?

Ruby1219

Gracemama,

The school fee of ICS should be 61,000 per year, you can choose 4 or 10 installments.

But, how about the reservation fee of CAIS ?

Ruby

gracemama123

Ruby
reservation fee of CAIS is 3,000, I still got some times to think.
Just finished the interview with ICS today.  Do you know when & how can I know the result? It really took 45 mins to complete.
Have you received interview notification from Phoenix?

Ruby1219

Gracemama,

Last time, we did the interview on Thursday and then receive the letter by Satudurday. I think they sent out the confirmation right away after the interview.

I'd got the interview notification from Phoenix already. It will take place on Mar 8.

What's your comments on ICS after the interview / visit ?

Ruby

gracemama123

Ruby
My comment on ICS
- more emphasize on English.  I have read some of the assignments for G.1, real good in English, they write a short daily saying how they spend their weekend.
- only one lesson / week as Chinese. Hence, if we want our kid to learn more Chinese, we will have concern.
- 99% of the kids are Chinese but all communicate in English well.
- 99% of the teachers are native speaker & non-Chinese

Ruby1219

Gracemama.

Thank you for your comments. So, have you made up your mind between ICS and CAIS ?

Please share with your POV.

Thanks,
Ruby