Switch to International School

WYmom

rubymail,

I have similar concerns as yours.  Seems that Victoria is also offering a 50/50 balance in Chinese and English.  However, both ISF and Victoria are on HK Island,  which is too far for us.  I guess you may be living on Island side, right?

Will you consider Phoenix and PLK CKY?

CCDAD

Hi, you may consider KCIS? you can visit their website www.kcis.edu.hk

WYmom

Anyone knows if Kingston International is good or not?  They have authorised IB program, but they don't have secondary right now.  Where will their students go to in secondary then?

warrrren

sure next year? the work there has not started yet, those you see are government's work for site levelling etc.

Dear all,

I have been away for quite a while.  Good to see that some familiar names are still around.

Because of the delay on the part of LEGCo in approving the funding application (it was not until Dec last year that the LEGCO Public Work Sub-Commitee met and approved the application), the project is delayed.  Ground breaking is to take place in early Feb 2005.  Expected time of completion is first half of 2007.  A model of the new campus may be on display in the coming open day.

warrrren

rubymail

WYmom,

I live in Kowloon. But if the school is good, I don't mind to move.

Reading the school profile of ISF, I am fascinated by the curriculum, language policy, faculty and mangement structure (I believe Prof Cheng Kai Ming is serious in running a good school). I also believe the school is not aim at profit making. Yet my worry is that the school is a bit new. Nevertheless, it is not easy to get admitted despite the high school fee. My friend's son was offered an interview some months ago but he was not accepted by the school.

Ruby

warrrren

Hi WYmon,

Reading the school profile of ISF, I am fascinated by the curriculum, language policy, faculty and mangement structure (I believe Prof Cheng Kai Ming is serious in running a good school). I also believe the school is not aim at profit making.

The school is not for profit making.  There is no commecial interest whatsoever behind the school.  I agree that the fee is on the high side.  Yet, of every dollar a parent pays, 80 cents go to the teaching and supporting staff's compensations.  Keeping a very low teachers/students ratio (1 to 10 at present) is costly indeed.

Yet my worry is that the school is a bit new.

It is a fair concern.  I did share the very same concern a while back, but the concern is now gone.  Some of the problems that one can link with a completely new school are of course still there.  But things that I've seen so far are sufficient to keep me satisfied.[/quote]

Nevertheless, it is not easy to get admitted despite the high school fee. My friend's son was offered an interview some months ago but he was not accepted by the school.

Did your friend's son apply to P1 or what?  I understand that P1 applicants stand a higher chance of being admitted, as the school does not expect them to speak any Putonghua (this is just my understanding, it may not be entirely correct).  In so far as the P2 (or P3?) and up applicants are concerned, to ensure that they will not find it too difficult to adjust to the exclusively English and Putonghua environment, there is a standard for them to meet.

I suggest that those who are interested in ISF should go and visit the school on the coming opern day on 22/1, 2 to 5 pm.

Regards,
warrrren

rubymail

rubymail

Hi warrren,

Nice to have you joining the discussion because there is not many ISF parents here.

In fact, my friend is applying P.1 for his son. He had launched the application a year ago. To him and his wife (she is a teacher of a famous traditional school), this school appears to be the best choice. He didn't even apply for any other school before he was turned down by ISF. He was so upset when he knew the his son was not having an offer. He pleaded to the school for re-consideration but still was not able to secure an offer.

He would probably re-apply next year but his worry is that despite the school would intake more students when they have a new campus, the competition will be even higher when more parents know about the school.

I'll take a look at the school personally in the coming open day. Thanks for your information.


Ruby

pangpuiyee

re:
(My concern is. If my child studies in these International Schools, can she switch back to local english secondary school which is under the Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System from the Government.)

me too! i want my girl to study in a international primary school but switch into a local secondary school. what should i do?

and what is the full name of ISF, PLK CKY, TSL?

thx.

hangkeelong

I want to know the full name of ISF, PLK CKY, TSL too.

rubymail

ISF - Independent Schools Foundation Academy/弘立書院
PLK CKY - Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School/保良局 蔡繼有
TSL - P.L.K. Camoes Tan Siu Lin Primary School/ 陳守仁

warrrren

Dear Matt'smum,

do you know if the school had to take the p3 and p6 assessment test, like the rest of the DSS and other local school?

I do not really know.  But I have never heard the assessment being mentioned by the school or among the P3 students' parents.  Seems that nobody cares about it.  I had a quick look of the E&MB's website (http://www.systemassessment.edu.hk/) and did call Mr. Tsang of E&MB (I got his number from the above page).  He was not in office and his assistant told me that all international schools and some "special schools" were not required to take part in last year's system assessment.  She however did not identify those "special schools".  If you are really concerned about the assessment, I suggest that you just go ahead and call the persons in charge referred to in the E&MB's website.  They are there to help you and me.

I have also found a few related sites: Differences among aided schools, DSS and Private Independent schools (ISF being one) - http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/En/content_741/comparison.pdf; system assessment - http://www.systemassessment.edu.hk/pdf/FinalFull_Eng5.pdf

i will got to take a look this sat. is it near the old xin hua news agency in happy valley?

Exactly.

Regards,
warrrren

hrsccky

Warrrren, thanks for your introduction of ISF.  I read your messages about the same topic before.  I will also visit ISF this Sat.  Would you please tell more about the school life and the things that your daughter usually do afterschool?  Even only few parents in BK talked about it.  I'm very interesting about this school, like teaching style, teacher, curriculum, etc.  Is there any homework after school?  

warrrren

Hi hrsccky,

Warrrren, thanks for your introduction of ISF. I read your messages about the same topic before. I will also visit ISF this Sat. Would you please tell more about the school life and the things that your daughter usually do afterschool? Even only few parents in BK talked about it. I'm very interesting about this school, like teaching style, teacher, curriculum, etc. Is there any homework after school?

ISF is very much like an international school (the teaching method, curriculum etc).  The most obvious difference is that ISF is a bilingual school.  I am very glad that the school can create a truly bilingual environment.  Not only that the kids are taught in Putonghua/English, most of the children (and the younger ones in particular) actually use Putonghua/English in their chat and play.  A few weeks ago the P1 kids had a day out and went to Cheung Chau.  They chatted to each other on the ferry in English and Putonghua.  A lady on the ferry approached a parent who went with the kids and asked her whether the kids were from Shanghai or Shenzhen international school.  She was a bit surprised when she learnt that the kids are from a local school.  I do not witness the incident but do feel proud of the kids.

As for homework, yes, there is homework.  The students are required to write English and Chinese journals and reading reports.  There are also math and phonics exercises.  I won't say whether the workload is heavy or light.  It can be heavy or light.  It's up to the parents.  Take journal writing as an example, the kids can write a single sentence, a short passage or an entire essay.  Just like the situation with an international school, parents are supposed to know their children best and be more proactive.  If you think the current level of homework does not suit your kid, fine - talk to the teachers and work things out.

I do not set a busy schedule for my daughter.  She is now having one extra Chinese/Putonghua lesson a week (I let her have an extra lesson because she did not learn any Chinese in Kindergarten), which is going to stop after Chinese New Year.  I also ask my girl to practice violin for a few minutes in the afternoon and try to finish the homework on her own, just to let her form a good learning habit.  The rest of the time in the afternoon she will read a book (she does have a good reading habit and can read for hours), play with grandma or other kids in the neighbourhood, or just fool around with her toys.  I am thinking of letting her join the school's martial act class or drawing class but haven't yet decided.

The school principal and the teachers are the real assets of the school.  I am really glad that Ms Din (the head of the primary section) is there.  She makes no concession in choosing teachers and is guiding the school along the right path.  With her and other teachers there, I do not care at all that the temporary campus is small or looks old.

Regards,
warrrren

rubymail

warrren,

Grateful if you would tell us some more as to whether the school emphasis on music. Is your daughter learning violin at school or it is an optional after school activity?

Thanks.

Ruby

hrsccky

Thank you for the response, Warrrren.  Then, how about the other ISs? What the differents between CIS, HKIS even the Canadian IS and ISF?  They are all bilingual education systems and English is still their capital or first language at all.  Perhaps, as the students grow up, the more they learn the more they talk in English.  I also talked with Terry about the language policy.  She said that the students would use much more English in P5-6.

Regards

warrrren

Hi Ruby and hrsccky,

My girl learns the violin with a private teacher.  I will not say the school has a very organised music programme.  There are things that simply cannot be done with a population of 100 students (say for an example, it is too early to talk about a school orchestra or a refined choir).  The school principal is a lady who really appreciates the importance of music and art education and the music teacher Mr. Wan is very good indeed.  I have heard songs composed by P4 and P5 students and watched P1 and P2 students play piano and violin.  They are good.

The lower grade ISF kids (P1, 2 and 3) are taught in Chinese (Putonghua) in most subjects including Chinese, Math (also taught in English), guided discovery, dance, art, martial art, music and PE.  For the more senior primary students, all the classes except Chinese are conducted in English.  Chinese is very extensively and intensively used at ISF.  The level of proficiency expected of the students is not any lower than what one will expect from traditional local school students.  I guess that is what distinguishes ISF from other international schools.