From ICS kindergarten to ESF primary school?

tommyzoe

Every shool has its own strength and weakness. I do believe that ESF has very good academic performance as they are pure EMI schools with very long histroy and good reputation. It is no doubt that their resourses are much more than other ISs because they are supported by Government due to their unique background.
Here I don't mean that ICS is weaker than ESF in academic performance or vice versa. This is not a competition! For example, if someone said that ICS is better than ESF, ESF parents will feel unhappy? Similarly, if someone said that ESF is better than ICS, ICS parents will feel unhappy too? It should not be like that, I think.
If we just take one or two samples to support our views, is it strong enough? If you have learnt very basic satistic, it is not difficult to understand this idea.
I think that ICS and CAIS are both good ISs with christianity background. When we choose such schools, we should want to let our kids with more chance in bible study. As a christian, I do believe that God is Lord. He can teach our kids through bible and christian teachers. Of course, if you are not christian yet, you don't think that is important to kids. It is easy to understand.
Anyway, if you don't need to consider kids' development in Jesus Christ, I am sure that ESF must be a very good choice of IS.

先求神的國和神的義,這些東西都會加給你!



God is Lord of all beings!

tommyzoe

Dear WYmom,
Regarding the case about said ICS mother, I had read before. I am sure that this is not a real case. However I don't have much time to give you my analysis on this case why this is not true. I can just say that internet is a good tool for us but also it is a bad tool for us. We can't 100% receive info from here. I don't know why someone has much time to play a role of so & so, then he/she will say something beyond a truth.
Pls. be careful when you read every word from internet, not all are truth!

ESF, ICS, CAIS....... are good schools with different strength and weakness.

WYmom 寫道:
[quote]
lenglengma 寫道:
Wymom,
My personal point of view for your questions is yes for question number 1 and yes for question number 2.  For more details, please see topic "ICS parents" for more ICS academic results.  
I personally think that ICS is standard is higher than CAIS.
Lenglengma

So you think ICS is better than ESF, CAIS... it seems to be very subjective and personal, or may be biased as your kids are all studying in ICS.  I remember that previously there was a mother sharing her bad experience of her son at ICS, but her message has been deleted.  So it really depends on your own experience, expectations and feelings.

In fact the 3 IS are running different systems, UK, US and Canadian.  ESF has over 12,000 students while ICS has 800 students.  I don't know ICS and CAIS, but with such a large population in ESF as compared to that of ICS, I believe there is large variation of student qualities in ESF as they won't screen students based on academic results.  So some can be very brilliant while some are very lousy.  Afterall, the school has provided a very systematic and structured cirriculum, yet parents also play a very important role to guide their own kids into the right track.

Your comments on Shatin College is quite negative, which is opposite to what I have heard.   I hope CherylMum can share her observations with us too.

[/quote]   

lenglengma

It is okay I think.  I was an international school student in H.K. I was in both U.K. and American system IS.  I didn't need to take GCSE test what so ever.
It is just comments.  It is you who choose the right IS for your kids.  I was just saying that I do not think that ICS has lower standards than ESF.  

Quoted from my previous message: "I personally think that ICS teachers have very high standards both academically and morally when compared with ESF's."------> I didn't say that ICS has higher standards than ESF.  I only said that ICS also has very high standards...

And then I got this message back ---->"What I want to tell you is that the academic standard of ESF is much higher than my friends' expectation as well as yours"-----> All of a sudden, a parent said that ESF exceeds my expectation and everyone's expectation?  Wow...would you call this biased?  Strange

From Wymom: "So you think ICS is better than ESF, CAIS... it seems to be very subjective and personal, or may be biased as your kids are all studying in ICS."-----> I thought you wanted to know which one is better...i was only trying to help you and to answer your questions.  My answer was personal?  Umm...I had to choose one to answer...I was only trying to answer your questions...Do you think if I answered you that CAIS is better than ICS, then my answer would not be personal or biased anymore?
I personally really think that ICS is better than CAIS generally.  Just my personal thoughts.

I know many of the ICS students and teachers personally.  I can tell you they are so different from ESF secondary school students that I see.  

That was the reason why I put my kids in ICS.  Believe it or not, I considered ESF before, but I chose ICS for a reason.

Well..it also depends on where you will send your kids for University in the future as well.

If you want to go to Canada and U.S., choose an American system IS instead.  IB really doesn't do much for you...been there, done that...trust me.

lenglengma

I have never said that ICS has "higher standards" than ESF.     I only said that ICS has very high standards academically and morally when compared to ESF.
I was only saying that ICS has also high standards.

Also...your friends case is a good one to consider..
but what I saw regarding the Shatin college students is also something to consider.
Their behaviour would definately scare you.
Yes, may be ESF primary students are very well-behaved...but may be not secondary?  
But of course not all students are bad...I know one who is a good student at KGV.

Have to admit that we are all "biased" because you have your reasons to put your kids at ESF and I have mine.  What is important in my eye may not be as important as your's.  What's important in your eye, I may think that it is not important.
We choose what we think is best for our children.

WYmom

tommyzoe 寫道:
Dear WYmom,
Regarding the case about said ICS mother, I had read before. I am sure that this is not a real case. However I don't have much time to give you my analysis on this case why this is not true. I can just say that internet is a good tool for us but also it is a bad tool for us. We can't 100% receive info from here. I don't know why someone has much time to play a role of so & so, then he/she will say something beyond a truth.
Pls. be careful when you read every word from internet, not all are truth!

ESF, ICS, CAIS....... are good schools with different strength and weakness.
  

Thanks, tommyzoe, I agree with you.  I just say that I have read some negative comments about ICS before.  When choosing schools, I believe it is most important for parents to visit the school and observe the students and teachers.  So far I see that students of ESF, ICS and CAIS are good, yet not able to compare the academic standard due to different systems.  ESF has longer history and track records, with very well-established system and lots of resources to be shared among the schools, though now they are having some difficult times in doing reforms.  ICS and CAIS may be more suitable for Christian families planning to enter US/Canadian universities.

Personally I believe that CIS and HKIS are better among IS in terms of standards and aspects.

tommyzoe

Dear all Bro. & Sis. here,

    

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. Lu17:26 (挪亞的日子怎樣、人子的日子也要怎樣。)

Teacher's life shall affect our kid's life!

    

lenglengma

Also want to add some comments on ICS academic standard.  ICS senior students score 1174 (combined) in SAT, its score is the same as another high school which ranks #13 in the state of California.  There are more than 1000+ high school in the state of California.  So...this is just something I want to share...
Also almost 90% of their senior kids are taking AP..and gain very high scores...meaning that their standards have already reach university's when they are still in high school.  AP units can be redeemed in universities in the U.S.

tommyzoe

A real christian's life is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. This life is different from sinful men.
Tonight I just had a dinner with my friends. They are scholars, professors, president of higher education. They asked me about schooling of my kid. Which school my kid will go to. I answered them that my kid will study at ICS. All of them gave me positive feedback that ICS is a very good school. Some professors are also sending their kids to there. In fact, those scholars & educators reminded me that behaviour problems are very serious in some ISs. Of course, I don't want to say much about those ISs. Those problems are nearly same as Lenglengma mentioned. However, my friends said that I made a right choice for my kid.

Thanks God to lead my kid in this path!

play

The statistic doesn't mean anything.
Example:
(1)The HK Open university has not entry requirment.
(2) The average score did not reflect what your children get.
(3) How expendsive that US university? How many family can affore the fee of Boston, Pennsylvania.
Student may give up or not enroll the famour University (expensive fee), but they understand the burden of parent. So you can see the HKIS and CIS's students entry into the expensive university.

To conclus, my girl is only 1 year old but I am still thinking about ICS or ESF.

tommyzoe

Yes, many preachers send their kids to ICS but they don't affort some expensive universities or their kids want to study theology. Then there is no wonder.

play 寫道:
The statistic doesn't mean anything.
Example:
(1)The HK Open university has not entry requirment.
(2) The average score did not reflect what your children get.
(3) How expendsive that US university? How many family can affore the fee of Boston, Pennsylvania.
Student may give up or not enroll the famour University (expensive fee), but they understand the burden of parent. So you can see the HKIS and CIS's students entry into the expensive university.

To conclus, my girl is only 1 year old but I am still thinking about ICS or ESF.

alexlui

tommyzoe 寫道:

Tonight I just had a dinner with my friends. They are scholars, professors, president of higher education. They asked me about schooling of my kid. Which school my kid will go to. I answered them that my kid will study at ICS. All of them gave me positive feedback that ICS is a very good school. Some professors are also sending their kids to there. In fact, those scholars & educators reminded me that behaviour problems are very serious in some ISs. Of course, I don't want to say much about those ISs. Those problems are nearly same as Lenglengma mentioned. However, my friends said that I made a right choice for my kid.

Thanks God to lead my kid in this path!

After 1997, the situation is changing rapidly; many local students are filling up the places in ESF's primary schools.  Many ESF parents are professionals, some of them are professors.  Some parents also use traditional methods to teach their kids at home.  Many parents hire private tutors.  The discipline problem is partly a family problem.  I guess, with more local students getting places in ESF's schools, the discipline problem will become more manageable.

From my experience, most kids in SJS are well behaved.  My son always tells me the rules they must observe.  The world is changing, the schools are changing, we are changing, let’s keep our eyes open and share our experiences with open mind.

Regards.   

lenglengma

The problem (kids not behaving in IS) has been there before 1997.  I was one of those IS kids and I understand how is it like in IS.  Luckily, I knew what I was doing and I didn't end up being one of them.  
So...it has nothing to do with local kids getting into ESF.  To me, local kids are more disciplined.  It is just IS are generally more "free"-----> outcome: Wild kids!
Of course, ICS doesn't gurantee to produce "well-behave" kids, but kids over there usually come from Christian families, they tend to be less "wild".
I know that many pastors, teachers, professors send their kids to ICS.
It is because the values that Christian family teach their kids, ICS kids are more "disciplined".
I am not saying that Christian family teaches kids "the right way".  Family with other religions can produce good kids too...I am only saying that since Christians have many values that they find important to teach their kids...their kids are mostly more conservative.

tommyzoe

Dear Alexlui,
Thanks for your info. I would like to update my colleagues.

tingtingting

Thanks Leehoma.  These facts are very useful.  They tell us something about that school.

Ting

Some information about ICS senior students for reference:

- Around 95% of graduates continue their tertiary education in colleges or univerisities in US, Canada, Hong Kong and other countries

- The followings are colleges and universities attended by ICS graduates over past 5 years (in total around 250 students for 5 years)


USA
- Asuza Pacific University
- Big Bend Community College
- Biola University
- Boston College
- Brigham Young University
- Calvin College
- Carleton College, MN
- Columbia College Chicago Columbia University
- Creighton University California Polytechnic
- University - Pomona
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Indiana University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Kansas State University LaTourneau University
- Liberty University
- Malone College
- Milligan College
- North Carolina State University Northwestern
University
- Ohio State University
- Parsons School of Design – New York San
Francisco State University
- Santa Monica College
- Savannah College of Art and Design Seattle Pacific
University
- Texas Christian University
- University of California – Berkeley
- University of California – Davis University of
California – Irvine
- University of Indiana
- University of Minnesota
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas at Austin University of
Washington
- University of Western Michigan
- Wheaton College (IL)
- Whitworth College
- Woodbury University

Canada
- Canadian Bible College Langara College
- McMaster University Ontario College of Art and
Design
- Queen's University
- Trinity Western University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Carleton
- University of Guelph
- University of Manitoba
- University of Toronto University of Victoria
- University of Waterloo
- University of York

Hong Kong
- City University of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Open University
- University of Hong Kong

Asia
- International Christian University, Japan
- Korean University
- Thames University, Philippines

Europe
- Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology, UK
- Parson’s Art Institute, Paris
- University of Helsinki

Oceania
- University of Queensland

This page was last updated Monday, October 20, 2003
© 2003 International Christian School. All rights reserved.

From the above information, we can judge by ourselves whether the academic standard of ICS's high school is high or not.

P.S. It is true that teachers' life shall affect our kids' life BUT a non-christian teacher doesn't necessary
mean a bad role-model

tommyzoe

Select the links below for information about International Christian School's accreditation status and ICS's accreditation agency: the Accrediting Commission for Schools (ACS), an arm of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

During 2006, ICS will be working on its next full self-study in anticipation of an accreditation visit in March 2007.  For the next accreditation term, ICS will be seeking joint accreditation with WASC and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).  In September 2005, David Wilcox of ACSI made a pre-candidacy visit to ICS.

http://homepages.ics.edu.hk/groups/wascfc/

Ting, hope this is useful for you!

[quote]
tingtingting 寫道:
Thanks Leehoma.  These facts are very useful.  They tell us something about that school.

Ting

tommyzoe