有冇弘立小學媽咪

mattsmum

hi warren,
reading can be taught and kids gets benefit, no homework, no assessment, just carry out silent reading, share reading etc.

i wonder if reading is taught in international school.

warrrren

Hi Che,

I had also considered CIS and CanIS but was not entirely satisfied with their Chinese programme.  It may well be that I am expecting too much, but I want my girl to be truly highly proficient in both Chinese and English.

Have a nice weekend,
Warren

tingtingting

Hi,

The ISF school will be featured on i-Cable TV on this Thursday Oct. 6, 2005 (Thursday) from 7:00pm to 7:30pm on Channel 8.

wongh

(Amendment)

Hi Warrren,
I just join BK.  Thanks you very much for all your infomation in the past few months.   This has arisen my interest.  I have several serious discussions with my wife as ISF has never been in our radar screen.  We are now seriously considering this school.  We will pay visits (open day and school tour) to this school this month.  I would be grateful if you would further advise us for the following: (a) this school is running a deficit. If it still cannot attract enough kids after opening of the new campus in 2007, has the school managament mentioned any contingency plan ? (b) many new schools have high staff turnover rate.  Does ISF also have this problem? any idea why the previous principal left last year? (c) does the school emphasize moral education? are students behaved well?   Sorry to repeat the same question again: is your kid going well this school year (2005/06)?..........Many thanks

warrrren

Hi wongh,

I just join BK. Thanks you very much for all your infomation in the past few months. This has arisen my interest. I have several serious discussions with my wife as ISF has never been in our radar screen. We are now seriously considering this school. We will pay visits (open day and school tour) to this school this month. I would be grateful if you would further advise us for the following: (a) this school is running a deficit. If it still cannot attract enough kids after opening of the new campus in 2007, has the school managament mentioned any contingency plan ? (b) many new schools have high staff turnover rate. Does ISF also have this problem? any idea why the previous principal left last year? (c) does the school emphasize moral education? are students behaved well? Sorry to repeat the same question again: is your kid going well this school year (2005/06)?..........Many thanks

It happened yesterday evening - One of my daughter's classmates called her to discuss their homework.  My daughter started to speak Putonghua the moment she picked up the phone, and carried on the entire conversation in Putonghua.  I did not expect my daughter to be so naturally fluent in Putonghua, and it was quite a scene to watch.  The school's language programme, one of total immersion, appears to be working very well.  Putonghua and English is not just a medium of instructions.  It is part of the kids' school life.  They speak Putonghua/English when they go and collect their lunch boxes, play in the playground, engage in extra-curricular activities, and so forth; and they enjoy using English/Putonghua as much as they do playing in the playground.  The ISF's language programme and the international schools' way of teaching is, to me, the main attraction of ISF.  I am not concerned about the school's financial well being at the moment, and have no idea whatsoever how the school is doing financially. I also do not know why the former principal (Felicia Tsang) left (she had left before my daughter joined the school). It is true that the staff turnover rate is on the high side.  This, I guess, is common to all new schools, and the ISF type of schools in particular.  Some foreign teachers just come to see how Asia is like, and go in say two or three years.  Hopefully, things will get more settled with the appointment of Shirley Lee as the Head of School.  Things that I consider to be important to my daughter's education at this stage are:- (1) she loves to go to school and is keen to learn; (2) she be highly proficient in both Chinese and English; (3) she is curious about the world; (4) she is not afraid of trying new things and making new friends; (4) she be able to tell what's right and what's wrong, and hold onto her value.  The ISF, like any schools, has its own problems.  But I am so far satisfied that its current problems are not serious enough to distract it from the right track.  The school does have a moral education programme, but I do not really care about it - it is my wife's job and mine when it comes to issues like morality.

Regards,
warrrren

wongh

Hi Warrren,


Many thanks for your reply.  It is useful for my family.


Cheers.

mrsho

Warrren,
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.  As you have mentioned that DGS is also your choose.  If DGS accepts your girl, will you give up ISF and go for it?  Thanks.

Incredible

Hi Warren,

Have you consider singapore international school for your girl? I guess the language standard in SIS should be quite high.  Any comments?