ESF KJS / RC Results

chapman媽

回復 little-pig 的帖子

I don't think your worries are totally true.  First of all, not all parents object the idea of shortening the school hours and school is now doing consultation on this aspect.  Regarding the building fee, to my understanding, RC and DC are PIS and ESF lent them money for the building of school.  Its just that now, RC and DC have to repay ESF and therefore RC introduced the Non-refundable Building levy while DC is doing some similar.

homummum

Chapman mom, congratulations to ur little gal's admission into RC. No need to worry anymore.

iceymama

回復 kcvtsai 的帖子

Kcvtsai, 你意思你的wait list letter 有"passed interview" 這兩個字？因為我那封沒有，這樣的話是不是機會很微。

little-pig

Capman媽,

Thank you for ur reply and it help to release my worry. I also feel happy to learn that the school is supported by parents like u. But I just wander why it requires the building levy this year but not earlier.

chapman媽

homummum, yes, very happy that she can go to school with Chapman soon...actually, thought of your little girl yesterday and sent you PM la

little-pig, remember something in the news saying ESF had urged the two PIS to speed up repayment or something like that.  As a result, they introduced this levy.

kcvtsai

回復 iceymama 的帖子

iceymama, not sure which school you are referring to, but the one I got from KJS stated that they have passed the interview and now put on the waiting list...

seasamestreet

回復 琬晴B 的帖子

I talked to the school yesterday, the interviewer told us during the interview my boy only respond they in single word, they expecting he speak in a sentence. Actually my son only speak English, the reason he respond them so short is his personality, he doesn't has confidence speak to the people he don't know well. but when he is with his brother, he is chatter box! I think it is good to talk to the school, we now know actually what we need to do to help him to prepare the 2nd interview.

Could you tell me more about  the social course /EQ course that your girl went to before, I think these course it is good idea to build up my son's confidence.

Also , I PM you as well.

elock

回復 cissyc 的帖子

Cissyc, Catergory 1 has priority over Category 2 students for interview.  However, within Category 1, priorities are also dictated by parents in the alumni and siblings attending the school.  Therefore, if there were lots of Category 1 applicants with these priorities, then kid like mine would not have any interview.  In fact, this is the case for Kowloon Junior this year.  Many Cat 1 applicants without alumini and siblings did not grant an interview opportunity.  On the contrary, I knew the situation for SJS was very different.  

According to RC admission manager, ESF kindergarten kids do have priority for interview.  But once in the interview round, this advantage will no longer take place.

One more thing for parents who got offers from KJS and RC, RC is an IB school all the way while KJS is not.  Through-train is another consideration.  Even if you were in KJS, this does not guarantee your kid to get to KGV.  He/she may end up in another high school such as the one in Shatin.

RC is a bit far in comparison to KJS, but finding a school suitable for your kid is more important.

kcvtsai

回復 elock 的帖子

elock, thanks for your comment and information.  But may I ask more about the through train issue?  Even if one gets into KJS, what are the selection criteria for entering into different ESF Secondary schools?  Are they dependent on primary school results?  Separately, for ESF primary students... are they guaranteed a place in ESF Secondary schools, just that they may not get into KGV, but perhaps can still get into Shatin?

Many thanks...

flashingcat

回復 kcvtsai 的帖子

Kcvtsai:  yes, you are right, year 7 places will be guranteed for all ESF primary student, secondary school will be assigned by the catchment zone. However, the catchment zone is a bit different than ESF primary school, eg. Tung Chung area for primary school is KJS, however, for secondary school is Island School.

kcvtsai

回復 flashingcat 的帖子

flashingcate, thanks for the info.  I was a bit confused about ESF primary getting into secondary school.  Also, would you happen to know that the Chinese teaching in KJS, would they use simplified Chinese or traditional Chinese?  I just know from the Admission Manager at RC where she mentioned a major different in Chinese teaching for RC is in traditional Chinese.  

Many thanks!

flashingcat

回復 kcvtsai 的帖子

All ESF schools will teach simplifed chinese.  For Yr 1-2, 3 classes per week, however it will change to daily from Yr 3 (if I dont remember wrongly).   To be honest, I perfer traditional chinese, not because I am from HK, but traditional chinese is more meaningful.  I had a chance to talk with a PTH teacher here in IS , he told me honestly that it is very difficult to find a good reference or exercises in traditional chinese, like all good textbooks from singapore and china are written in simplified chinese.
An extra question, do you like IB system?   

kcvtsai

回復 flashingcat 的帖子

Thank you, flashingcat.  No wondered RC stressed that they teach traditional Chinese...

Regarding to IB... not much of a preference or to say like or dislike.  Just more and more school now is going IB.   

elock

kcvtsai, sorry I do not know much about admission to secondary school with regards to ESF (district).  From what I heard, KGV is not a guaranteed place for KJS students.  Personally, I prefer traditional Chinese as well.  It is better to know the roots of the Chinese words first and then later learn the simplified version.  It is not easy to go the other way.  Just think of English, many of us wrote IC.  If you know it came from I SEE, then you will understand the lazy form IC.  What happens if it is the reverse?  

IB, yes, it is the current trend.  I guess its diploma points is worldwide recognized.  Therefore when the students applied to universities, the schools will have an idea your school results.  In other words, everybody will speak the same language.  Unless you plan to have your kid studying abroad before graduating from high school, I think IB does have its merits.

flashingcat

回復 kcvtsai 的帖子

Personally, I am not a big fan of IB especially during PYP.  I know my son's personality, most of time pushy works on him.  But I do like their concept during MYP.  We are from US, not many schools are offering IB programme, perhaps in diploma but not in the early stage.   I talked with quite a number of teachers in IS kindergartens too, most of them are saying IB is a great idea but not perfectly match with the very young children.  In IB programme, both school and parents have to work together, like my friend in the states, she had to invoved in many ways when her daughter was young.  I remembered I even have to help her doing some research too.   Again, I have been a stay-home mom for long, I really wanna get back to the market, however, if IB really attached with parents alot, I am afraid I can't "be myself", working and have my own circle again.  Sigh~  what a difficult choice~ myself or son.  

kcvtsai

回復 flashingcat 的帖子

Actually, in my previous message, I was going to say that I myself is new to the concept of IB, since I have also studied in different places (IS in Taiwan, Hong Kong then went to Canada a long long time ago)... as long as you know the stuff... it doesn't really matter what system you come from.  However, the new school may need you to take some entry test to ascertain your level of competence which maybe a drag..

Full time mom is a difficult task... but you should consider yourself lucky... my wife and I often have to squeeze time out to spend some "quality" time with the kids...   If there is a choice... I also would like to retire early...

elock

回復 Annie123 的帖子

Annie123, thank you for your post.  It gives all of us a better understanding of IB.

What will then be your ideas if one school is offering IB and the other one is offering AP?  Which one may be more advantageous for admission to foreign universities?

kcvtsai

回復 Annie123 的帖子

Annie 123, again very informative, thanks for sharing...