New RC Students in August. Need advices and information.

JennyL

My child would be joining RC in August. She would be in Year 7. She went to the Year 7 induction today and I have some questions.

UNIFORM:
How many polo shirts and how many PE shirts should I order? Actually how many PE days per week?
For girls in secondary school, can they wear skorts instead of skirts?
Are the long pants for winter only?
For the socks, should I get the long ones or the short ones?

SCHOOLBAG:
My daughter said that they would have to move around the campus everyday since it would be the students to go to the teachers' rooms. So any suggestion of a good schoolbag? Would a large backpack be good? I think it would be quite heavy to carry things around the campus.

COMPUTER:
Do they have to bring their notebook computer to school everyday?

SHOES:
Any rules on what kind of shoes an be worn? I saw that many students (both boys and girls) wear black sneakers instead of black leather shoes.

That's it for now. Really hope RC parents can help.

BTW, my daughter enjoyed the day. She said that the campus is really nice and modern and big; just that she was very tired after the day. She had to walk around the school, up the stairs and down the stairs.

    

hjm

Hi JennyL

I'm also a new parent to RC...so not so much help for you at this point in time.

My son did tell me they can wear black or brown trainers.  We bought a couple of polo shirts and pants so that at least he will have something to wear comes Aug.

He also enjoyed so much today.  Really eye-opening to a big and new school like RC.  My son is in Tang, how about your daughter?

belledog

JennyL,
I am a RC parents of year 5. I think that not much difference from primary or secondary, hope i could give some help:
Uniform:
Meanwhile, you can buy 2 polo shirts, and 1 or 2 sets of PE uniforms, the skirts are for secondary so you need to buy, the skorts are for primary only. The pants are usually wear in winter only, actually there is no winter uniform, just adding jackets or cardigans on top of the polo shirts. There is a uniform shop in the school, so no need to buy a lot at this time. The students can wear black or brown shoes, trainers are leather shoes are all OK. You may also wear long or short socks as you like.

Schoolbag:
They have RCHK schoolbag, before they have a shop in school, but now was closed, maybe they will open again later when the school term starts, but i think you can get a form to order in school. The schoolbag has small and big sizes, for secondary, they recommended big sizes, as they have to put the laptop inside and sometimes bring home. But not all student using the RCHK schoolbag, you can choose your own . The RCHK bag is quite heavy, but rigid.

Computer:
As far as I know, they have to use the laptop all the time, so they may need to carry it and bring home.

hope this could help. You can ask the school if you have problems.

JennyL

belledog,
Thanks.

hjm,
My child is in Ming.

GALLIE

Hi Hjm

My son is also in Tang.  He is in Tang 1.   My son told me he has already known one friend there.  His "friend" is currently a Year 6 student at RC who will be promoted to Year 7.   

My son also told me his "friend" can speak english and cantonese fluenty.  

hjm

Hi nice to meet you here!  My son was in Tang 1 too!  He is a drama boy, to start with.  He also made friends to a few, one of them a current Yr 7 boy who was leading them for the tour!  Are you planning to attend their parents night on Jun 20?

GALLIE

I really want to attend the Parents Night but I will not be in town that week so will have to miss it.   Will you order the laptop from school?   My son transferred to RC from a local school.  What about your son?

hjm

I think that's what we're going to do, as my son said there is much support if we order from school.  If you buy outside, probably it's more expensive anyway.  So we'll wait.

We will attend the evening and we can share afterwards.  My son is also from a local school but he was in Aust for his kindergarten years.  We went through the interview process just as sudden as it could be and got accepted.  So we're skipping the P6, same as your case, right?

symmen

Apart from English and Chinese, is there any other language course in RC?

GALLIE

Yes, my son is currently studying at P.5 in a local school. He will skip P.6.

I read from the School's website that they have launched a new policy of lending laptop to students.  What do you think?  Do you think we don't have to buy the laptop and simply borrow it from the school?

hjm

I don't know yet...but will probably wait for the school advice then!  When we attend the parents night, let's see if i can share any news with you afterwards!  Would you mind telling me your son's name so maybe i can tell mine to look for him and make friends next time?  May pm me!  Talk toyou later!

angusbbma

Hi Gallie

May I know why you change your son to RC as he studied in local shool P.5?  Just want to skip P.6?

As we are planning to enroll our son to RC and would like to know more details.  Thanks.     

GALLIE

Hi Angusbbma,

Skipping P. 6 definitely is not our intention.   I would be happy to share with you our experience.   PM me your phone number if you want.

WYmom

Studying Y7 in RC equals to P.6 in local school, there is no skipping.  In RC, need to study for 7 years from Y7 to Y13, which equals to P.6 to F.6 in local school, so it is the same.  It just avoids the frustration of secondary allocation through lucky draw.

Pelican

Great to see so many RC parents here.

joyfung

Children in P.1 is 5 years old in R.C. and those P.1 children in local school are 6 years old.

hjm

Well, skipping the P6 year is nice in terms of not having to compete with exams.  But it's true we're actually paying one more year of high school fee (from free local schooling!).  Main reason is really to give a more open and suitable for my son, who is not a traditional type of kid, so can be high maintenance at times.  I would believe putting him now to a Middle school year is beneficial because we're forcing him from Primary years to another stage.  Afterall he's already 11 years old and should be more mature and independent to handle his stuff.  These are my hopes!!!

WYmom

hjm,

Yes, joining secondary school at 11 years old in IS seems to force the kid to be mature earlier!  On the Wide Transition Day by end May, I have let my girl going back home all by herself by public transport from her new College though she is not very willing to!  But she did it and now becomes more confident to manage all her stuff by herself (though still very messy in my eyes)!   

Pelican

WYmom,
I actually went to the new school (she would be in year 7 at RC) with my daughter and returned to pick her up. May be I really should have let her return home by herself, just like you. I saw a lot of children going home by themselves.
I think parents should at times be willing to "let go". I mean, of course, "letting go" of things that we are quite confident that are to be OK.
My child is quite shy and depend on me helping her out in many things.

WYmom

Pelican,

Yes, we have to "let go" with prediction of them making mistakes!  I just have to expect my girl making mistakes, then I won't feel too bad afterwards!  If she really does well, I would feel very happy then!  Very ah Q!

Afterall, they are always still kids in parents' eyes!