CAIS

makusma

CAIS – Christian Alliance PC Lau Memorial International School
(宣道會劉平齋紀念國際學校)

有冇家長比小朋友讀緊呢間學校? 好唔好? 對此校有什麼評價? Thank you!

Vansy

My daughter is studying in CAIS and she's going to grade 2 after the summer vacation.  So far, she enjoys the school life very much.  The class size usually is around 15 - 20 students.  But if you compared it with other international schools, you may recognize the school facilities are not so many.  The teachers are very kind and patience.  Until now, we are very satisfied on CAIS.  The school offers a second language, either Mandarin or French.  But don't expect too much on the Mandarin.  My daughter is taking French.  I don't know her standard as I have no base to evaluate.  Any special areas you want to know?

monkeyccchan

Hi Vansy:
My son is also studying at CAIS same Grade with your daughter. He is in Grade 1H and taking French also. May be they know each other. My son attends this school since he was K2. I would comment CAIS is a proactive school. They keep on finding the area for improvement. I found out they have modified Grade 1 class activates to be more significant in this year. Because I have a daughter also in CAIS Grade 2.

JennyLim

Can you tell me if they have any website which I can visit?  I have not heard of it before.  Where is it?

JennyLim

Can you tell me if they have any website which I can visit?  I have not heard of it before.  Where is it?

monkeyccchan

http://www.cais.edu.hk/

makusma

Vansy / monkeyccchan,
My son is now 18 mths old and will stay & study in HK until 7/8 years old, then we will move back to Canada. That’s why I seek for comments on this school. I'm still struggling on choosing local or international school because I want him to learn more Chinese. Very happy to hear your positive comments. Besides, I would like to know what is the school fee for K3 and grade 1? Can you tell me why you choose this school as it follows Canadian system? Are you planning to send your kids oversea? If yes, when? Sorry for asking so many questions.

Vansy

Hi monkeyccchan

I am so happy to know that your kid was studying in 1H while my daughter was in 1U.  They may know each other since some of Valerie's K3 classmates went to 1H, like Megan ... forget the kids names.  As I said, both me and my husband are very satisfied with the school especially the teachers are very nice and patience.

Hi makusma


I can't remember the exact school fee, around $2,700 per month for K3, $5,500 for Grade 1 to Grade 5.  You can pay by monthly also.  No debenture is required.
The reason why I have chosen this school was my daughter was studying in York kindergarten (Kowloon Tong) for K1 & K2.  Then, I found that the pressure and the education theme were not what I have expected.  My daughter was complaining too much homework and the teachers were not too nice.  Though her academic result was pretty good, either ranked 1st or 2nd and we didn't have to review the books with her.  So, in my mind, I think she can study or achieve better as long as she has interested in school life.  To avoid the situation going too bad, I switched her to international school in K3 and onwards.  Before that, I have already planned to send her abroad in the age of 14 or 15.  Now, I may let her finish Grade 12 in HK, then study abroad.
The reason I chose CAIS was other international schools have long queue that I couldn't wait for.  American International School also admitted her but personally I don't like this school.  Besides, I am living in Kowloon side and most of the international schools are in HK side (except ESF but still with long queue).  At this moment, I don't mind whether it's Canadian or U.S. stream.  I only hope she has a happy school life.  CAIS definitely offers her this environment.
If you still have other specific areas you want to know, just leave messages here and I will try if I can answer you.

Vansy

yho

Dear all,
I am so happy to see your moments.
My daughter will K2 after this summer. I am so interest to know more about CAIS. But I don't what I need to know.
Thank you!

hangkeelong

Dear Vansy and Moneyccchan,
I'm also want to know more about this school. Would you pls tell me why you pick Fench for your children second language? Have you arrange extra chinese lesson to them? I want my son learn more chinese. How many chinese lessons a week? Do the teacher teach them to write?Some people say the international school only teach simplied chinese. Is it true? Thank you very much.

Ruby1219

Hi Vansy,

You said CAIS doesn't have long queue ? So, when should I enrol for K3 or Grade 1 ? Or they accept application anytime ? My son is now studying in another international kindy, but no primary school. I would like to put him to ESF but would like to apply 1 or 2 more to play safe.

As the school name sounds very Chinese and it's quite 'unfamiliar' to me. Are there many Chinese ? or still a lot of westerners studying there ?


Thanks in advance for your info'.

Ruby

Vansy

Hi hangkeelong


My daughter insisted to choose French when she was in K3.  I totally objected this but my husband said that we should respect our child's decision.  To me, I believe some decisions are rather important that should be made by parents.  To vote, 2 vs 1 and finally she studied French.  I have enrolled a chinese (Mandarin + Chinese handwriting) every Saturday for 1-1/2 hours.  Last summer vacation, she has to attend twice per week.  However, her Chinese standard is still rather poor.  Don't expect too much on kids studying in international school have high Chinese standard (my personal opinion only).  My daughter even speaks English during her dream, how can we expect too much from her.  So, she will keep on learning Chinese outside.  I know some of her classmates, studied French in K3, Mandarin in Grade 1 will switched back to French again.  The reason is, according to a little child, the Mandarin teacher is not so nice as compared to others.  As my daughter never attends the Mandarin, sorry can't tell you in details.

Hi Ruby

You may call to the school as your child has to attend an interview (both written and spoken for K3 entrance).  The school has many Chinese but some of them are local, some are Chinese but come back from overseas, they may even don't know how to speak Cantonese.  It's hard to distinguish them from the face.  Anyway, even for famous international school like HKIS (I have many friends' kids studying there), still a lot of Chinese.  To me, I am quite okay whether the students are Chinese or westerners as long as the school can provide a good learning atmosphere and environment to my daughter.  Even my daughter is a Chinese, she can speak very fluent English.  Anyway, she usually speaks English, rare in Cantonese.

Vansy

Ruby1219

Dear Vansy,

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation. Did you consider ESF or other international schools ? How would you compare ESF with CAIS ? As I haven't heard about CAIS before, I'm not very sure. Many of my colleagues have their kids study in ESF, CIS, or Canadian, French or German Swiss, but all of them are on the HK side.

I also heard about ICS (International Christian School) from another forum of BK), may also consider that. I'm thinking just enrol my son to ICS or CAIS if he fails for ESF, i.e. by next Easter when he will be in K.2. Do you think it would be too late ? Would it be difficult for him to apply CAIS by then ?

And, where's the exact location of CAIS ? I lived in Kowloon City for over 18 years, but I haven't heard about this school so far.

Thanks !

Ruby

Vansy

Dear Ruby


The exact address of CAIS is 2 Fu Ning Street, Kowloon City.

I have the same problem to you is I am living in Kowloon side, most of the famous international schools (like those you've mentioned) are in the HK side.  For ESF, as the queue was too long and my daughter was only in the waiting list.  But some of my friends didn't enroll because the class size was around 30 students.  In CAIS, the class size is small, only 15 students in my daughter's class.  However, ESF have long history with good academic results.  So, it depends your parents decision.  To us, we have given up the queue of ESF waiting list since my husband and I are satisfied with CAIS.  But I may think about (not my husband because he's keen on CAIS) is maybe three or four years later, I would like to change a more famous international school (HKIS or Canadian Int'l School) for her, by hoping that she can admit to a better university.  But the school fee is very expensive in these schools and we are thinking to move to HK side as well.  So, what we are concerned will be monetary terms.  Somehow, CAIS have direct entrance on some Canadian Universities but we haven't done any research if these universities are good or not.

ICS has accepted my daughter but I don't like its primary campus in Shatin.  It seems to be in a commercial building.  So, we turned down the seat granted by ICS and my daughter continued studying in CAIS.  However, new campus should be built in 2005 or 2006.  If you child is still young, you may consider ICS.  Then, you have to enroll earlier as I know ICS has a long queue as well.  For your information, CAIS offers K3 to Grade 12.  Not too sure if it is easy to enter ICS as it has kindergarten.  My daughter has applied K3 before but in a long waiting list.  Then she's granted an interview for Grade 1.  But the reason why she could have an interview in Grade 1 was ICS divided the waiting list in 2 sections.  At that time, my daughter was studying in CAIS and ICS defined she's in the international school queue which was fewer waiting list.  Otherwise, the normal queue for local students will be very long.   CAIS does not have any queue, if you kid can pass the interview (both spoken and written), then you can admit to the school.  Easter will not be a problem for applying CAIS but no idea on ICS.

Hope I answer you the questions.


Vansy

bertbobby

Hello Vansy,

妳很耐沒上BK了,約兩年前我曾睇過妳Post CAIS 我更開始認識這校,更有留意妳們所提及其它Int'l school 因我及我先生很註重學生行(尤其是國際學校)及校社各樣作比較,沒錯ESF 設備及制式較優,但上到中學的學生就...我這3年留意到"

Vansy

Hello Bert


I am so happy to see your comment and your boy is going to CAIS this year.  I need to travel frequently (Nanjing, Philippines & U.S.A.) these two years, so I didn't have much time to visit this website.

I guess your boy is studying K3, right?  If then, Mrs. Scott will be her home teacher.  As I mentioned before, the teachers in CAIS are very kind and patience and definitely your boy will love Mrs. Scott very much.  Also, since the class sizes are small, even other teachers, including Mrs. Linda Reeves, will know your boy very well.  I am sure you, your husband and your kid will satisfied with CAIS.

I totally agree with you that the conduct of CAIS students are well behaved.  My husband even asked the staff in McDonald and 7-11 opposite to CAIS before my daughter admitted to the school.

If you want to know any specific areas, I am very happy to share with you.


Vansy

makusma

Vansy,
Thank you for your explanation. It seems that CAIS is a very good school. Same as you, I don't want may boy has any pressure. I want him to have a happy childhood. If I want to enroll K3, when should I apply?

Bertbobby,
好開心又認識多一個CAIS既家長. 你囝囝在邊間讀K1-K2? 希望我個仔都可以好似係囝囝咁叻考到.

Vansy

Hi makusma


To us, CAIS is a very good school especially comparing it with othe int'l school on the school fee and class size.  If your son want to enroll K3, you may apply now and I believe he will have an interview very soon.  If he passes, he can admit K3 this end August.


Vansy

Ruby1219

Vansy & Bert,

Thank you very much for your valuable inputs. With your comments, I'm really 'moved' to consider this school (although I still have hurdle that I don't have any friends know this school). But it's really nice to have one more choice !

Yes, I also agree that Int'l schools pose a big financial burdent to parents. Until now, I'm still reluctant to apply for those 'expensive' once requiring debentures. It's really too extravangant for us. But I'm not sure, maybe later I'll change my mind (hopefully our finance will get better and better). Parents always want to give the best to their kids...

Ruby

bertbobby

Vansy,Ruby.

Happy to meet you here!  Many thanks for your share with together!
Yes, he admit K3 coming this end  Aug so, he was more expectation of that day.( often to mentioned Mrs. Linda )

Mrs. Linda Reeve, she was show me and my husband the school every corner and meet Mrs. Scott she give us the first sign is very nice teacher, I  sure my son will love and enjoy this school very much!

Muskama,
Nice to meet you too!  my son studying in Anchors Int'l at Taipo now!
actually he present so far so good, NOT smart  ( bit a little shy) , but he can able spoken and written the specify thing of the simple test!  after an interview vice principal give him some sugar, thankyou very much, he said! ( I thinks give her good sign!)  
Hope  Muska can able to get it!

Bert