請教漢基CIS及寶山的家長/準家長

babylee

請教漢基CIS的家長 :
1.小朋友讀得開心嗎?雙語訓練辛苦嗎?
2.學生中文水準如何?他們學的是繁體字抑或簡體字?

請教寶山的家長 :
3.小朋友讀得開心嗎?此校是否很努力"催谷"學生學習?
4.在本網站內,很少看到家長討論寶山幼稚園,在網上也找不到此校資料,請問寶山是否不公開招生,全部靠"推荐"入學?
5.坊間傳聞,寶山畢業生大都"直入"CIS,是真的嗎?

jollymom

My elder son used to go to Braemar Hill Nursery School for nursery and K1.  Think the school is very good in that it has small class size, only around 12 students per class.  And they have good bi-lingual program. The only drawback is tuition is really high.   Nursery and K1 is fun but kids do learn quite a bit.  Heard that starting K2 it gets more difficult as the school aims to prepare the kids for local school. (My son left after K1 for international school).  They did not have privilege going to CIS (only 2 out of 60 during my son's year) They do have quite a no. of graduates going to DGS and St. Paul's Co-ed.  For application, could just call to arrange for school visit.

Alam

My elder son left Braemar Hill years ago for international school.  Yes, most teachers there are very good.  But the principal is mean, calculating and greedy.  The high school fee you paid for does not mean a good environment and facilities.  Broken toys, worn out desks/chairs.  Small class is true.  This is the very factor I chose this school at the beginning.  But most classes have no classroom.  Each class has less than 100 sq. ft. area separated by cupboards.  As a result, it is very noisy.   My son always complained he couldn't hear what teachers said (there are some nusery classes next).  The principal only accepts opinion/comments of those wealthy parents and will scold those without background.  Though school fee includes lunch, it is mean.  Don't believe the menu the school printed to you.  Even the teachers find the lunch unacceptable (ketchup fish, 12 children share 1 orange etc).

But if you aim at band 1 local school, they really have a way to brush your child up.  Only you have to stand the "air" of the principal and pay for surging school fee.

Laura

check pm

babylee

Thank you for the replies.  I understand that the tution fee of Braemar Hill is unreasonably high. The school envirnoment and facility are so-so.  Plus, I have just learnt from the radio news that over 30 students got chicken pox within the last 6 weeks.  The school is asked to clean up their air-conditioning system from every other week to every week.  Isn't is disappointing? I am seriously considering to send my boy to CIS and there are rumors that students from Braemar Hill have priorities over others.  So I want to figure it out.

To Jollymom and Alam:
Thank you for the information.  Which schools are your childeren going?  Do you mind to share your experience in choosing these schools?

To Laura:
Thank you for the PM.  Does Big% mean simplified Chinese?

jollymom

Hi babylee,
My elder son is now attending HKIS.  As mentioned, he joined HKIS reception after nursery and K1 at Braemar Hill. CIS was our first choice because of its bilingual system but it's really hard to get in.  My son likes HKIS alot and glad that the school is putting more emphasis in Chinese.  Again, tuition is very high though. I like the school's teaching style and kids learn alot through activities and projects.  The students also reads alot (which I think is very important) and my son is starting to read chapter books.  I think HKIS is able to instill interests to learn in the kids which is very important for the kids' quest of knowledge.  Braemar Hill doesn't have any priorities in CIS, but rather the graduates did enter some very good local schools.  Indeed, the principal doesn't like students to apply for international school cos it means pulling the kids out after K1 or K2.  (She actually has to cut 1 class during my son's year as 11 students left K1 for intl school and this made her really mad!)

babylee

Dear Jollymom

Thank you for your reply.  An acquaintance, whose son has recently been accepted by BH, said the principal told them frankly in the interview that she doesn't like students going to international school.  Your info did give me some insights about it.  Maybe I am biased, but her recent argument of "chicken pox party" really puts me off.

Anyway, I am happy to know that you have experience in applying both CIS & HKIS because these two schools are on my "wish list".  Actually how do you compare these two schools?

Having a kid studying in HKIS, how do you evaluate the academic level there?  What is the student mix?  From which pre-schools did the students come?

When you mentioned your "elder son", I suppose you have at  least a younger one.  Has s/he started to go to school?  Did you let him/her to go to BM or elsewhere?

Sorry, Jollymom.  I have asked so many questions.  It will be very grateful if you can spare some time to share the experience with me.

babylee

Alam

Dear Babylee,

Nice to meet you here.  Sorry I didn't check email yesterday.

My boy studies at German Swiss after Braemar Hill.  He will be at Grade 2 after holidays.  I chose GSIS because of its strict discipline and low key culture.  Actually my husband and I didn't consider any other international school at that time.  If our boy couldn't get into GSIS, we will remain in Braemar Hill and try St Paul and DBS.  However, we cannot rely on GSIS for Chinese learning.  I have arranged a mandarin tutor to come and help my boy thrice a week.

What is your planning?  There are many good international schools in HK.  My advice is to choose one that suits the parents' expectation on the child and the child's nature.  Let me know your next move.  Keep in touch.

Best wishes,
Ada

jollymom

Dear babylee,
It's my pleasure sharing my experience with u.  Indeed, choosing suitable education path for our younger ones is definitely not easy and there's no right or wrong answer.  I do agree with Ada that you have to choose one that fits the parents' education philosophy as well as the child's character.  
I like both CIS and HKIS but would give preference to CIS because of it's bilingual system.  Think teaching style in both schools are quite similar.  In terms of student mix, HKIS definitely has more foreigners as compared to CIS.  For my son's class of 20, there's only 4 local Chinese (with both Chinese parents).  The rest are really international - Westerners, Japanese, Koreans, Indians  and also mixed.  In terms of academic level, English reading and writing is very good. My son almost reads 1 book a day and he also writes a lot of journal.  He's starting on chapter books.  For Math, think it's easier than local school but I  like their teaching method of really having the children understand and apply what they learn instead of memorizing.  For Chinese, they divide the students into different streams and Chinese students normally goes to the advanced class.  They have Chinese writing almost everyday and Chinese dictation every 2 weeks.  Of course, other than academic levels, think  equally important is the school's emphasis in encouraging the students' quest for knowledge, independent thinking, social skills.  And most important of all, my son really likes the school a lot.  

My younger son just turned 3.  No, I did not send him to BM.  Don't even bother to try as the principal would definitely turn me down, understanding I would choose the path of intl school.  Also, don't see BM as having much edge preparing kids for intl school anyway.   I sent my younger one to Woodland Montessori for pre-school last year.  Coming Sept, I would be sending him to Small World at Borrett Road.   So, much for now.  Let me know in case u want to know more.  Thanks.

jollymom

Dear Che,

Don't have exact figures re success rate as I son left 3 years ago.  But heard last year, 12 out of 30 of the girls got accepted by DGS.  Teachers are generally quite experienced and as u said, the plus is definitely small class size and bilingual system.  Remember there are a couple of outings each year with parents.  No homework for nursery and K1 but heard K2 and 3 is tough.  Remember they asked me to consider hiring my son a tutor starting K2 to supervise him with his homework since I'm a full time working mom. (I pulled my son out after K1)
No donation required as far as I remember.  Hope this helps.

babylee

Dear Jollymom and Ada

Thank you for your replies. Actually, I have a different opinion with my husband.  I like German Swiss a lot for its emphasis in both academic and disciplinary training. But he prefers our son to learn Chinese to German.  So he votes for CIS.  Yet we both agree HKIS would be a nice school for our little one.  That's why we eagerly want to learn the experiences from other parents.  

Jollymom, I have already applied for Small World.  Since my boy is only 1 and 1/2, we have to wait for the interview next year.  Hopefully he will join in 2005 Sept or early 2006.  I had also visited Woodland - Midlevels.  The teaching staff are really nice and experienced. Though I prefer the environment of Small World.

Ada, I read from SCMP that principal "Barbie" and her vice of GSIS primary section will retire after this school year.  Do you think the school will undergo some changes in whatever way?  Since GSIS always stresses on language competency and we are a Cantonese-speaking family, I have no confidence that they will accept my little one.

Babylee

Alam

Dear Babylee,

Yes, the new principal is an experienced teacher of the school.  I know nothing about him but he seems rigid, organised and disciplined.  All Chinese parents hope the school will put more emphasise on Chinese.  However, the German government subsidies the school quite a lot and thus learning German is a must.  The school always stress English competency.

Dear Jollymon,

I am so glad to meet you here.  You are an experienced mon.  I have some puzzles about HKIS and CIS and hope you can help me out.  Actually I like both schools, especially the loving and caring of HKIS and its wide spectrum syllabus and high Chinese standard of the latter.

My husband and I didn't consider HKIS and CIS at the beginning is because of its "noble" and "laiseer faire" culture, which may not be suitable to our family.  Firstly, we can't stand going to ball at 5-star hotels and fund raising.   We can't stand classmates asking our boy how big is your house, which club you like most, would you sail this weekend, where is your driver, where did you go this summer (real case questions).  We can't accept one day my boy says he wants to participate in a fashion show organised by so and so in school.  Secondly, we want our boy to live under reasonable pressure.  Who is not living under stress?  My husband and I want him to be persistent and have strong will power.  That's why we consider only GSIS, St. Paul Co-edu and DBS.

However, my boy's speaking Mandarin/Cantonese and writing Chinese are really lagging behind.  I have to arrange extra tution to help him which costs me almost HKD5000 a month.  I am thinking about SIS for my second boy, hopefully to reduce the financial burden.  Please let me know how you find my concern above and correct me if I am wrong.  Many thanks.

03baby

Alam,

have you thought about esf? what's your comment about this school

babylee

Dear Ada and Jollymom

I have the same concern of the "nobleness" of international schools, honestly, other than EFS.  We are just typical middle-class.  If most students come from "high-society" and ask questions like those Alam mentioned, I am afraid it will hurt our little one's self-esteem.  Sorry I have no idea of your background and of course it is totally none of my business.  But do you think students from middle class have pressure re "nobleness"?  

And, Alam, don't you think GWIS is also "noble" as well?

Babylee

Alam

Dear Babylee,

I think GSIS is much low key and you will not feel the pressure of "wealth".  For example, their annual ball was held in a lawn of Country Club.  It has no pressure on parents to come and there is no media report.  The fund raising tickets are $500 per book but parents can return the unsold tickets in an envelope to a drop-in box outside office, which avoid students comparing with each other.   Many mons drive their children to school instead of driver.  Not many Benz, but lots of out-dated BMW and Japanese cars.

We are also from middle class and education is the most valuable gift we give to our children, not any wealth or property.  My boy has been studying here for 2 years and I am quite comfortable with the parents of his classmates.  Their daily dressing code is very causal: jeans and shirt, even on Parents Information Day.  Except for one or two, most students put on Bossini, worn-out Polo tee, etc. to school.

To answer 0/3 baby's question, I haven't considered ESF because of its "laisser-faire" culture and catchment area policy.  I think there is no exam until the final year.  As I said earlier, my husband and I would like our son to undergo reasonable pressure with due discipline.

Hope this may anwser your questions.

Cheers,
Ada

babylee

Dear Ada

It is encouraging to learn that the atmosphere in GSIS is not that snobbish.  Really love to hear about the experience of Jollymom in HKIS.  

Thank you for your prompt advice.  And let's keep in touch.

babylee