Comments on Stafford's interview

jc_mom

Hi everyone,

Did anyone go to Stafford's interview this morning? How's the arrangement? Since I changed the interview time from 10am to 1:45pm, I missed the brief introduction of the principal. Can anyone share that?

My feeling for this school is quite good.  First of all, they are willing to help me reschedule the interview time as I have to work on this Saturday.  Second, the interviewer, Ms Leung is nice and patience.  My Janice was shy this afternoon, maybe she was a little bit sleepy, or maybe we just go straight for the interview, lack of some warm up. But Ms Leung is experienced and  very friendly to Janice.  

Though the campus is small, you can see that they did put efforts to decorate it to become a lovely place for children.  After the interview, Ms Leung gave  Janice  a little gift bag with a drink and candy inside. These didn't cost much, but I can feel their sincerity.  The whole experience is much much better than SJC that I went to last week!

danielboy

Hi jc_mom,

Basically, they showed us videos on what the kids are like in class, outings to the beach and Ocean Park etc.  They have spent a lot of time and effort on their English syllabus.  Only 30 minutes per day will be an all-Chinese environment for the kids.  The rest of the class will be conducted in English.  

I don't know whether the interviewer was nice to my naughty Daniel because he was with his dad while I went to the talk.  According to my husband, the teacher was nice even though my little devil did not pay full attention to her.  They decorated the classroom as a supermarket and the teachers pretended to go shopping with the kids.  While "shopping" questions were asked.  Daniel as he usually is, was not shy.  However, his performance was not as good according to my hubby.  He got over attracted to the decorations in the classroom.  He was extremely curious and kept looking around as if he didn't want to miss every corner.  As a result, he did not give an immediate response to the teacher as what he normally does.  Perhaps the whole setup of the room was too nice.  The funniest part was when the teacher asked Daniel to get 2 bananas from a whole basket of fruits, 1 for himself and I for the teacher.  He did as told but then he continued to get 1 for dad, 1 for mom, 1 for auntie, 1 for grandma.......... (he was talking to himself while doing it).  The teacher had to stop him.  Otherwise, he would have taken all the bananas and assigned one each to our family members.  Regardless of whether my son would be accepted or not, he had a good time there.     

While they were interviewing Daniel, I went to the talk.  Although I wanted to stay with Daniel, as a responsible mother, I think I should find out more directly from the school before I make any decision.  I don't want to rely solely on word of mouth.   

Both my husband and I were satisfied with the campus too - small, warm and cosy.  The talk was held on a small hall on the upper floor so that we had a chance to see the classrooms.  ALL the classroom doors were OPEN (This is so very different from SJC).  The principal also said we can always call her to arrange for class visits.  I am quite eager to do that.  Are you interested too?  If so, perhaps we can arrange to go together.

When you said the whole experience is much much better than SJC, I just have to say I can't agree more on that.

jc_mom

Dear danielboy,

Really thanks for your information. I will call you to discuss later on. Have a good weekend!

danielboy

jc_mom.
收到信喇,15號交留位費,o甘快想等埋SC都唔得添,點好呢?

Paklamma

Danielboy,

Would you pls advise more information about Stafford such as school fee, education method, native teacher etc. Tks in advance.

danielboy

Paklamma,

The current fee is $3100 per month (half day) x 12 months + $8XX miscellaneous charges for the whole academic year.  As far as I know, they adopt an active teaching approach, use Letterland Phonics and have 2 class teachers (one local and one native English speaker).  

jc_mom

hi danielboy,

I will go home and check it tonight. But I think I will pay the deposit if they accept Janice.

ontakma

"jc_mom.
收到信喇,15號交留位費,o甘快想等埋SC都唔得添,點好呢?"


hi danielboy,
如果sc係你1st choice, 就唔好waste錢交stafford留位費.
sc招收大量學生, 而你囝囝又smart, 講野掂, 又係大仔,又返緊學, 最主意係最早果批in, 大把學位, 實收la!

Tiffany

danielboy,
我同你case一樣，我今日都收倒Stafford信呀,又係想等sc個interview先。都唔知點。我發覺同你都幾arm，又係而家係km讀緊，又係報左Stafford, SJC, SC，大家想搵既學校標準差唔多。 :wink:
係呢，有無諗住去Stafford做個visit？我都想去，好唔好一齊去？

jc_mom

hi ontakma,

It is really difficult to know what is the critieria for St. Catherine in selecting K1 students.  My Janice is in the same school as danielboy's son and was born in May.  但有時候面試都好主觀,好多時fail 左都唔知點解,所以我會俾定留位費for Stafford, in case they accept my daughter. 然後再慢慢想清楚.

I didn't pay the registration fee for York and Creative even though they accept Janice.

danielboy

ontakma,
唔係喎,我好擔心喎,首先我囝囝我又唔覺佢smart,係就係多野講,弊就弊在唔應該講既都講埋,佢給人既印象係唔乖唔聽話無禮貌,一般人可能覺得佢幾過癮,但嚮老師眼中應該麻麻地,一定唔係首選,我聽聞話有D學校鍾意揀D乖既小朋友,o甘我囝囝肯定第一個out.

另外有大把case係小朋友答晒問題兼有禮貌都唔收,反而粒聲唔出或喊足全程收左,所以SC可能揀家長多過揀小朋友,o甘我口才又唔掂....SC雖然招收大量學生,但申請既人亦多,聽講今年有2,000+人,我覺得機會只係一般.I can't agree more on jc_mom's statement "但有時候面試都好主觀,好多時fail 左都唔知點解"

至於Stafford的確幾好架,勝在人少,照顧得好D,好多果日去過interview既家長都讚不絕口.

你既1st choice又係邊間?

Tiffany,
我都想去class visit,一齊去梗係好啦,不過最好等December
過晒interview高峰期先好嗎?係呢,SJC留位費有無交呀?

jc_mom,
Want to join us for the class visits?

ontakma

jc_mom

我有朋友個囝以前in kentville, 他是in 最早個批, 無物點考他, 就收佢. 最早in個批實手鬆la, 因大量學位, 後期in , 因有限量學位,才撰學生. sc accept about 2,000 students everyｙｅａｒ.

Paklamma

Danielboy,

Tks for your info.  How can we get an application form ?  Can we download it from their website?

danielboy

Paklamma,
I got my application form by writing to them.  Not sure whether they have a website or not.  

Tiffany

danielboy,
好呀,等到十二月一齊去呀，不過我諗我會交留位費。
SJC唔收我個女呀，好彩唔收咋，如果唔係我都頭痛比唔比留位費，你知啦sjc呢排咁hit

DicDic

also received the acceptance letter today, how many of u will pay? we may decide depends on my kid's performance for the interviews on Saturday

danielboy

DicDic,
It's quite likely that I will pay the registration fee.  I had a word with my hubby who said he liked the school a lot.  To me, it is a bit risky to bet on my child's performance.  Moreover, even excellent performance does not guarantee an offer.

jc_mom

Hi all,

I also received the acceptance letter of Stafford for Janice, I will mail them the cheque today as I don't have time to go there next tuesday.  I like this school as the teacher and staff are helpful and care about the child.  

danielboy,

I can join you to visit Stafford in Dec, as there are interviews in this week, Dec is good choice.

danielboy

jc_mom,
I will talk to Tiffany (another Keen Mind parent) today and work on the possible dates when we may pay a class visit to Stafford.  I will then get back to you.

ontakma
我朋友個老公個舊同事個老婆(very complicated)係SC先生,佢話SC 收700+人咋,2000+係the number of applicants咋喎, so the chance is one out of three.

bb517

Hello!!
我都收到信,不過就16號先交留位$$.我就13號in SC & York.你地會唔會交＄＄呢？我都煩緊．其實我都覺得間學校好好架．如同York及金巴倫比，你地意見點呢？