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Bean2012

FattyDaddy

Bean2012 發表於 15-5-12 19:17
My son is doing fine at small world, it's a fair school without much to complain, but I don't feel it has a very structured curriculum  ...

ESF kindergartens don't have structured teaching either, so if it doesn't gain your boy priority to ESF primary schools there is really no point in switching.

torunpoland

Why change? If I were you I would stay in small world and ICA is a nice school (in my eyes). ESF is also good but you need to risk the chance. Worth? As to the programmes, I guess many IS offer unstructured curriculum (comparatively speaking). So going to ESF may not fit your need (of having a structured curriculum, as an ESF parent suggests above).

Jane1983

無priority就吾值得轉。

如果你心儀Esf小學和其他IS，留在原校好整以暇去考，好過小朋友轉來轉去要適應。Small World幼稚園比起Esf都吾輸蝕。

Bean2012

Snowicebb

回覆 Bean2012 的帖子

Where can I find the info about priority of small world kindergarten to ICS? Thanks

FattyDaddy

Bean2012 發表於 15-5-12 22:58
Forget to mention, my little boy is also applying ESF K1 for 2016/17, if my son is a K2 student will give a sibling priority to my little one and he will meet the requirement for a priority interview for primary school according to the admission office ...

Your elder son will not have kindergarten priority for ESF Y1 (2016/2017) because he is joining at ESF K2 (2015/2016).

Assuming your elder son takes up the ESF K2 offer and switches to the ESF kindergarten, your younger son will have sibling priority when he applies for ESF K1 (2016/2017) because your elder son will be in K2 when the application is made.

If your elder son manages to get into ESF Y1 despite not having any priority, then your younger son will have sibling priority when he applies for ESF Y1.

if your elder son couldn't get into ESF Y1, then your younger son will not have sibling priority when he applies for ESF Y1, but he will still have kindergarten priority.

kidsbooks

my friend's son changed to esf for k2, and got offer for P1..she said the priority for kinder is quite high even it says it doesn't guarantee the interview...

but please judge it yourself..as no one knows how school admission works

torunpoland

Just a piece of final advice: go for ESF if u do like it. But don't switch to ESF simply because it feels like a lottery.

elmostoney

ESF primary and ICA's structures are very similar (My kids have been to both and we just called it quits at ESF.)  So ESF primary will not provide a more "structured" program than ICA.  If you are looking for something more "structured", both schools will not fit your bill.  The major difference I find between ESF and ICA is execution (referring to academics only).  

SimplyAbuse

The thing is ICA only up to Y4 or Y5 as of now. Comparatively a small good but heard the teachers are nice, everything is good just that there maybe a chance you have to look for another school in Yr 5. This will be tricky.

prettymama888

ICA is exploring a place for its secondary, ICA will accept year 5 and year 6 in coming years.  Last time the principle told that it's secondary may locate at Yau Mei Dai, the old school building of YMCA.

ivybaby115

What's full name of ICA? Related to YMCA? Thanks

prettymama888

Island Chrìstian academy!

elmostoney

ICA was originally started as an extension of Small World Christian Kindergarten.  Later they bonded with Norwegian International to form a group called Generations Christian Education (you can search for more details on the web). While looking for their first primary school site, they teamed up with the Chinese YMCA.  The present school site is the former secondary school building of the Chinese YMCA.   

Since they opened up their present campus, they have been actively bidding for a secondary school site every year.  In case they do not have a secondary school site in time to meet the needs of present students, they have already announced that they will open up to Y8 at the present campus.  This year's Y4 and Y5 children will naturally move up to Y5 and Y6 in the coming school year.  Y7 and Y8 will probably be opened as the present children move up.

Overall, we like the school very much except for their Chinese program, which leaves a lot to be desired (the one point we actually like ESF more is their Chinese program - surprise, surprise!)  I have heard that it's quite difficult to get in now for the lower primary years.  If they install a better Chinese program and have a secondary school, I can't imagine what will happen!

My younger one was at ICA for Y1, then spent all of Y2 and Y3 (up until this past March) at ESF Glenealy.  Personally I never warmed up to Glenealy, and I noticed some obvious problems with my son.  We switched him back to ICA in March.  It was a tough decision for us because of the continuity to secondary (ICA has no secondary).  At the end, we decided that it is more important to develop the right attitude for both life/behavior and learning.  It has only been 2.5 months since he is back at ICA, but I notice he is gradually back to his old self - better behavior and concentration.  His personal opinion of ICA is also significantly higher than Glenealy in ALL aspects (teacher, student behavior and friendliness, learning) - and that came only after 2 weeks in school.  The only thing he missed was his friends at Glenealy, and now not any more.  In fact, he was sick a few days ago and didn't get to go to school.  He was SO mad at me.  Before, at Glenealy, he didn't care if he had to miss school.

OK, a disclaimer at the end.  I am sharing my own experience.  Obviously, everybody is different.  I do not claim myself to represent all ESF parents and their children.  So hopefully no bombardment from ESF parents.  At the end of the day, all parents are just trying to do the right thing for their own child.  In my case, I feel that ICA is a better choice.  

prettymama888

Elmostoney, well said!! My kid will commence in this August as year 1.  Thank you so much for all your sharing here, I read a lot! I agree that ICA is school with caring n kind teachers as 22 students per class as a max, with two teachers in a class! I truly believe my kid will have a wonderful life starting from ICA. :)

lamwwjd

Is ICA going to have new secondary school? My kid is in NIS but haven't heard about that.