ICS Parents

lenglengma

My kids are in R1 and R2.  They just joined ICS in December '05.  They are loving it!  They met their best friends first time of their lives.  They became more loving and caring in ICS.  Can't wait for their new campus!  ICS parents...please join us!
Lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
Yes, my kids love to wear uniforms..and the uniforms are not expensive, so I decided to make them wear....sometimes may be with jeans in the bottom.  You can wear whatever color you like.
lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
Boys wear red polos too...it doesn't really matter.
lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
Don't worry...ICS is definately a good choice for you son...and if you are a Christian, you would believe that it is also God's wish to let you son study in a good Christian school right?
lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
Please check PM.  
Also, even if your son ended up in those Band 1 local school, he will probably end up being those typical H.K. local kids.  I personally think, nowadays, they just don't know what they are doing.  They are not willing to express themselves, concentrate so much on material things, etc...
And...I know that at ICS you son will be happy.
I heard so many stories about kids after switching to ICS became another new happy person!
lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
I don't know any G12 students, but i met some G 9 and G11 students.  They are very mature, and they know what they are doing.  They really enjoy school too.  I heard that in high school, they will work in "teams" instead of groups, meaning that they will be assigned in different teams in class.  That team will support each other and provide good team spirit in learning.  I think they need to do projects and assignments together and they have to learn how to work with one another as team.  
We cannot really say who is "smart" or who is not...I just think that being smart is really a nature issue, while being "good" is from an outside influence.
Being in a band 1 school doesn't mean he/she will end up being smart...because he/she may have very good results in exams, but it doesn't mean that he/she knows how to solve problems, how to work with other people, or how to be humble.  Sometimes the things that they think are quite "dead" too.  So..being smart, to me, is being flexible.  He/she can survive everywhere, and is independent, hardworking, able to express themselves, and willing to learn.  These are the things that kids can't really learn in local schools.

I am not worried about the Chinese standard at ICS.  I know they are thinking to have a more intensive Chinese program due to parent's demands.
As I said earlier....people can be really smart knowing one language.  It is usual for people to know one language.  Why do we have to stress so much on knowing so many languages?  Even if my kids can only speak English, I am not worried because there are tons of job for them to choose.  Look at all those foreigners in H.K., not all of them know Chinese right?  It is okay to know one language.  What is important is that they have the quality to suceed, not how many languages do they speak.
That's really what I think.
Lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
You are welcomed!  I really hope that your boy will love his new life at ICS!  
Blessings,
Lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
Agree!
lenglengma

lenglengma

Dear Play,
If you are planning on sending you kids to the U.S. or Canada, ICS is definately the choice.  Yes, they said IB is reconized by all universities, but...始終無禁著數。Trust me...I went through it all myself.  It is better for your child to be in an American school instead, since kids need to take AP and SAT's at ICS.
Nothing for you to worry about in the future...it will be so much easier for you and your child.  Plus, you will get all those useful informations from those college counsellor at ICS.
ICS has debenture..other than that...no additional charges.
Lenglengma

lenglengma

You cannot really compare IB with SAT because they are totally different things.  I know that IB is a curriculum while SATs are public tests that you need to take to let people in universities to determine whether or not you have the ability to get in.
If you are going to the U.S. to study....you NEED to take SAT's and TOEFL.  When they said the U.S. also accepts IB, it only means that they will recognize the curriculum, but students still need to take TOEFL and SAT's in order to get in...so...my point is:
If you are in an American Int. school like HKIS, AIS or ICS...your kid doesn't have to worry about taking the SATs cluelessly..because your kids will learned how to take the SAT's and get to practice at school.  If your kids attend IB school, then he/she will be quite clueless when taking the SAT's, since the IB doesn't have any courses on SAT's and AP etc.
Also AP stands for advance placement...ICS provides wide range of AP courses...the credit that you get from the AP courses can be used in University, meaning that in high school, you have already achieved University standards.  Therefore, if your kids take AP in High school, people at the university will be impressed because they know that your kid's level has already reached university's.  Also, since the AP credits can be used in university...meaning it will save you some money in university by taking less GE (General Education).  
However, an IB curriculum doesn't have AP...so...始終無禁著數.
Also, I am not sure about now...but this was what happened to me....I know that the British system (I am not sure if it applies to IB) does have a different grading system than the U.S's.  The problem is...in the U.K. system, a C is a quite okay grade...but in the states, a C is a bad grade.  Doesn't mean the U.S. standard is lower, it is just that the U.S. system tend to grade student easier.  So...if you are coming from a U.K system or may be IB curriculum...you get a C (quite good already), but if you take that grade to an American University...they don't understand what a "C" is all about..they are asking for "A's" and "B's"....therefore, I personally think that it will lower your chance of getting into an university you deserve.
YOu see...filing the application of the university doesn't give you any chance or time to explain about the differences between different curriculum and grading systems...etc...
Hope it helps...
Lenglengma

lenglengma

會係沙田石門(有馬鐵站)。
07年起好。

lenglengma

You guys are welcomed!
I had been through it all...so I know how it feels.
Not to mention when you fill out the university application form, you need to tell them when did you take Algebra I, Triconometry (I hope I spell it right) Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Calculus.  If you are good..you get to take AP Calculus.  U.K. curriculum (even H.K. local school) don't offer math courses like these.  I mean, yes they do, but they don't do it in a yearly manner.  They teach you a little bit of this and that every year, whereas American system high school teaches those math courses in different grades.  For example, you should take Algebra I in grade 9, Triconomentry in Grade 10, Algebra II in Grade 11, at least Pre-calculus in Grade 12 etc...Some smart kids take the AP Cal in Grade 12!  The basic requirement to get into majority of universities in the U.S. is you have to complete pre-calculus before entrance.  I remember I had a difficult time filling out the form because they asked me to put what year did I take Algebra I, II, Tri, Cal etc...I didn't take them in a yearly manner....plus I didn't know what parts that I learned were Algebra or Calculus...I was really frustrated!
Lenglengma

lenglengma

Dear Skytower52,
越早讀越好﹗你仔仔入讀R2應無問題﹐如果佢係讀開國際學校。但係ICS係8月中就開學啦。 我聽聞小學GRADE 1 已經有長長waiting list 啦。所以係kindergarten入讀會比較好。
P1係pre-first﹐之後就係grade 1.  P1已經係elementary既一部份。你仔仔入讀R2後並不代表可直升。係R2佢地會有一個正式interview(accessment test)先至可肯定比唔比佢上P1。  呢個interview係家長唔可以陪同既。考大概45分鐘。由兩個specialists去考。我知道如ICS 既R2學生唔合格﹐最多都係會叫佢留班。但如果外來新想入學既學生唔合格﹐就可能機會無甘高。所以你仔仔8月讀R2會著數D。
點解會甘嚴呢﹖因為一上P1就多野學啦﹐所以一D程度唔夠既小朋友會追唔上。
係呀。我都去過新學校地盤看過。地點很好﹐隔嚟又係浸會大學分校。交通又方便。
你可以去呢度看看新校舍D圖畫﹐齊齊幻想下小朋友係入面既情景 ﹕http://www.ics.edu.hk/ccc/NSB/Main.html

lenglengma

lenglengma

lenglengma

tommyzoe,
You may be a new ICS parent, but you sure know a lot and did many researches!  You really care so much about your child's school.
Lenglengma

lenglengma

Dear tommyzoe,
In fact, I once compared the SAT scores of ICS G12 students with the SAT scores in the state of California.  ICS SAT combined score ranks #13 in the state of California!  So..think about it this way, studying in ICS is pretty much like studying in the states.  We don't have to worry about SAT's, AP's etc...they just get those from school directly.  Plus, ICS students have high academic standards than the best high schools in California.

Lenglengma

lenglengma

Dear heratang,
If you really want you kid to study in an International Christian school...I think ICS is the only choice.  There is another Christian international school in Kowloon, but I heard the standard is not too good and their system/curriculum is Canadian.  ICS does provide good hollistic and academic standards for children.  What I also really like is their art, music and sports departments.  I could also feel the warmth and loving atmosphere at ICS.
ICS also have a very close teacher/parent communication.  Children there are more caring.  I also know that some teachers pray for every children before class starts.
I know a couple of ICS teachers (they are my friends) and they are super nice.  
Lenglengma

lenglengma

The whole school will move into their new campus in ShekMun in 2007, but not R1 and R2.  However, I heard that they will probably move their kindergarten section near their new campus also.
Lenglengma

lenglengma

Dear skytower52,
其實講到就ok啦﹐最緊要係小朋友既英文能力好。
lenglengma

lenglengma

Skytower52,
一個係R1﹐一個係R2。
Lenglengma