School Fee and Miscellaneous Expenses in ESF Kindergarten

dontdont

My daughter just got 2007 acceptance letter from ESF Kindergarten Tsing Yi. Is there anybody know charges (Monthly School Fee + Miscellaneous Charges) there? (I could not find school fee of knedergarten from ESF website). I'm not rich and wonder whether we can afford if there are a lot of hidden expenses in ESF.

momom

dontdont 寫道:
My daughter just got 2007 acceptance letter from ESF Kindergarten Tsing Yi. Is there anybody know charges (Monthly School Fee + Miscellaneous Charges) there? (I could not find school fee of knedergarten from ESF website). I'm not rich and wonder whether we can afford if there are a lot of hidden expenses in ESF.

Congrualtions!

the school fee is $4500 per month but I don't whether it has any miscellaneous expenses.

I have applied Sheung Wan ESF but not yet received the feedback from the school.
For those who apply Sheung Wan ESF, do you have receive any letter/ notice from the school?  Please inform me, thanks a lot!

dontdont

momom, thanks for your info. Hope you will receive letter soon!   

lulusing

dontdont 寫道:
My daughter just got 2007 acceptance letter from ESF Kindergarten Tsing Yi. Is there anybody know charges (Monthly School Fee + Miscellaneous Charges) there? (I could not find school fee of knedergarten from ESF website). I'm not rich and wonder whether we can afford if there are a lot of hidden expenses in ESF.

Dear dontdont,

Don't worry. They don't charge for any miscellaneous. You will just pay for something that you really need to pay, for example, transportation fee for a trip. Have you made up your mind to send your daughter there?

lulusing           

:wink:

dontdont

dear lulusing,
thanks for your info.
We are still thinking of local or international school. Would like to keep the option by sending my daughter to K1 in both local and international kindergarten. (BTW, My daughter is now studying in Pre-nursery / Pre-K in Victoria and Anfield but she only speaks English so far). We can buy 2 years to think about our next destination : go to ESF after K2 or go to local primary after K3.
Choosing in ESF Tsing Yi now means we will be at the point of NO return (Impossible to rush for another local kindergarten, as we live in Kowloon).
We love Anfield ; but graduated in ESF Kindergarten does have a greater chance to be admitted by ESF primary.
Have to make up our mind after the tour to ESF Kindergarten Tsing Yi.

Graham

Dear dotdot,

See the advice from other mum.

Graham mum
=============================

Dear Jenna Mom,

These are two obviously different routes. It depend on where you expect your kid to go. Do you think your child will go to a local school or an international school?

You may take my earlier posting about admission to international school as a reference:

你的問題可從三方面考慮:1.經濟支出方面;2.你期望培養出一個怎麽樣的孩子;3.你打算為孩子做些甚麽

1.經濟支出方面:計算好收入,儲蓄及支出,看看是否可以負担或願意負担

2.你期望培養出一個怎麽樣的孩子
國際學校的學生較大可能有以下特色:
-有廣泛的興趣
-有興趣看書
-喜歡學習新事物
-有自信心
-對不同的文化有所認識及體會
-樂意學習,掌握及運用多種語言

3.你打算為孩子做些甚麽
與就讀本地學校(local school)的孩子的家長不同,你可能要花相同甚至更多的時間為就讀國際學校的孩子:

-搞好中文,甚至学習其它外語
-支緩他/她有廣泛興趣及喜歡學習新事物的特點:各類型的課外興趣及學習活动
-支緩他/她看書的興趣:去圖書館,書店
-多花時間跟他/她一起,使他們在不同的文化中成長仍有清晰的身份及人生路向

無論讀哪類學校,要裁培孩子,父母都要付出,但問題在於:你可以及願意為孩子做些甚麽,及你期望孩子長大後变成甚麼的樣子.

以上的分析未必全面,但你今天的抉擇,便是孩子一生的發展方向,祝願你有明智的選擇,孩子一生受用

Lulusing

april_bbb

Hi dontdont,

I have not made up my mind yet as well - int'l or local? As you've said, so I'm very busy in finding info now...hehe...

dontdont

thx!

dontdont

thx Graham mum!!!

dontdont

Hello april_bbb,
Which IS you are considering now?
dontdont

april_bbb 寫道:
Hi dontdont,

I have not made up my mind yet as well - int'l or local? As you've said, so I'm very busy in finding info now...hehe...

april_bbb

Hi dontdont,

I'm considering RC & SJS, I would like to contact SJS to see if they have school tour or not? Have you visited any IS before?

dontdont

Hello april_bbb,


i have not yet visited any IS. Just to visit ESF Kindergarten Tsing Yi before Chinese New Year.
Not yet thought about primary, too. Residental Address has already restricted the choices within ESF.

sillybabyq

唔好意思,有少少問題想請教,ESF收幾歲學生嫁?我仔今個月啱啱１歲,都好希望入呢间幼稚園,請完ESF係咪唔可以升LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL?
佢哋有冇兩歲班?你哋係幾時為BB報讀?同埋洗唔洗INTERVIEW?

唉,我而家一頭煙,對香港教育制度真係NO IDEA,又冇经驗~~最慘又唔係勁有錢,怕供唔起呢

lulusing

Dear dontdont

Some friends also put their chidlren in one kinder in the morning while another in the afternoon. I think you have noted that the age difference of admitting to ESF schools and local schools. Chidren aged five are admitted to ESF schools but six to local schools. It means that you need to make up your mind sooner or later.      

On the other hand, I think you have also noted that you need to see if the child is OK or not for his/er whole day learning in two schools.

ESF kinders are different from other kinders. They don't teach English. English is the medium of instruction but not a subject to be taught, though students may aquire or improve their English in their learning process. In other kinders, they teach English and students are expected to learn English. I understand you love Anfield. I think teachers in Anfield are teaching English. Teachers in ESF kinders teach children in English, but not teach English. They treat students just like native English kids. I am not quite sure which approach is better.

By the way, the chance of ESF kinder graduates to be admitted to ESF schools is very high. It is one factor for parents to send their kids to ESF kinders. If your target is not ESF schools, your conderation may not be the same. Have you finished the tour to Tsing Yi?

lulusing     






lulusing,
    

dontdont

sillybabyq, pls. visit www.esf.edu.hk for details

dontdont

Dear lulusing,
Thanks for your sharing.
I do know the challenges of going to school in both AM and PM session. My daughter is now attending 2 days am class and 5 days pm class. she is still ok (only pretty tired after school). However, 5 days AM & PM class will be more challenging to children. (travelling from AM school to PM school within 30 minutes is much more challenging!)
Also, well understood that IS only have K1&K2 while locals have K3. Thanks for your reminder!
No idea about how ESF kindergarten teaching English but I believe Anfield runs in the similar way in ESF as most Anfield students will apply ESF primary. My daughter has no "English" lesson as everyday she is playing and learning in English environment.
I believe K2 graduates in Anfield will not have any problem to demonstrate English ability to be admitted by ESF.
Only concern is ESF kindergarten graduates do have a priority to be admitted by ESF primary than non-ESF kindergarten graduates.
Tour to ESF Tsing Yi will be in Feb 2007 and i will have a few days to decide whether accept the offer or not.

lulusing

Dear dontdont,

According to what you said 'I believe Anfield runs in the similar way in ESF as most Anfield students will apply ESF primary. My daughter has no "English" lesson as everyday she is playing and learning in English environment', ESF kinder and Anfield adopt similar approach. Do tour to ESF Tsing, make a comparison and a wise decision. May I have your comparison on the two schools and your decision by then? Thank you.

lulusing   

dontdont

Hello pattkeda,
I have no idea what will be taught in ESF but i don't think ESF will teach Chinese, as you may know, the theme of ESF is to provide schooling (1st priority is for non-Chinese) for those whoose mother tougue is non-Chinese in Hong Kong and have proficient English skill.
Fluency in English has different standard to different parents. Most local kindergarten parents do concern no. of Native Speaker for English Lessons, whether they teach phonics, spelling... so and so...
Someone feels good if their children know how to spell D for dinosaurs, H for hippo...
Choosing ESF does not only mean that you are looking for good English but also deciding a different route for your daughter.
My personal experience to Victoria is that they have already had good infra-structure but do not (at least up to now) have the true spirit of an IS.
If you are not targeting at mainstream school and $$$ is not a factor to consider. ESF is a better option to learn good English.
On the other hand, you may need to spend more time to teach Chinese. It is always a give and take option.