SIS

mfkhung

Does anybody know anything about the South Island School? What examdo they take? GCE or GSEC?

Cayenne

GSEC ? It's not on their menu. They sit for the GCSE & GCE instead.

Have a look-see here =>  

The Curriculum at SIS   

  

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

Thanks.

Do you know which one (GCSE or GCE) is more popular in applying local and overseas universities?

Do you have any ideas about the ESF? Are all her secondary schools the same? Or which one is the best on the HK Island?

Cayenne

Year 12 and 13 students take the GCE Advanced Level Exam, and it's what university Ad-coms will be looking at.

Don't let this bother you because SIS will be implementing the IB in 2007, for first matriculation in 2009. As I see it the IB Diploma is the  universal ticket to universities worldwide.

If you are contemplating an international school education for you kids in Hong Kong Island, I would suggest concentrating your efforts in HKIS / GSIS / CIS / FIS / ESF with her various Island Schools.

Treat it as an on-going business because with the horrendous queues you may not be successful in the first round. Take whatever place that is offered first  from these five fabulous schools because one shouldn't be too greedy, right ?  

If you have multiple acceptances all at once, then  

1.) the choice will propably depend on the country your kids are going .
2.) You are more capable than most and you should no more be taking any advices from anyone; because you don't need to .      Good Luck !    

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

Thanks for the prompt reply and the advice. I appreciate that very much.

Actually my son is in P5 and is studying in a local school. Do you think I should apply  for his Year 7 in 2007 right now?

WYmom

Demand for Year 7 at ESF is higher than supply, so not easy to get in. Yet no harm to try.

mfkhung

WYmom,

Thanks for the info.  By the way, do you know what year is easier to get a place? Is your kid studying in ESF?

Cayenne

The waiting lists of most ISs are notoriously long, but vacancies do pop up every now and then, bearing in mind that  expatriates come and leave HK regardless of the school calender !

So my strategy would be to apply as soon as I have made up my mind to go down this river of no return ( sounds melodramatic  :wink: ), and wait for any opportunity that may present itself.
This waiting period is not wasted as you can use the time to :

1.) Brush up the English conversational skills of your kids,
2.) Learn as much Chinese as possible,
3.) Maintain his  overall academic excellence,
4.) Develop extracurricular activities, be it sports, arts , whatever,
5.) Improve social skills so that he will be  at ease with strangers in an interview setting,
6.) Promote independence and a habit of self study and discipine,
7.) Tactfully dim his curiosity towards the pitfalls that typically await the IS students : Sex / Drugs / LanKwaiFong bars , all that comes with the excessive freedom  in an IS enviornment. . . .  The point is : How to do that ?   :-|  :-|

Good luck !  

WYmom

For secondary, there may be more vacancies by Year 9 onwards, as teens start to study aboard.  But it maybe more difficult to pass the entrance test of secondary school and adapt to the different environment when the kids grow older.  Anyway, all of us should be able to adapt to changes anytime, no matter studying in which school.  If you like, apply first and wait for vacancy to pop up.

For ESF schools, you cannot choose, need to apply for the school in your zone area.  Details in ESF website.

mfkhung

Hi WYmom,

Thanks for the reply and info.

Hi Cayenne,

Very good advice again.

Regarding to the pitfalls that might come up in the IS, do you have any experience to share? Or how do you dim the kids curiosity towards those matters?

Bratz

Hi Cayenne,

You gave us a very detailed info here, thanks!

Actually I have submitted an applicaiton for my son last October at SIS Year 7 2006.  Got a letter stating the seats are too demanding and have put on wait list.  

So I was thinking if I can apply for Island School as an alternative considering we are on the catchment zone.  Will the central office of ESF remove my first application for SIS? or both (SIS & Island Sch) applications will be forfeited?

Thanks.

WYmom

Island school is even more demanding!

Bratz

WYmom,

Oh, is that right?  I thought Island school is less competitive in terms of seats.

Do you know anyone studying in this campus? What is the percentage of Chinese at IS?

Thanks!

WYmom

Bratz,

I don't know kids studying in IS, but I know that IS has more western kids, which is very normal as it is at mid-level.  IS is very competitive, this year some kids not able to be alloted to KGV have to join Island School, and some who applied for IS has to join West Island or South Island.  There was news on SCMP by Dec 05 regarding this, parents were very angry about all these arrangements, yet cannot do anything.

I am also worrying about seats for my daughter next year as I already know that KGV and Shatin College do not have enough seats to take all ESF primary students in Kowloon.

Anyway, as I know, ESF only allow one application to one ESF school at any time. Situation of seats of different schools can be different each year. You may check with their office.

mfkhung

WYmom,

Thanks for the info and the sharing. You told  something that beyond my imagination.

mfkhung

Hi Bratz,

As you said you submit the application in last October, so did your son go through any interview? Did you apply any other IS as well?

mfkhung

Bratz

Hi WYmom,

Yeah, I've heard about the news sometime ago and that is quite sad to hear the students have to shift from places, I wonder how they can settle this coming academic year!  

Bratz

Hi mfkhung,

I wouldn't dare to call up the office, there is no interview yet after our application.  Just because my son is from a local school, I wish he can be admitted at one the IS secondary schools, and really looking forward to those with IB programme.

mfkhung

Hi Cayenne,

I found students studying in GSIS and FIS need to study German and French respectively. I am afraid it would be hard for somebody like my son to pcik up an extra European language. It might need to spend a lot of time on it. What do you think?

Do you know anything about the Canadian International School?

mfkhung

Cayenne

Hi,

I am sorry that I'm not familiar with CDNIS. Luckily we have quite a few CDNIS parents here. I'm sure they can help.
IS application is frustrating to say the least. So my humble advice would be to treat it as an on-going process, let it play out in 1-3 years,  while striving to do well in a local school.

Alcohol / Smoking  /  Drugs /  etc appeal to young people  because they are mysterious, forbidden and 'cool', and offer  convenient ways for the mentally weak to prove their presumed adulthood. I enjoy showing to my kid that while everyone may be tempted to try these out at least once in a lifetime, and I have no objection to it if he insist, only losers seek constant comfort in these mental poisons hahaha