Kowloon Baptist Church Kindergarten --- Interview

minggrace

Dear all

My son will have an interview in early May. Please let me know how to be prepared for the interview.
Thanks.

Minggrace

sharonso

My son had an interview in Feb 05.  We were first led to a classroom to watch the kids attending class.  The Ag. Principal (an Indian lady) then came to talk to him, asked him names of the toys, etc.  We were then interviewed in her office, where my son was asked to do something and answer simple questions, eg. to put toys in different positions, tell their names and colours, sort them out and put them back.  Lastly the Ag. Principal asked us general information such as why we chose this school for him.

I don't think there is any need for preparation if your son can communicate well in English.  The school emphasizes much on children's language environment so they will keep confirming with you that you communite with him in English at home, and remind you not to speak in Chinese at the school.

harris

Hi, sharonso,
I'm thinking to choose this school,
would you tell me more about this school and your son
1. How do you think about the school, e.g. is the environment good? is the teacher nice?
2. Does you or your husband native in English? If not, how can you help your lille angel cope with English? (I and my husband is not native in English)
3. When to apply for the school?
4. Is it whole day or half day? How much is the school fee?
5. Does the school have 2- year old class?
THANKS SO MUCH

sharonso 寫道:
My son had an interview in Feb 05.  We were first led to a classroom to watch the kids attending class.  The Ag. Principal (an Indian lady) then came to talk to him, asked him names of the toys, etc.  We were then interviewed in her office, where my son was asked to do something and answer simple questions, eg. to put toys in different positions, tell their names and colours, sort them out and put them back.  Lastly the Ag. Principal asked us general information such as why we chose this school for him.

I don't think there is any need for preparation if your son can communicate well in English.  The school emphasizes much on children's language environment so they will keep confirming with you that you communite with him in English at home, and remind you not to speak in Chinese at the school.

  

sharonso

Hi Harris,

1. The school's teachers are nice and the children (many are expatriates) seems to be happy there. But it is quite small, with only 3 classrooms and no playground.  Facilities are not good compard with other big kindies.  

2. We are Chinese but we tried to speak to him in both English and Cantonese.  We have family members who are non-Chinese/English speaking Chinese so my son is used to speak in both languages.  You may consider putting your kid in English speaking environment as much as possible, e.g. attending international nursury/play group.  A child should listen/speak freely (not single-word nor babytalk) and frequently in order to acquire a language.

3.  We applied for this school in around Sept 2004, which was pretty late.  The Ag. Principal said they can't offer a place to him in the AM session as he was a late comer.  You may ask the school when they accept applications.

4.  The class is half-day, either AM or PM.  I heard that school fee is about $2,200 but am not sure.

5.  They only offer K1 and K2.  Previously many of their students go to ESF Primaries after K2.  But given the keen competition of ESF places now, I wonder if this is still the case.

I am going to give up the place in September anyway as my son have been accepted by the International Christian School.

Sharon

Sandrine

Hi sharonso,

Do you know any children studying there? May I know your comment about KBCK?  Why would you choose ICS over KBCK?  Is it because of location?  Or that you'd like your child to continue with ICS primary?  Like you, I sent in my application in Sept last year and was accepted to the p.m. session only and am still undecided whether to let my child study there.  I've heard lots of good comments about KBCK.

minggrace,

The only preparation you need, I think, is to make sure that your child can communicate in English naturally.  My daughter had the interview in Feb and the interviewer just chatted with her.  My daughter didn't answer all the questions (sometimes she just didn't feel like it) but the interviewer could tell whether it was because she didn't understand or she just didn't want to answer.  She emphasized that we'd need to provide an English environment at home as the school doesn't teach English.

We had the interview in a room where my child was provided with some toys and while she was playing, the interviewer chatted with her, me and my husband.  Then the interviewer took my daughter to the classroom and watched her play, and asked her more questions.  The whole process lasted for about half an hour.

sharonso

Hi Sandrine,

I chose ICS because it's bigger with better facilities and it has elementary and secondary schools.  We have a friend whose kid went to KBCK then ICS.  She preferred the latter for the same reasons.  My son's 2 cousins are also studying in ICS and they are very happy there.  But the school fee of ICS is much higher (HK$38,000 per annum for kindy) and its in Shatin (we have to move home).

salami

Does KBCK have connection with ESF?
All kids could be sent to one of the ESF schools in P.1, am I right?

My kid is currently studying in a bilingual international kindy (pre-nursery) and would be going to K1 in coming Sept.  Meanwhile, we will be having an interview at KBCK early May.  My kid is fluent in English that would not be any problem at the interview.

At first, paving for an ESF primary, KBCK is a good choice.  However, ESF is getting more and more competitive, I doubt for this path...
We r not sure whether go for a pure international school or stay in the bilingual ones?!  
Any suggestion?

Thank you in advance.

harris

sharonso 寫道:
Hi Harris,

1. The school's teachers are nice and the children (many are expatriates) seems to be happy there. But it is quite small, with only 3 classrooms and no playground.  Facilities are not good compard with other big kindies.  

2. We are Chinese but we tried to speak to him in both English and Cantonese.  We have family members who are non-Chinese/English speaking Chinese so my son is used to speak in both languages.  You may consider putting your kid in English speaking environment as much as possible, e.g. attending international nursury/play group.  A child should listen/speak freely (not single-word nor babytalk) and frequently in order to acquire a language.

3.  We applied for this school in around Sept 2004, which was pretty late.  The Ag. Principal said they can't offer a place to him in the AM session as he was a late comer.  You may ask the school when they accept applications.

4.  The class is half-day, either AM or PM.  I heard that school fee is about $2,200 but am not sure.

5.  They only offer K1 and K2.  Previously many of their students go to ESF Primaries after K2.  But given the keen competition of ESF places now, I wonder if this is still the case.

I am going to give up the place in September anyway as my son have been accepted by the International Christian School.

Sharon

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for your information. Its really helpful. Since my BB is still v. young, I still have time to think and visit some more kinder before decision.After reading your response, I try to find out web site of ICS ( I didn't know this school before!). It also suit my need (I want my child to go to English speaking kinder with Christian background since I and my husband are christian). May I ask you whether you are Christian so you choose a Christian kinder? Do you know any other English speaking Christian Kinder? I live in HK east and I think my case is similar to you and need to move.

minggrace

Hi Salami

My son will have an interview on May 3. What about your kid?

Minggrace

minggrace

Hi
I'm also interested in ICS but it only admits kids aged 3 only. My son will be 2 years 10 months by September, so he'll have to repeat one/the first year. But since ESF will change its admission policy in 2007 (based on the passport of the kid), I may want to consider receiving American education (ICS) rather than the British one.

Minggrace

MomMom

Hi,

I would like to share my experience with all of you too.  My son was studying in Sunnyside kinder when he was 3 years old then my son was accepted by KBCK PM class half year later but I'm didn't change him to there.  Later, I'm afraid ESF no seat for my son, then I applied ICS & was admitted for K1 class (at that moment he was in K2 in Sunnyside).  The reason of K1 in ICS is due to he born in late Oct. (ICS accept children born before Sept).  Then I changed my boy to ICS.  After that, ESF admitted my boy for P.1.  Then I switched my boy to ESF.

Although my boy only studied in ICS for half year, personally I like ICS very much and I find the teachers there are very nice.  They have a good system in their teaching materials.  My boy is very happy there.

sharonso

Hi Harris,

Both my husband and I are Christian so we preferred schools with Christian background.

I just picked several kindies to apply based on word of mouth, thus don't know if there is any other international kindy with Christian background.  But ICS is sure to be well commented on the teachers' quality and school discipline, as well as the emphasis on bible teaching.

Hi Salami,

KBCK is not connected with ESF Primaries, but I think as their students are fluent in English, and many of them are exptriates, their rate of entering ESF has been high.  However, I heard from KBCK's Ag. Principal that this year, fewer students have been accepted by ESF.  This may be the trend for the coming years, especially for local Chinese children.

Sharon

Sandrine

Harris,

由 harris 於 2005-04-18 21:46:57
Do you know any other English speaking Christian Kinder?

I heard that the Small World Christian Kindergarten in mid-levels is very good.  You may take a look:

click here

Sharonso,

You have any idea the denomination (e.g. Lutheran, Baptist, Alliance...) of International Christian School? Is it non-denominational?  They didn't say in their website.  I'm hoping it's not the Church of the Latter Day Saints.  Anybody knows?

sharonso

Hi Sandrine,

ICS seems to be a school for missionaries' children in Hong Kong at first.  No idea of their denomination but for sure they are not under the Church of the Latter Day Saints or similar, otherwise my son's 2 cousins will not study there (their parents are also devoted Christians).  Maybe I can check it out for you later.

Harris,

Forgot to tell you that there is an international kindy plus primary and secondary school run by the Alliance Church, locted in Kowloon City.  Our church pastor's 2 sons are studying in the secondary school which seems to be quite good.  The school fees are similar to ICS.  I didn't apply for it because it offers only K3 and above.  But you may consider putting your kid to other kindies, and apply for K3 place in this school, if you want you kid to continue study in an international school with Christian background.

harris

Thanks for Sharon and Sandrine,
I also find that knowing the background of the school is very important. I think the ICS is related to 百特利神學院 since my husband have join some part time course there and he said the ICS secondary school is next to or inside ( I'm not sure, and may be ask him later) 百特利神學院. May be we should ask the school directly.
I also read the web site of  SMALL WORLD KINDER, I also want to know their denomination. I think I'll email them to find out.

Sandrine

Thank you sharonso and harris.

I haven't applied for ICS this year as it's a bit far from home but we might consider it when my child is older.  So I would greatly appreciate it if you would update me anything about this school.  

Harris,

If you want a Christian school, another option for you to consider is the YMCA International Kindergarten in TST which is next to the Peninsula Hotel.  My child is attending their playgroup right now and she got accepted to the kindergarten too.  Children are taught the love of God.  They have daily bible stories, learn to pray and sing a lot of hymns.  But they only have K1-K3.

click here for YMCA

sharonso

For those who may be interested, the international kindergarten/school in Kowloon City that I mentioned before is:

Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial International School 宣道會劉平齋紀念國際學校

It has K3 to secondary classes.  2 half-day classes for K3, school fee around $4,500 per month.

ronnie

sandrine,
just wondering what sort of primary schools do the kids send from small world?
anymore suggestion in hong kong side??
thx

Sandrine

ronnie,

I think most graduates of Small World go to international schools.  I read about a daddy whose child went to Small World now goes to ISF.  He has responded to the thread "真正學到中文的國際學校" recently (Apr 22 16:00).  If you want first hand info, I'd suggest that you write to him directly.  

Sorry that I don't know about other English-speaking Christian kindie on Hong Kong side.