Tell me something about Renaissance College

alphamom

Can anyone tell me something about the Renaissance College (RC)?  The teacher is good or not?  How are the cirriculum?
RC claim that they follow the IB.  Are the PYP, MYP and diploma all included?  My son was born in Mar 01.  If I apply the Sept 06 classs now,will it be too late?
When will RC held the interview? For the interview, what will they usually ask? Is there any special technique for my child?
Please give me some information!
Sorry for too many questions.

WYmom

You can get detail information directly from the school's info. session on Jan 21, 2006:

"An Information Day for interested parents, students and community members will be held on 21 January 2006, 12 noon to 6pm at King George V School Main Hall, 2 Tin Kwong Road, Homantin, Kowloon

Our programme will be repeated over 3 sessions:

Session 1:    from 12pm to 2pm

Session 2:    from 2pm to 4pm

Session 3:    from 4pm to 6pm

The programme for the Information will include: -            

Introduction to the school & its educational philosophy (Mr. Peter Kenny, Principal)
Interactive Curriculum Presentation
Q&A Session
Registration & Application "

alphamom

Dear WYmom
Thanks for your reply. Is it meant that my son can apply the coming Sept 2006 class?
Any parent have their child studying in Phenoix College?  Are the cirriculum O.K.?

Ruby1219

alphamom,

I learned from their newsletter that they will not set a deadline for intake to the Renaissance College. It's ok for you to apply now. If you are really interested in it, you better go to the briefing session this Saturday, know that you can do the application there too. And for sure you will learn more about the school.

My son is now studying in Phoenix and they are already using the IB curriculum for primary. My son is happy with the school, and he learns quite well, esp. in Chinese (as he was studying in International kindergarten).

Ruby

WYmom

alphamom 寫道:
Dear WYmom
Thanks for your reply. Is it meant that my son can apply the coming Sept 2006 class?
Any parent have their child studying in Phenoix College?  Are the cirriculum O.K.?

There is registration and application on Jan 21, so I believe you can apply for your son for 06/07.

I have visited Phoenix before, the new cirriculum using IB is quite good.  

H_A

Dear WYmom
Can you tell me more about RC/PHEONIX? How many native english speak teachers? Where do the teachers come from? In Shatin, there will be two ESF schools? I don't know which one is better or more suitable for my child. For Chinese, where do the teachers come from? How many children in one class? Do they use textbooks? OR making their own materials? How about the academic result?
        

大頭蝦

我都會去 21/1 果個 open day, 不過, 唔知呢間學校既收生比例係點呢 ? 我怕全部都係收埋 D 英文唔好既本地主流班幼稚園學生咋....始終係地區問題, 同埋間學校又咁新....

WYmom

Y2KChild,

Yes, you are right, it is the deal between ESF and govt, govt granted the piece of land to ESF, ESF has to build a private school to accept at least 70% of local students, and run the school financed by the school fees.

All Phoenix students will continue to study in Renaissance College, and the school will take in more local kids based on the admission criteria set by ESF.  However, as most of the students are local, they will offer ESL course to improve the English standard of the kids.  At the same time, the students have to study Mandarin everyday.  Overall, they have 20% classes in Chinese and 80% in English.  That's what I know.

liulokyi

你話因地區問題, 驚

大頭蝦

唔係敢既 意思, 敢沙田區都仲有間 ESF, D 小朋友既程度都唔錯架

sherry

According to the interview priority set by ESF exclude Renaissance College:

Category 1. First language English speaking students who cannot attend a local school because of insufficient grasp of Cantonese.

Category 2. Students whose first language is not English who cannot attend a local school because of insufficient grasp of Cantonese.

Category 3.  Students with English as an additional language, who qualify to attend a local school.
According to the interview priority set by ESF

Within each category priority will be given to students who:
have brothers or sisters already attending the school
are attending an ESF Educational Services kindergarten (for Y1 only) are former students returning from a period overseas have a parent who is a full time employee of the ESF are the children of former students of the school.  

Therefore, I think if you are in Category 3 (my son belongs to Cat. 3), the chance of getting in Shatin Junior (沙田區都仲有間 ESF) is very low.

大頭蝦 寫道:
唔係敢既 意思, 敢沙田區都仲有間 ESF, D 小朋友既程度都唔錯架

大頭蝦

哦, 係呀, 唔該晒你地呀 ! 因為我有三個朋友, 佢地 D 細路都係 SJS 讀, 佢係都係敢講架 !

WYmom

Overflow of application to Shatin Junior is expected to be absorbed by Renaissance College, particularly for category 3 (local) kids.

alphamom

I have a friend's husband is teaching in one of the ESF school.  She tell me the ESF school policy have been changed.  Starting from this year of Sept, most of the ESF school will only allow Category 1 (Please refer to Sherry mail) and those student who studying in pure international kindergarten (e.g. Kingston..) to apply. However, I've not confirm with those ESF school yet.  Can anybody tell me more information concerning this aspect?  Thanks.  

minggrace

Hi,

I don't know much about application stuff. But I have some queries. Please help. Are there any rules that
1) either RC or Shatin Junior can be chosen as they belong to a different governing body?
2) (still my impression tells me it's easier to get in RC than Shatin Junior) Shatin Junior won't consider your application anymore IF you've applied for RC?

By the way, I missed the briefing session yesterday. But is there any important information released during the briefing regarding the school or...whatever? Please share.
Thanks.

Minggrace

Ruby1219

Minggrace,

Trying to answer your questions :
1) yes, heard that the new policy is you have to choose between the two schools (RC & SJS) to apply first. But if you fail from one of these, you can apply for the other one, but of course, the places will be even less by the second round. But you better double check with the schools as my son is already P.1. This is only what I heard from my friend.
2) Yes, I think definitely RC is easier to get in than SJS, due to many reasons like the English standard, the history, etc.

But here I would like to say something for RC (Phoenix) as a Phoenix parent. My son is now in Phoenix P.1. I used to choose this school becos' my son hadn't got any interview from SJS. I had no choice but to put him in Phoenix (I had ICS as another choice though). But I would say now I'm happy with Phoenix and honestly, even if now SJS offers a place for my son, I think I would still keep him in Phoenix. The reason being Phoenix's principal teachers and staffs are very good. Very caring and nice.
Also, I really appreciate the Chinese standard of Phoenix over the ESF schools. I don't mind my son's classmates are all local Chinese. On the contrary, I'm happy that he can have a better balance between English and Chinese. He was studying in international kindergarten and his Chinese was really poor. Now with Phoenix, I'm so glad that he has forstered an interest in Chinese and has improved a lotin speaking, writing and reading Chinese.  
And, I think his English standard would still be high (much higher than the local school kids) as the lessons are all conducted in English except Chinese. He can now talk to foreigners and watching English-language movies at ease. In fact, he still prefers to watch English TV and read English books. Maybe because he is more used to use English since he was small.
Lastly, I really look forward to the new campus of RC in Ma On Shan in Sep this year.

Ruby

minggrace

Thanks, Ruby.

Minggrace

amandalyy2002

Ruby
Will they have a native speaker on Mandarin class or HK teacher?
LUI LUI