Mommies w/ kids studying or going to Phoenix

Vrindavan

>> which schools have a better chance to gain an interview

Phoenix of course

>> the school tuition will be around $65000 per year.

i would like to know the tution fee for all other ESF schools in 2006/07 too!
Then we can compare if Phoenix will be a lot higher by that time.

>> send my daughter to EFS instead of Phoenix. Even though,

it is hard to gain an interview for ESF if you both parents are Chinese

>> I like the IB program in Phoenix.

i have not check out the main differences yet
http://www.ibo.org/
Who can give me summaried ponts?

>>My friend's kid is studying in Phoenix, he said the tuition of the new school will be the same for them.

i believe tution should be the same for old and new students

>> about the student language level

now my son is going to Phoenix,
i worry more about his English ability,
the school give me the impression that it is lower than other ESF schools

In opposite,
if your kid go to ESF schools,
then you will worry more on the Chinese

piyanmum

Ruby1219

Thank you for your opinion.  It really a good point that Phoenix has Chinese lesson.  I think it is harder to find a good chinese tutor than a English one.

Vrindavan

>>harder to find a good chinese tutor than a English one.

why?

you are living in a Chinese city

piyanmum

>>you are living in a Chinese city

You are right.  That's the reason I think it is hard to find a Chinese tutor.

牡丹

可否告知我 Phoenix 的全名及該校的網址呢?

牡丹

Ruby1219

牡丹,

Full name is Phoenix International School. They might change their name in 2006 after moving to the new campus.

Website : www.phoenix.edu.hk

Ruby

Vrindavan

change to ?

why a change ?

Ruby1219

Don't know the new name yet. They should be now working out some alternatives. Know that some existing parents do think there's no need for a change and had reflected their opinion to the school.

They want a new name to signify a change of the new campus, I think.

Ruby

ashleymama

Dear Phoenix moms,
Hi! This is ashleymama. Actually I want to send my daughter to SJS. However, after reading all the "real picture" from BK moms, I think the chance would be "0". Although my daughter does really have a high standard of Eng. I want her to go to Int'l school because I think she should be happier in there and I also don't want to play the local edu game. I think the new ESF Ma On Shan School sounds very attractive of their English and Chinese training, in addition of the IB program. But what I worry is that the school will be similar to the local schools? anyway, I think I will still try to apply to SJS but second choice will be ESF Ma On Shan or International Japanese School? Any ideas?
Thanks!

Ruby1219

Ashleymama,

You mean Phoenix by ESF Ma On Shan, right ?

Yes, I think you better apply for Phoenix as back up. This is what I did exactly and now it turns out it's my final choice as my son can't get any interview from SJS. In fact, Phoenix is not going to be easy either, especially for next year as they will move to the new campus, plus their change to IB. You better call them up now and see if it's time for you to hand in the application.

I don't know how would you consider "similar to local schools". If you mean the syllabus, then definitely Phoenix is different from local school, it follows IB and it's totally int'l school style/culture. If you mean the high composition of local students, then it's true as it's aimed to be an int'l schools for local HK students. Many mommies might have concern on this as they want their kids to study with kids from foreign countries. To me, this is not important.

Ruby

Vrindavan

Hi Ruby

>> totally int'l school style/culture

Do you know what are these ?
differences/criteria set apart from non-int'l schools ?


I still think Phoenix is just like another
Private Independent School (English medium) in HK


Oh

other ESF schools are not int'l schools too !

but there are relatively more native speaker kids,
may be one or two in each class at least ?

Phoenix - close to 100% Chinese student population

WYmom

Phoenix has never hidden the fact of their policy of accepting mainly local HK students.  I don't see this is a major problem so far as the school is teaching in an "international school" approach.  I do think that Phoenix is a good alternative for us vs ESF.

Everyone has different criteria in choosing a school, you can definitely choose to enter a school which accepts mainly western kids if you can get accepted, or simply go overseas to join the real "international" schools.

ashleymama

Thanks Ruby. I mean if Phoenix was similar to local schools, then why should I send her to Phoenix with such high tuition fees? Many famous local primary schools are taught in Eng, too. But may be you are right, if the syllabus were different, then it should be ok. Of course I do want my daughter to meet different nations of children in school, at least they have to communicate in english. otherwise, they will just speak cantonese with local classmates.
Do you know how's Jap Int'l School (Tai Po)? I've heard that it is a good school. (both Eng/Mandarin)

Vrindavan

Hi WYmom

i am not saying Phoenix is wrong or bad here.
i just talk about a phenomena only

you know many parents expect their kids
will be polluted by western culture if their kids
go to IS. (just kidding)  

Hi ashleymama

teachers are 100% int'l,
students are 100% local

i do not have other choice now,
if i have a choice,
i have the same feeling as you

to me,
students are int'l is more preferable than
teachers are int'l,
of course i prefer both are int'l

Ruby1219

WYmom,

I totally agree with you. Different people have different priorities. But I do think the culture of the school and the quality of the teachers are more important than the ratio of foreigners. I don't mind my son communicate in Cantonese with his friends, afterall, he is a Chinese ! As long as his English is equally good.  

Ruby

Ruby1219

Ashleymama,

Sorry, I don't have any idea of JIS.

Ruby

rookiemom888

I don't think Phoenix' students are 100% local, I went for school tour last year, they have some foreigners in classes. I just didn't like their current campus, but I was very impressed by the Ma On Shan campus. It is wonderful!  

Vrindavan

>> some foreigners in classes

in high school section or higher form classes ?

i didn't notice any at all

>>very impressed by the Ma On Shan campus

why that campus look fantastic to you ?

rookiemom888

Vrindavan,

as I said, I went for school tour LAST YEAR, so my tour maybe a bit different from yours. They took us into a P.3 class and they have at least 5 or 6  foreigners in that class. Also we walked around and see other foreign students there too, both in primary section and high school section.

But not all foreigners are Caucasians of course, some are blacks and some are Asians. They may have less no. of non-Chinese students but I couldn't say their students are 100% local.

I like Ma On Shan because they are big and have lots of facilities, e.g. sports, library, drama room etc. My son is in ESF, he always has to travel to other places for sports activities after school, his school just doesn't have sufficient space and facilities to cater for extracurricular activities.

rookiemom

Vrindavan

Hi rookiemom

Thanks for your reply.

We will be more certain of the coming year 05/06 student admission later

>> My son is in ESF

which ESF is so small as you describe ?

Now you prepare him to go to Phoenix too ?