Choosing a Kindergarten

[lynn cheung]

Hi, Elaine! My son now is 16 months old, and I live in Discovery Park but we're moving to Luk Yeung Sun Chuen in May. Would you like to get together some day?

 

[HKfornow]

Schools

I can't believe how much pressure I've felt since we moved to HK late last year to try to find the "right" school for my son, I have exactly the same thoughts of Stephchoy . . . how will kindergarten affect the child's future! So I am thrilled to see other moms fretting about this topic.

We are also unsure how the school is run here, some schools mention debentures, how does that work? Are these one time fees, annual fees, refundable or never to be seen again. . . I also assume these are on top of whatever the enrollment & school fees are.

I would like my son to attend an English/Chinese (putonghua) school & as we live in the Pok Fu Lam area, we would like to limit our choices to schools around this area. The closest one I've seen so far has been Victoria (Belchers).

Any suggestions/comments/ideas extremely welcome. Thanks.

 

[a_chan]

My baby girl is only 3M old, but my friends already urge me to plan for her education path!!!!! It's not uncommon in HK that the parents will put their children into playgroups, but the purpose is for a certificate, as it will add credits in the child's portfolio!!!!!!!!

I have studied at Victoria, say many many years ago. At my times, they only have 1 school in Causeway Bay. And we have "foreigner" teachers to teach English. I remember I have happy times, and go to school by big school bus.

Alice

 

[Esseniti]

Hi everyone,
I would like to asking the idea about looking the school for my boy, he is 22 months.
My husband and me both are chinese, but we're Canadian back from State since 2002.
Suppose my boy he can get in local school or INTL school, but I want my boy who have happy life when he is little, I don't like he goet stress from the local school.
I'm interesting KBCK, but they would like to accept the child who donno speak chinese, I donno can I apply this school for my boy. Actually I got the plan we will move back to Toronto or State later few year, that's why I want put him in this school. May I ask any one knows more about this school or any parents who have child stuudy in there? Thanks alot!!

 

[Tom]

I have heard many parents talking about a new international kindergarten at Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Pokfulam called Rightmind Kindergarten. None of the pushiness of local scool but still has a well arranged language curriculum.

 

[fungyuenyan]

i heard that the ymca kindergarten in tst is not that bad! however the school fees are a bit pricey for me so i chose to let my son attend the sunnyside kindergarten on jordan rd/nathan rd. it's 2100/month but eng only kindergarten

some other parents also told me that the baptist kindergarten in kowloon tong is good so you may want to call them and find out...

Hi ggrizzy. You mentioned your son studied in Sunnyside Kindergarten. Can you tell me more about the school, teaching method, atmosphere, and application? I have asked this in the forum, but it seems nobody knows.
Thanks,
Maria

 

[sky123]

My child is only 4 months but I have also been considering which schools we would like him to go to etc. already. I have heard that the more popular local kindergartens are St Catherine's and Kentville. They apparently have a high acceptance rates at some of the better local primary schools. I've heard that the English and Chinese levels at these schools are quite good but that the teaching system is really intense.

I reckon that since kids have such a great memory maybe it is best for them to have an intense Chinese education before their brain starts to deteriate. I know that trying to learn Chinese at my age is so hard.

 

[ggrizzy]

Hi ggrizzy. You mentioned your son studied in Sunnyside Kindergarten. Can you tell me more about the school, teaching method, atmosphere, and application? I have asked this in the forum, but it seems nobody knows.
Thanks,
Maria

dear maria,
sunnyside is really good for my sons. my elder son is graduating this june and has already been accepted by kowloon junior school (my first choice!) the school is old, small, but the children are happy. you can't compare with st catherine's or kentville or other local kindies coz they cater to ESF junior schools. don't expect your child to know how to add or read words but you can be sure they know how to sing, to count, etc... guess the only thing to consider is whether you really want to go the ESF route or the local route ... my younger son is also studying there and he also loves going to school! they use interactive teaching and the classes are very cozy... i've seen some new mothers hang around the school around 11:50 to try to interview some other parents collecting their kids from school for first hand information so u may want to consider that!

hope this helps...
ggrizzy:burnout:

 

[fungyuenyan]

dear maria,
sunnyside is really good for my sons. my elder son is graduating this june and has already been accepted by kowloon junior school (my first choice!) the school is old, small, but the children are happy. you can't compare with st catherine's or kentville or other local kindies coz they cater to ESF junior schools. don't expect your child to know how to add or read words but you can be sure they know how to sing, to count, etc... guess the only thing to consider is whether you really want to go the ESF route or the local route ... my younger son is also studying there and he also loves going to school! they use interactive teaching and the classes are very cozy... i've seen some new mothers hang around the school around 11:50 to try to interview some other parents collecting their kids from school for first hand information so u may want to consider that!
hope this helps...
ggrizzy:burnout:

Dear ggrizzy.
Many thanks for getting back. My primary is to have my girl in a complete English environment, and are paving the way to ESF. Coz she may go back to San Francisco in her later primary/ secondary schooling. Ggrizzy, from what you experience in Sunnyside, how can we enroll and when do we enroll? Do I need to wait for her age of 2 year 8 months? How is the connection between school and parents? Can we call to visit the school?
I look up Sunnyside in a kind of kindergarten profile mentioning Sunnyside playgroups and Sunnyside Kindergarten. Are they different?
I am looking forward to hearing from you more about Sunnyside.
Many thanks,
Maria

 

[ggrizzy]

sunnyside is a very casual school. they will take any child as long as they are not full. sunnyside playgroup is what they call their first class (for children aged 2yrs 4mo and up). KG1 is the next class that they move on to and then on to KG2. after that they will attend ESF primary school (subject to passing of the ESF interview - which is basically an english comprehension test only - they won't test any reading/ maths/writing etc. i heard from my elder son (who was just interviewed last week) that the teacher reads a story and asks the children answers, they are asked to draw a picture and they are also asked to play with toys to see if they can share. from my understanding, if the child can communicate in basic english and can execute simple orders, then you're all set!)

i believe that the transition from sunnyside to kowloon junior is also very smooth but i have yet to find out!

if you let me have your email, i can send you the application form as i just got one for one of my friends.


cheers
ggrizzy :crib