IMS, CDNIS, ICS or ESF?

[Jomama1]

My 3 years old son has just gone through the interviews for the first 3 schools listed above (he's already in an ESF kindy since he's November born). I know in Hong Kong we'd be lucky to get into any school, but just in case we're fortunate enough to have an option, we'd like to be prepared to decide which school to attend. This is what's important to our family:

1. Finding a through train school with a solid enough academic curriculum (without beating the desire to learn out of the child)

2. A school that nurtures good characters & virtue

3. A sufficient Chinese learning program which allows the child to be able to read the newspaper & write in paragraphs with ease by primary graduation.

Location is not an issue as we are prepared to move, although schools on the HK Island side is preferred. Any suggestions or comments is greatly welcomed.

 

[Jomama1]

Just received an early confirmation from IMS. We got an offer

 

[Editor1]

Congratulations!!! That's fantastic.

 

[Jomama1]

Thank you Editor. My happy headache now is to decide if we should confirm IMS by this Friday (due date), and probably risk losing 40K if CDNIS come back in April with an offer and we decide to take CDNIS instead...

 

[ims]

Jomama, curious why would you prefer CDNIS over IMS if Chinese is one of your objective? Would have thought that IMS has teh strongest Chinese program amongst the schools you have listed. Have you decided yet?

 

[Jomama1]

Chinese is my third objective, whereas through-train is my first. I can always supplement Chinese, but I cannot supplement a high school affiliation. It has been a tough struggle between IMS & CDNIS (my son was fortunate enough to get accepted into all the schools he interviewed for), but CDNIS won over given it is quite impossible to get in if we miss the mass intake at this age. I have heard cases where kids transfers back to IMS primary afterwards. It is a risk I'd have to take. Also, Montessori training is wonderful but more and more data is coming back that a play-based curriculum for kindergarten age children is more beneficial in the long run. Due to his birth month (Nov), he is not old enough to apply for CIS & HKIS this year, so we'd still try for CIS next. Anyhow we are happy to be in a decent through-train school. Giving my boy the freedom to explore & learn without "entrance exam" looming in the near future is important. How about your child?

 

[ims]

Congrats this is a great school! Personally, I would keep my kids in their primary school if they are well settled with their friends and teachers. Can always change in secondary school as there are lots of new open spots in most of the international secondary schools. CDNIS and IMS are both great schools, don't think the children would have problems if they want to join another secondary school in HK or overseas.

 

[Jomama1]

Thank you niv for your encouragement. Finding the right school sure isn't easy in Hong Kong. Just wondering if your child is in kindergarten, primary or secondary school?

In regards to having "lots of new open spots in most of the international secondary schools", i am not as optimistic 8-9 years down the line. Many parents with kids entering Int'l school nowadays remain in HK more or less on a permanent basis, plus many strong students currently in local schools will try for an International Secondary school spot (you cannot imagine how many parents i heard are planning to put their kids in Int'l at the Secondary level after building a solid foundation in Chinese in the Primary years). Given CDNIS has been my top choice before my boy was born, i am as happy as i can be.

Of course, i've learned much between then and now, and found that the IB-PYP is actually quite a weak foundation program [For parents/teachers who disagree, i would love to hear from you, and please prove me wrong]. Given CDNIS runs IB all the way, i worry that his foundation in spelling and math may not be strong enough. Anyhow, no school is perfect and it is a good option in accordance to the guidelines i set out.

Hope your child/children is/are doing well