new to HK - suggestions for a good reception school

[tl918]

My family and I will be relocating to HK from the US probably sometime early next year (2008). My daughter will be turning 3 on Sept. 18 and I need some advice/suggestions as to which school (local or international) offers a good reception curriculum. We will be staying at the Grand Waterfront in To Kwa Wan. Both my husband and I are fluent in English so we actually want our daughter to attend a school that will allow her to be exposed to Cantonese/Mandarin on a regular basis. Please help!

 

[loupou]

At age 3, your daughter will be old enough for K-1. You might want to approach local kindergartens in the area and see if they will take her.

If you do not speak any Cantonese with her at home, her first few weeks will be quite hard for her. Also, local kindies are very different from most in the USA - a lot more sitting, listening, & working, especially after the K-1 year.

It really depends on what sort of school you want and what your goals are.

 

[tl918]

Hi loupou,

Thanks so much for your post. I left HK when I was 12 and so I have no idea how the HK education system works anymore. And since the people I do know in HK don't have any children, they really have no idea neither. I was reading your other posts and I came across this one:

"There are plenty of EMI schools, but most are quite hard to get into, because they are "big name" schools - like St. Stephen's Girl School, DGS, DPS, DBS, St. Paul's Convent, Maryknoll, etc."

My question is will my daughter (Christy) be able to go to any of those schools if we don't live in the area? I know Grand Waterfront is assigned to school net #34 and I don't see any of the schools you mentioned on the list. I assmue it would be difficult to get in any of those schools as Christy only speaks Mandarin and English right now. Would they require her to interview before accepting her?

Is K2 like kindergarden in HK? My daugher is currently going to a pre-school and I wonder if K2 is the equivalent of that. I guess I would like her to go to a kindergarden that's similar in style as the one she's going to now. But I think that would mean she would have to attend an international kindergarden. But my plan is to let Christy learn Chinese, otherwise I would just keep her here in the US. Are there any kindergardens (local or private) that are similar to international schools but still teach Chinese?

Thanks again for your help as I'm so clueless about HK's system.

 

[loupou]

Hi Tl918,

Local kindergartens in Hong Kong run for three years, starting at age 3; which means most of the intake interviews happen at age 2 1/2 or so.

K1- age 3
K-2 age 4
K3 -age 5

When you child is in K3, that is the time that you make the primary 1 applications.

DSS schools can choose their applicants, others are allocated by district (but when you make the main application you can request 1 out-of-district school).
Yes, Primary schools usually require an interview. Schools that you apply to in Central allocation do not require one.
As for local kindies that are more like international ones, but in Chinese:

Yew Chung is famous for that style of teaching, and goes up through secondary, but is expensive:

Go here to learn more about it:
http://www.ycis-hk.com/default-ECE.aspx?Section=ECE
A friend of mine sent her kids to Kingston for a while - Mandarin & English
http://www.kingston.edu.hk/eng/index.php

I have some friends that are sending their kids to a new school over at Cyberport which is supposed to be very creative & good and foster Chinese learning:
http://www.isf.edu.hk/eng/about.html


If you can read some Chinese, go here to look at the list of kindergartens :
http://www.hkedcity.net/school/kindergarten/sch_list.phtml?sch_district_id=5

Hope this info. helps

 

[tl918]

Hi loupou,

Hope I'm not bothering you but I was wondering what DDS stands for. Are those the more prestigious local/public schools? Also, are you saying if I pick one of the kindergardens within school net #34, then Christy wouldn't have to interview and she'll authomatically get in?

I checked out the YCIS website... seems like a very nice school that Christy will probably love but the tuition is outrageous! And even if money was not a factor, I would assume that they have a long waiting list right? Would Christy ever have a chance to get in their K2 class if I apply now? I will be in HK for a month in November so I'm definitely planning on visiting the scool and see if I can submit an application. I guess if all else fails, Christy will just have to attend a local school.

I've learned so much from you and thanks again for your repy!