Pre-school in Kowloon

[Sandrine]

Kowloon Baptist Church Kinder or YMCA

My daughter got an offer for the April term in KBCK. I'm worried that she's not ready to start K1 now as she still wants the maid to stay with her during the playgroup at YMCA. If I decline the offer, her spot will be filled by someone on the waiting list. I'm not sure if I should go for it or wait till Aug to join the YMCA. Any advice please.

 

[Hoeymom]

My little daughter is 22 mths now and I'm looking for a good pre-school for her and which is close to my home (Kowloon Tong)? I also heard that KBCK is good but there's no Chinese to learn. Can anybody give me some suggestion as well? Is it really good to join a playgroup first - my daughter hasn't joined any yet?

 

[bijv]

My daughter got an offer for the April term in KBCK. I'm worried that she's not ready to start K1 now as she still wants the maid to stay with her during the playgroup at YMCA. If I decline the offer, her spot will be filled by someone on the waiting list. I'm not sure if I should go for it or wait till Aug to join the YMCA. Any advice please.

Sandrine

KBCK is definately good, dont know if you have taken the admission,
as for YMCA they have 3 teachers in the class between 24 students
the teachers are really helpful, they answer to all your questions.
In K2 they have a full time school also in which they cover lots of activitied like .mandarin, dancing, swimming, golf and gym
my daughter is joining a full time school in K2
the teachers who have left YMCA are from the toddlers world and not
the kidergarten
YMCA kindergarten is getting renovated in Easter so there would be a new look
YMCA has a class starting in April dont know if like to try

You can call me on 61005661 if you need more info.

Bijal

 

[Sandrine]

Hi Bijal,

Many thanks for your reply. I've declined the offer of both KBCK and YMCA for my child to start in April as she's not ready to be left on her own yet. I hope in the coming months, she'll learn to be more independent.

And now I need to decide between KBCK and YMCA for the Sep session. Both are Christian schools. The teachers of both schools seem to be good. The children of both schools seem to be happy. So what's the difference between them? YMCA have better facilities and they offer us the morning session whereas I only get the afternoon session with KBCK. KBCK has 3 teachers for 30 children. When you say KBCK is definitely a good school, what do you mean? Can you share with me more about it? What is the child-centred approach adopted by YMCA? How is it different from the theme-based learning thru play approach by KBCK?

 

[Esseniti]

My daughter got an offer for the April term in KBCK. I'm worried that she's not ready to start K1 now as she still wants the maid to stay with her during the playgroup at YMCA. If I decline the offer, her spot will be filled by someone on the waiting list. I'm not sure if I should go for it or wait till Aug to join the YMCA. Any advice please.

Hello Sandrine,
I would like to asking the question apply KBCK.
Cause I'm headache looking the school for my boy, he is 22 months now,
I want to put him in this school, but I have no idea how to apply and when is the right time to apply thanks alot =)!!

 

[Sandrine]

Esseniti,

You can call or write the school to ask for an application form. The address is:
Kowloon Baptist Church Kindergarten
2/F, 300 Junction Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Tel: (852) 2336-6213 Fax: (852) 2339-2142

KBCK will send you more info then. Priority is given to English-speaking children. Please apply as early as possible. Some parents apply as early as the baby is born. In my case, if I want my child to start in Sep 05, I should have applied before mid 2003 for a place in the morning session. Good luck.

 

[Esseniti]

Hi Sandrine,

Thank you for your reply!
I already got the application and a sheet introdution of school.
My boy is 22 months now, he may start attend school on Sept 2006,
is the right time apply for him now?
By the way, could you tell me how about the interview of that school?
Cuz my husband and me are CBC Canadian born Chinese, suppost my boy can attend the local school in Hong Kong, but I want my boy being the happy life when he study.
I want he learning from game and pratice not like local school too stress.... since I was graduated from GOOD HOPE SCHOOL in Hong Kong..... too stressful when I studied. Also I will let my boy back to Canada or State study high school later.......that's why I'm interesting this school..... I do worried they don't accept my boy for the reason he know chinese as well.....

 

[Sandrine]

Hi Esseniti,

You can apply now for your boy to start in Apr or Sep 2006. It doesn't matter whether your son knows Cantonese or not but at the interview, I was told that the school expects that the language used at home is English because the school doesn't teach English. My daughter speaks Cantonese too but English is her first language.

Our interview went like this. The interviewer took us to a room where there were some toys. While my daughter was playing, the interviewer chatted with her. After this warm up, we were led to the classroom where my daughter was introduced to the teacher and the children there. My daughter spent perhaps 10 minutes there playing when the interviewer would ask her more questions. The whole process took about half an hour. I'm not sure what questions were asked in the classroom as I wasn't with her. I think she played with some shapes, blocks and playdoughs.

Hope this helps.

 

[Esseniti]

Hi Snadrine,

Thank you so much!
How long you have to wait between you send the application and the interview? Cuz I'm not sure does my son ready for the interview.
I worry if I send the application then in the short period need to goes to interview.

 

[Sandrine]

Esseniti,

I think they arrange an interview for your child in Feb & May for the Apr & Sep term respectively.

I sent my application late last year and received a standard letter saying that they would contact me again in Jan 2005. In Jan 2005 they sent me a letter again asking if we're still interested, probably because some parents applied really early. After I confirmed my interest, I got an interview in Feb for the session in Apr.