Rejected by KJS: what to do now

[MommyTo3]

If you put your daughter in K3 and reapply next year for ESF, you may have to apply for P1 again and not P2.

In P1 the kids learn how to read and write, and if she doesn't learn that in K3 she will fail the P2 interview.

I think that would only apply if she was deferred because they think she's not ready yet. Because of all these primary problems, a lot of preschools do offer P1 classes and I know kids who enroll in P1 later in the year, or even P2 after a year there. As long as it's an extended P1 program and not simply another year of repeating kindergarten/preschool.

If her English was found not sufficient (which could be the case since they had lots of kids to compare with, it doesn't mean she's not good, just not as good as ... like carang said), she may be better off with another year of preschool (P1 equivalent) preparation in a smaller environment. And yes, siblings do get priority but no guarantee. I do agree that some kindies seem to be more popular with ESF than others, so maybe see of one of those kindies has a P1-equivalent program available for the coming year?

 

[carang]

ok, i've copied from the gov't website the names of primary schools that provide services to non-chinese speaking students.

the one's in blue are not too far from you. the one in pink is the one my kids will attend in sai kung.

Schools Admitting Greater Number of
Non-Chinese Speaking Children

Primary School

Government

Sir Ellis Kadoorie (Sookunpo) Primary School
Wan Chai, Co-Educational
Address: 9 Eastern Hospital Road, Sookunpo, Hong Kong
Tel: 2577 3489

Li Cheng Uk Government School
Sham Shui Po, Co-Educational
Address: 43 Tonkin Street, Shamshuipo, Kowloon
Tel: 2386 8049

Jordan Road Government PrimarySchool
Yau Tsim Wong, Co-Educational
Address: 18 Nanking Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon
Tel: 2332 4249

Aided

Yaumati Kaifong Association School
Yaumati, Co-Educational
Address: 1 Cliff Road, Yau Ma Ti, Kowloon
Tel: 2388 8327

Islamic Primary School
Tuen Mun, Co-Educational
Address: Yau Oi Estate, Tuen Mun, New Territories
Tel: 2450 2270

Hong Kong Taoist Association Wun Tsuen School
Kwun Tong, Co-Educational
Address: Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate, Kowloon
Tel: 2757 0854 / 2757 4884

Man Kiu Association Primary School
Kwun Tong, Co-Educational
Address: Estate School No.3, Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Tel: 2757 0490

Li Sing Tai Hang School
Wan Chai, Co-Educational
Address: 73 Wun Sha Street, Tai Hang, Hong Kong
Tel: 2577 5188

Islamic Dharwood Pau Memorial Primary School
Wong Tai Sin, Co-Educational
Address: Tsz Lok Estate, Phase I, Tsz Wan Shan, Kowloon
Tel: 2320 1300

Po Kok Primary School
Wan Chai, Co-Educational
Address: 11 ? 15 Shan Kwong Road, Hong Kong
Tel: 2573 7911

Chiu Sheung School, Hong Kong
Central & Western, Co-Educational
Address: 79B Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
Tel: 2546 1644

Tsing Yi Trade Association Primary School
Kwai Tsing, Co-Educational
Address: Cheung Hong Estate, Tsing Yi Island, New Territories
Tel: 2497 9288

Pat Heung Central Primary School
Yuen Long, Co-Educational
Address: 199 Lin Fa Tei, Kam Tin, Pat Heung, Yuen Long, New Territories
Tel: 2488 1520

YL Long Ping Estate Tung Koon Primary School
Yuen Long, Co-Educational
Address: Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long, New Territories
Tel: 2476 2433

CNEC Ta Tung School
Kwai Tsing, Co-Educational
Address: Estate School No1, Kwai Tsing Estate, Kwai Chung, New Territories
Tel: 2421 9159

Po On Commercial Association Wan Ho Kan Primary School
Island, Co-Educational
Address: Primary School No 2, Fu Tung Estate, Tung Chung, Lantau Island, New Territories
Tel: 2109 0045

Bui O Public School
Island, Co-Educational
Address: DD 316 LOT 2724 (PT) 2 Lo Uk Village Pui O, Lantau Island New Territories
Tel: 2984 1189

Northern Lamma School
Island, Co-Educational
Address: No 1 Yung Shue Ling Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island New Territories
Tel: 2892 0242

Sai Kung Central Lee Siu Yam Memorial School
Sai Kung, Co-Educational
Address: 18 Wai Man Road Sai Kung New Territories
Tel: 2791 6681

 

[rs2000]

thanks a lot for the list Carang

I will check them out.

btw the letter does mention they will keep us on waitlist if we wish. I have asked them to do so
now i am not sure if we will still stand any chance. I am thinking of sending her to sunshine house in TC as a back up for a P1 equivalent program.

if nothing works out, i will then send her to the local schools next year.

 

[carang]

you still haven't told us what your mother-tongue is....it might help with suggestions....

 

[Portia]

As KJS has stated that it is your daughter's English skills that are not the same standard as other applicants and that she might therefore have difficulty coping in English, if you want to try the ESF schools again later (eg, for P1 or P2 next year), it would help if you sent her to the school with the most opportunities to use English, eg more native speakers, etc. Also, if you really think that they have a preference for the so-called "better kindergartens", maybe it would be helpful to send her to one of them?

 

[TheQuasimother]

Sun Island is a VERY LOCAL kindergarten. We considered it as an afterschool kinder for our child. It is traditional in it's approach. There are some ESF(TY) kids who go to that school in the afternoon. It is not like PIPS (Kowloon) or Sunshine House or DMK. They all have proper international sections.

About what parents do if not in the ESF system and cannot afford international school fees:
Most parents in the ESF system would have applied for 3 schools - the ESF Primary and the 2 PIS. And no one I know did not receive an offer from one.

You still have the option of less popular international schools like Delia but I'd rather go local. Why don't you consider the primary school in Mui Wo or the one in DB. Both are good. The one in Mui Wo has a high percentage of international kids (not local) and the one in DB has a good reputation amongst the locals and mixed-local families.

Good Luck with your decision!

 

[carang]

just for information: the local school in DB is called WEI LUN

 

[TheQuasimother]

An interesting article about Bui O.

http://jmsc.hku.hk/hkstories/content/view/709/9013/1/1/

The population there according to the principal, is now more international than local. The article has got me thinking about my options! There are so many more English speaking kids attending local schools and with rising international school fees, could be the start of a new trend.

 

[TheQuasimother]

you still haven't told us what your mother-tongue is....it might help with suggestions....

Yeah, I'd like to know too.

What about Christian Alliance, Kingston, Creative, KCIS?

 

[carang]

i know that in sai kung, there are a LOT of parents that choose local for kindergarten and some continue with local for primary (at the school that i highlighted above). in my visits to the primary, i've seen mixed kids, PH kids, white kids, black kids and everything in between. like i said, i'm happy with our selection.