kindergarten / nursery for 2.5 and 4.5 year old - where to go...

J

jmi

New member
hello :)
we're a family from switzerland, moving to hong kong in summer 2015. so my first priority is the kindergarten for my two sons, 2.5 and 4.5 years old this summer.
we're looking for an international kindergarten where they can go together (if not the same group at least the same building) and where they get lots of time to play without pressure...
as we have not decided where to live we're pretty free. maybe discovery bay or repulse bay or somewhere else where there is not too much hectic and stress for the kids.
any info hiiighly apreciated!
:-) greetings!
 
thank you mrsdoubtfire for your precious answer! i'll check them out online just now :)


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thank you giginium four your link and offer to help.

as our boys love to cycle & play outside as much as possible we are thinking about looking for a flat in discovery bay.
- any thoughts / info?
- does anybody by chance know the montessori school in discovery bay?

all the best
jennifer


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I moved to Lohas Park. Good facilities, swimming pools, clubhouse and a nice park, and right on the MTR. Ferries always put me off DB but it does look nice whenever i go. More and more westerners in LP tho now.
 
Hi Jmi,

Welcome to HK....soon.

I have just moved to Quarry Bay and looking at Pre-school for my 2 year-old son. I went to the Open Day of Hamilton Hill International mentioned in this thread and they seem pretty good. They are focused on learning through speech and drama, role play etc. Fun and stress-free with good teachers, sounds like suitable for your kids.

Of course, like a lot of moms, I looked at lots of different pre-schools + kindie around the area, but my son went for a trial class at Hamilton Hill and loves it. He has always been a shy kid and we never expected him to behave so differently in that class, so we applied for him already, waiting for a reply now....hopefully he gets in.

Let me know if you need some help.

Mabel
 
Thanks for the information.
Can the expats who haven't moved to HK yet register their children in HK kindergarten in advance? I have heard that there are very long waiting lists and that all of the schools have entrance tests even for 1 year olds??
 
jmi said:
thank you giginium four your link and offer to help.

as our boys love to cycle & play outside as much as possible we are thinking about looking for a flat in discovery bay.
- any thoughts / info?
- does anybody by chance know the montessori school in discovery bay?

all the best
jennifer


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Click to expand...

Hi Jen

I sent you a pm


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I think you'll have to have an address in HK and most schools need you to have ID card. There are waiting lists for sure but if you look around you should find a place. No tests for 1 year olds I don't think. If a school is testing your child at 1yr you shouldn't be going there!
 
wangthui said:
Thanks for the information.
Can the expats who haven't moved to HK yet register their children in HK kindergarten in advance? I have heard that there are very long waiting lists and that all of the schools have entrance tests even for 1 year olds??
Click to expand...

Some relocation companies might be able to do that for you? Only a few of the huge International schools require students to apply years in advance, but I don't think there should be an entrance test for 1 year-olds, too crazy.

After much research and reading lots of comments, I have just put in an application for my daughter for an International PN + Kindie (I think another mom in this thread did too). I started with their website then trial class. Check it out if you like www.hhik.co
 
oh wow, thank you aaallll for your really precious answers! we have to wait for the meeting with HR of my husband's company, then we will know more and we'll be able to proceed in applying for school & flat.
but i feel much better after your info! so many good possibilities!


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I have checked their application form and found out this school requests to pay application fee 1500HKD... is it worthy to pay in advance since I don't live in HK yet (applying for kindergarten for my daughter next year)
 
I guess all schools have an admin fee really. I think if you like the school then go for it. Places are difficult to find in good schools.
 
Hello,
I wonder if any Hong Kong moms having/had problems getting their kids in kindergarten/ primary schools in districts where there are many mainland Chinese kids? It would be great to hear the experience.
 
I really think it depends on what you're looking for? Without sounding snobby, this is an expat website so I would imagine most parents here are looking for international education and so won't have to worry too much about there being too many "mainlanders." If you're looking for a local type KG in Tai Po of course there may be more problems. Tricky subject at the mo with all the anti-mainlander sentiment around.
 
PIPS (Parkview) Hk is close to repulse bay and all about learning through play! Lovely school with big outdoor play area. Several kindergartens in discovery bay - dbis, dmk (discovery mind), Montessori - just a matter of looking and seeing what one feels best to you
 
My son goes to Golden Gate International. They are learning through play also and they have an outdoor area where they plant veggies. He loves it there! They are in Hung Hom and we live in Whampoa Garden so it's a convenient bus ride for us. They're pretty new so will probably have spaces. Good luck finding the right school for you and your kids!
 
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