Choosing a Kindergarten

S

stephchoy

Registered User
Has this topic been already talked to death?

But for me, it's the current headache in the last few months as my daughter is 22 mth old and she's due to enter K1 end of next year. Application/Interviews start around now. My main criteria are decent environment, good teachers and convenient location. I'd also really like for my child to learn Cantonese as husband is Brit and I'm somewhat of a "gwei-po" myself having spent time abroad. Also, I'm on a budget too...so I'm staying away from really expensive international schools. Something from around $2000 - $3000 including all the food, textbooks, transportation expenses is OK.

We live in Olympic City but aren't so keen on the kindergartens in the Mongkok, Yaumatei, TST areas. I've looked and applied for some schools in the Kowloon Tong area and will interview with them. But my concern is that baby will still have to take a school bus for at least 30-45 minutes and they are also not always within walking distance from the MTR in case we have to rush to pick up the child in a typhoon or other emergency. Anyway, did anybody else have similar considerations when choosing a kindergarten for their child?

And what do you think about the following schools?

York English Kindergarten (Kowloon Tong)
Canaan Kindergarten (Kowloon Tong)
St. Nicholas (Kowloon Tong)
Learning Habitat (Olympic City-but they have had other branches in Tsing Yi & Hunghom)

Also, is it SO important for them to get into a well known kindergarten to get into the right primary school, to get into the perfect secondary school, to enter an IVY League university, to get a six-figure job when they graduate.....to become a major success in life?????

Love to hear any advice or experiences anyone has had!
 
I started doing some "research" for my 12 months. I'd like some info about this, too, since I just moved to Hong Kong 2 years ago.
I'd like to send my son to International Christian School (Fo Tan) but they'll consider my application only on Feb 2007, for Aug 2007 intake (my son'll be 3 years and 10 1/2 months!). Fee: K1 (1/2 day)$38,000.
Christian Alliance PC Lau Memorial Intl Sch (Kowloon City), K (1/2 day) $24,000.
Starters Schools (Wan Chai&Causeway Bay), around $30,500.
Earlybirds Community Playgroup (HKPPA) (Tai Po), around $30,000-$36,000.
So far, these are the ones I'd like to consider.
But I agree with you that a lot of schools are just tooooo far from MTR station. And since I live in Tsuen Wan, they are absolutely very faaaaaaaaaaar.
Please tell me how it goes for you. My email: [email protected]. Thanks.
 
i heard that the ymca kindergarten in tst is not that bad! however the school fees are a bit pricey for me so i chose to let my son attend the sunnyside kindergarten on jordan rd/nathan rd. it's 2100/month but eng only kindergarten

some other parents also told me that the baptist kindergarten in kowloon tong is good so you may want to call them and find out...
 
Thanks for the input. Yes, heard of both those schools. YMCA is rather expensive and I did call Baptist and again they are also eng only. We got Canaan for an 'interview' this Saturday. That's something else the baffled me. Is it just the capitalist system in Hong Kong of survival of the fittest, only the smart kids get accepted to go to kindergarten? Or is there a good reason for this? Any other countries have this practice? My mother-in-law from the UK was appalled to hear that her 2 year old grand-daughter would have to go through such a process.
 
I guess it's the norm here and it seems to me that some kindergartens just love the process...parents line up for forms, for interview...and the child needs to pass an interview to get accepted. If they don't get accepted, the parents might write a letter attaching some reference letters, a portfolio of the child, etc. to beg a place. It happens, especially in some very popular kindergartens.

I read it in another forum that some parent arrived at 6:30am for an application form and she was already no. 60 in the line. That was only a Poleungkuk kindergarten and as the forms would only be available from 9:00am-12noon on a specified date, parents line up early. Another popular kindergarten in Kowloon Tong has 35 classes in the morning and another 35 classes in the afternoon, totalling 70 classes a day. Yet interviews are scheduled on 2 mornings and parents have to wait on average 1-2 hours for the interview. Isn't it ridiculous?
 
Yes. I don't know that it will be like this. If homeschooling is legal here, I might just consider it, :haha:
Stephchoy, could you tell me how it goes?
Is Canaan good?
I'd like to send my boy to a christian school. But some schools here are just too pricey. Do you have any ideas of where to send your child after kindergarten?
 
Check out http://www.classmateasia.com for a list of kindegarten. I sent my son to Victoria International Kindegarten in Causeway Bay - however I think they have some schools in Kowloon. They provided him with an integrated billingual programme, with both an English and Chinese teacher. The cost was around HK$3000/month. He had a lot of fun in school, but also came out learning some Chinese words as well as mastering English phonics - all before the age of 4! His teachers were caring and enthusiastic. Do check out the school.
 
I'm not too sure about other schools but when I put my son in school they scheduled an interview too. But it was nothing more than just making sure that the child has no obvious learning difficulties. I was the only parent being interviewed..or rather it was just a meeting with the principal. She said it doesn't even matter if the child speaks no english before coming to school. As long as she can see that mother and child can communicate without any problems a place will be offered in the school.
 
lynn, i think you have a few more months before really having to worry. i'm just taking one step at a time, getting over the kindergarten hurdle first. what i'm still tryng to get to grips with is understanding how to choose the right school. i guess based on other parent's experiences. but most of the facilities are the same, outdoor playground, computer room. apart from learning habitat, none of the schools i visited went into too much detail about the curriculum with parents. i have been warned that you need to be careful of kindergartens that are too 'commercial'.

Helen, thanks for the suggestion of Victoria. I'll check it out. Actually learning habitat, this kindergarten that just opened in Olympic works on the bilingual basis, one english teacher and one chinese teacher. do you think your son is profficient enough in chinese for his age with this sort of education?? I wonder if it gets diluted with this system and whether he's worth it going to a more local school to really pick up some cantonese. because at home as well, we have a heavier emphasis on english since my hubby is british. What do you think??

scr, in terms of interview, my feeling so far after only one with funful international is that it's probably not as competitive for kindergarten spaces these days. they asked my child one question and the next thing was asking us to give them a deposit. i guess just put off by the idea of schools being 'selective' at this stage, and also having to pay a $30 application for each school!!

anyway, lynn, i'll keep you updated about what i find out from my 'hunt'!
 
hi everyone, i have also started to look for a good kindergarten already even though my son is 10 months old because i don't like to make rushed decisions and want to know my options.

anyhow, anyone know someone who has their child in the montessori school on kane road central???? is there any other good kindergarten around that area?? i am hoping i can take my son to and from school, if possible, and i work in central!?

lynn, where do u live in tsuen wan??? i live in summit terrace? your child is one year old?? :)
 
Hi, Elaine! My son now is 16 months old, and I live in Discovery Park but we're moving to Luk Yeung Sun Chuen in May. Would you like to get together some day?
 
Schools

I can't believe how much pressure I've felt since we moved to HK late last year to try to find the "right" school for my son, I have exactly the same thoughts of Stephchoy . . . how will kindergarten affect the child's future! So I am thrilled to see other moms fretting about this topic.

We are also unsure how the school is run here, some schools mention debentures, how does that work? Are these one time fees, annual fees, refundable or never to be seen again. . . I also assume these are on top of whatever the enrollment & school fees are.

I would like my son to attend an English/Chinese (putonghua) school & as we live in the Pok Fu Lam area, we would like to limit our choices to schools around this area. The closest one I've seen so far has been Victoria (Belchers).

Any suggestions/comments/ideas extremely welcome. Thanks.
 
My baby girl is only 3M old, but my friends already urge me to plan for her education path!!!!! It's not uncommon in HK that the parents will put their children into playgroups, but the purpose is for a certificate, as it will add credits in the child's portfolio!!!!!!!!

I have studied at Victoria, say many many years ago. At my times, they only have 1 school in Causeway Bay. And we have "foreigner" teachers to teach English. I remember I have happy times, and go to school by big school bus.

Alice
 
Hi everyone,
I would like to asking the idea about looking the school for my boy, he is 22 months.
My husband and me both are chinese, but we're Canadian back from State since 2002.
Suppose my boy he can get in local school or INTL school, but I want my boy who have happy life when he is little, I don't like he goet stress from the local school.
I'm interesting KBCK, but they would like to accept the child who donno speak chinese, I donno can I apply this school for my boy. Actually I got the plan we will move back to Toronto or State later few year, that's why I want put him in this school. May I ask any one knows more about this school or any parents who have child stuudy in there? Thanks alot!!
 
I have heard many parents talking about a new international kindergarten at Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Pokfulam called Rightmind Kindergarten. None of the pushiness of local scool but still has a well arranged language curriculum.
 
ggrizzy said:
i heard that the ymca kindergarten in tst is not that bad! however the school fees are a bit pricey for me so i chose to let my son attend the sunnyside kindergarten on jordan rd/nathan rd. it's 2100/month but eng only kindergarten

some other parents also told me that the baptist kindergarten in kowloon tong is good so you may want to call them and find out...
Click to expand...

Hi ggrizzy. You mentioned your son studied in Sunnyside Kindergarten. Can you tell me more about the school, teaching method, atmosphere, and application? I have asked this in the forum, but it seems nobody knows.
Thanks,
Maria
 
My child is only 4 months but I have also been considering which schools we would like him to go to etc. already. I have heard that the more popular local kindergartens are St Catherine's and Kentville. They apparently have a high acceptance rates at some of the better local primary schools. I've heard that the English and Chinese levels at these schools are quite good but that the teaching system is really intense.

I reckon that since kids have such a great memory maybe it is best for them to have an intense Chinese education before their brain starts to deteriate. I know that trying to learn Chinese at my age is so hard.
 
fungyuenyan said:
Hi ggrizzy. You mentioned your son studied in Sunnyside Kindergarten. Can you tell me more about the school, teaching method, atmosphere, and application? I have asked this in the forum, but it seems nobody knows.
Thanks,
Maria
Click to expand...

dear maria,
sunnyside is really good for my sons. my elder son is graduating this june and has already been accepted by kowloon junior school (my first choice!) the school is old, small, but the children are happy. you can't compare with st catherine's or kentville or other local kindies coz they cater to ESF junior schools. don't expect your child to know how to add or read words but you can be sure they know how to sing, to count, etc... guess the only thing to consider is whether you really want to go the ESF route or the local route ... my younger son is also studying there and he also loves going to school! they use interactive teaching and the classes are very cozy... i've seen some new mothers hang around the school around 11:50 to try to interview some other parents collecting their kids from school for first hand information so u may want to consider that!

hope this helps...
ggrizzy:burnout:
 
ggrizzy said:
dear maria,
sunnyside is really good for my sons. my elder son is graduating this june and has already been accepted by kowloon junior school (my first choice!) the school is old, small, but the children are happy. you can't compare with st catherine's or kentville or other local kindies coz they cater to ESF junior schools. don't expect your child to know how to add or read words but you can be sure they know how to sing, to count, etc... guess the only thing to consider is whether you really want to go the ESF route or the local route ... my younger son is also studying there and he also loves going to school! they use interactive teaching and the classes are very cozy... i've seen some new mothers hang around the school around 11:50 to try to interview some other parents collecting their kids from school for first hand information so u may want to consider that!
hope this helps...
ggrizzy:burnout:
Click to expand...

Dear ggrizzy.
Many thanks for getting back. My primary is to have my girl in a complete English environment, and are paving the way to ESF. Coz she may go back to San Francisco in her later primary/ secondary schooling. Ggrizzy, from what you experience in Sunnyside, how can we enroll and when do we enroll? Do I need to wait for her age of 2 year 8 months? How is the connection between school and parents? Can we call to visit the school?
I look up Sunnyside in a kind of kindergarten profile mentioning Sunnyside playgroups and Sunnyside Kindergarten. Are they different?
I am looking forward to hearing from you more about Sunnyside.
Many thanks,
Maria
 
sunnyside is a very casual school. they will take any child as long as they are not full. sunnyside playgroup is what they call their first class (for children aged 2yrs 4mo and up). KG1 is the next class that they move on to and then on to KG2. after that they will attend ESF primary school (subject to passing of the ESF interview - which is basically an english comprehension test only - they won't test any reading/ maths/writing etc. i heard from my elder son (who was just interviewed last week) that the teacher reads a story and asks the children answers, they are asked to draw a picture and they are also asked to play with toys to see if they can share. from my understanding, if the child can communicate in basic english and can execute simple orders, then you're all set!)

i believe that the transition from sunnyside to kowloon junior is also very smooth but i have yet to find out!

if you let me have your email, i can send you the application form as i just got one for one of my friends.


cheers
ggrizzy :crib
 
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