My girl will be having her interview on Sat 12:00pm as well. See both of you there. Don't worry lah! I think late interview won't affect the result. It's difference from P1's interview. Take it easy!
You are right! I agreed with you therefore I didn't join any school courses & test for my son. However, if you want to let your kid study in HK (those DSS), I think cert & activities are a most. In Sin, children don't have to 'fight' for school therefore I found that Singapore's kids have more playing time during their childhood. I don't really like the education system in HK but I have no choice. I don't understand why we need to compete for school. Why children need to interview for school? Parents here spent a lot of time & $ on their kids. Kids attend many activitis to get the cert. Are they really happy? Most mothers said that their kids are very happy to attend courses but if I were that child I'm not happy. Anyway, I also let my boy attend course becos you need to in order to compete with others. You will know why after a few yrs more.
lovelyfrog, chongmama,
Same as you, I didnt realise I have to enrol this and that for my son until I see others doing so, and doing so much! Then I was also fear that my son will be lag behind and at the same time I also want to prove my son can also do the best as they do, it's a very crazy situation that both parents and kids are busy paying and learning. But he didnt take any cert for all his courses attended, I just want him to be more 'all rounded' to write on his profile, he learns piano and drawing in Zenith, swimming and e.nopi maths - all NO cert. Once I talked to a tuition centre owner that she strongly disagrees sending kids to sit for Cambridge test for a cert to get in primary school, SL does so by sending them to PRC for the exam as even HK British Council wont accept small kids for the exam and the exam is easier in PRC than that in HK, really crazy! (Sim, correct me if I am wrong).
In fact, my elder son studied in a normal church operated kinda when he was in N1 and K1 (the first few months), the Principal in Kam Tin St. Joseph was the ex-Officer in that kinda, she is really nice; then we moved to YL and I had to get him a kinda so as to save travelling time, still remember that time the ex-officer in Zenith told me that their syllabus is ahead of the Education Bureau thus I had to change as the earliest so that my kid can catch up. That time I didnt try to seek place from any other Kinda like Chan Kwong and other 'famous' kinda in YL as I know there must be no place at all for jumping in. So far I am really satisfied with Zenith, in terms of syallbus and all staff from Principal to the amahs. I am not quite sure what 'connection' St Joseph has with DBS but I dont think it's true as all kids have to go thru interview, they wont know where you are from. Sim will understand what I am going through, busy interviewing and go with expectation, return with worry as donno whether our son will be admitted. True my hubby and I was also graduated from estate school, we didnt go any famous primary nor secondary, but now we are both satisfied with what we have - academically and morally and materially. Why kids today have to do such crazy games? I wont blame my son for not doing great but just appreciate for what he did as they are really bravo to attend so much interviews on their own, they are just a 5-year-old kid!
Sim, as you have accepted smc offer, sure you wont take any govt school; for me, I am struggling as we have 20 marks to go for a govt primary school which runs quite well nowadays but it's not an English school for sure, if we let our elder son getting in, then we wont need to go thru the process to attend interviews, wait for result 3 years later as the smaller son will straight in w/o any hassle, therefore, we wont accept smc offer even if they do offer us as we will give up the govt school quota immediately. Very trouble!!
Before giving birth to them I don't know anything too. However, Istarted to panic, busy searching for school. My hubby didn't help meeven he is HK. Guys are like that, they take things very easy. Womenare those worry type. I think the competition for school for my girlwill be worse than my son cos many kids born in 'pig year'.
Children here really need to learn a lot lah! Niklaus even you said your son didn't have cert for all the activities but he still need to spent his weekend learning things. Like me, even I don't like this however I need to follow the trend too. When my son reached 4yrs, I sent him to learn piano, drawing, taekwondo (in our clubhouse) & English course. However, he is just learning piano & taekwondo now. I think it's time for him to have a rest. In SIngapore, all my friend's children are playing & enjoying their childhood ... not like the children here lah!
SL will sent children to attend Cambridge test in China but it's optional. For my son's yr, I don't know if they have change the rule. I didn't let my son attend SL's Cambridge course (the course not cheap) however I taught him myself & sent him for the test when he was 5yrs old in HK British Council. Anyway, Starters are no use now lah! cos people are sending their kids to Movers & even Flyers when they are just 5 yrs old. 'CRAZY' right! This is what I said ' HK parents". Sorry for the offence!!! I think 'Pig year' children will be worse.
Yup! I always ask my hubby " Why Primary school need to go interview & need $$? I just want to go English school. The children are just 5yrs old, what they want to ask them? If my kid doesn't what to talk doesn't mean that he is stupid, just that he doesn't want to talk to strangers. What wrong will this??? Weird Education system!!! Haha!!! But I still have to play this crazy games just like what niklaus said.
I have no choice lah! So I have to choose English school. Not like you all. Even if I know how to read Chinese but I don't know how write some of the Chinese characters (mine is like China) However, I know how to teach Mandarin which I think is better than learning Cantonese. Cantonese is not difficult to understand & speak if you are staying in HK. Maybe just difference in the accent. Just like me. Yes, if we chose DSS we will need to play this silly game 3 yrs later.
As I told you before, there are no connection between Kinder & Primary. However, if you want your girl to study in traditional primary then I think any kinder will do. But if you want her to study in DSS or English school then you need to consider more things otherwise during the balloting government won't see which kinder your girl is studying in.
Sim,
That's y there are sooooooo many learning centres out there lor - as most of the kinda provide limited sessions for English and PTH then parents have to seek outsource, that's why I dont think the school fee in Zenith is expensive as end up they have to pay similar elsewhere
lovelyfrog,
For St Joseph, better ask how many teaching hours per week for English and PTH even though they have NET and foreign kids then you can compare it with Zenith; for me, it is not comparable as I send my kids full day class, SJ doesnt offer full day class. I think full day (international) class in Zenith is very comprehensive, I pay for one-stop service :lol
Frankly speaking, it's difficult to teach all 3 languages(English, PTH & Cantonese) at one time. It's ok for them to pick up PTH when they are in Primary. It's no easy for us to speak with them 3 languages as well. For me, I just target 2 languages & the school will teach him Cantonese. As for my girl, I just speak English with her therefore she don't understand both PTH & Cantonese. She will not have advantage when it's her time to apply primary.