Hong Kong- School Shopping!
As I've mentioned before, I think the two main things in getting properly settled here are finding the "perfect" house and finding the BEST school for my children. Now, Jack is just 6 and Henry just 3 (I can worry about him later) but obviously a good start in education is so important. Not to mention Jack had a wonderful start at Northbridge Public School in Sydney- an excellent experience and education for him.
Now, if you don't know, getting into an international school in some foreign countries (i.e. HERE) can be one of the most frustrating and ridiculous processes. Basically I have been looking at schools since November- so starting almost 5 months ago. As with any new city, you want to make sure that the school is located close to where you're going to live. You also want to make sure that where you live is close to your work. And tough when you're moving to a new city and you have no clue about any of those. (Jason's company didn't decide on where their new office was going to be until about 2 months ago). Brilliant.
After alot of research and discussions with a few people, we finally decided on an area to live. THEN we could find a school that was close. However, because the waiting lists are so ridiculous here for the international schools, it wasn't really a choice of ours, but really which school we could get Jack into. Ugh.
The problem here in Hong Kong is that many of the locals want to send their children to the international schools because it gains them better access to getting into the US universities. Lovely. However, there are certain guidelines to most of the int'l schools in that you have to obviously speak English. But again, many of the locals so desperately want their children to go there that they start teaching them English at a very young age.
They're also saving their money because just to get into some of these schools, you're going to have to fork over at least $10,00 just to get them in. There are capital levy's that the government requires each year to be paid- usually about HK$15,000. That doesn't include application fee, school deposits or the tuitions. And obviously for the locals, they are not on Expat packages like we are, so this is not paid for a company but out of pocket.
We tried at first to send Jack to Clearwater Bay School- it's an ESF School- English Speaking Foundation (run by the government), but the list is forever long. So we tried at a number of the other ESF schools, the American International School and the Australian International School. Obviously, we want Jack to have a great education, not just where we could get him into.
Upon searching (once we got here), I did find another school. Hong Lok Yuen International School- it's actually located right in Tai Po where we'll be living. However, they didn't have a spot for Jack but in Year 2 and that would mean him skipping an entire grade. I just don't think he's that prepared. So, AIS called two weeks ago and said they had a spot! Hallelujiah!
Best be prepared, once you have paid your application fee and they have a spot, you still have to go through an informal interview for Jack (they test him on his knowledge, etc.,) then an informal interview with the parents. So by the time we did the whole process, it took about 3 weeks to get Jack into school.
Alas, it is taken care of and Jack started school on Monday! Ah! :) I think the entire family was happy! Jack was thrilled- I cannot tell you how much he was missing having friends and going to school. I was happy- I have been doing homework books with that child for awhile now and I love him and am happy to do homework, but I was not cut out to be a teacher. Henry was happy too I think- they are not used to being around each other everyday, all day.
Anyway, Jack is completing his first week of school today and has had a great week. :) He's super happy and has already made some great new friends. We have a bit of work to catch him up, but let's face it, he's going into Year 1 towards the end of the semester (so in reality he's only getting about 4 months of 1st grade).
Here are some helpful links and/or information for those looking for schools in Hong Kong. It also helps to go to the different expat websites and see what other parents are saying about the schools, etc.,
www.esf.edu.hk/ - This is for the ESF Schools- there are a number of them around Hong Kong. The application fee is only about US$20 so it's not bad. VERY long waiting lists so apply early- as in right when you know you are moving.
hongkong.geoschools.com/forum/ - Another great website that gives you school information by districts/areas, etc.,
http://guides.wsj.com/hong-kong/guide-to-hong-kong/education/ - Again, another great website that gives you a plethora of information. Also leads to the different international schools websites, etc.,
There is also a magazine that I've found here called "Playtimes"- they have great school information and other activities, etc., that is obviously geared towards children and parents. Wonderful information- http://ppp.com.hk/educational-publishing/playtimes/
Now, if you don't know, getting into an international school in some foreign countries (i.e. HERE) can be one of the most frustrating and ridiculous processes. Basically I have been looking at schools since November- so starting almost 5 months ago. As with any new city, you want to make sure that the school is located close to where you're going to live. You also want to make sure that where you live is close to your work. And tough when you're moving to a new city and you have no clue about any of those. (Jason's company didn't decide on where their new office was going to be until about 2 months ago). Brilliant.
After alot of research and discussions with a few people, we finally decided on an area to live. THEN we could find a school that was close. However, because the waiting lists are so ridiculous here for the international schools, it wasn't really a choice of ours, but really which school we could get Jack into. Ugh.
The problem here in Hong Kong is that many of the locals want to send their children to the international schools because it gains them better access to getting into the US universities. Lovely. However, there are certain guidelines to most of the int'l schools in that you have to obviously speak English. But again, many of the locals so desperately want their children to go there that they start teaching them English at a very young age.
They're also saving their money because just to get into some of these schools, you're going to have to fork over at least $10,00 just to get them in. There are capital levy's that the government requires each year to be paid- usually about HK$15,000. That doesn't include application fee, school deposits or the tuitions. And obviously for the locals, they are not on Expat packages like we are, so this is not paid for a company but out of pocket.
We tried at first to send Jack to Clearwater Bay School- it's an ESF School- English Speaking Foundation (run by the government), but the list is forever long. So we tried at a number of the other ESF schools, the American International School and the Australian International School. Obviously, we want Jack to have a great education, not just where we could get him into.
Upon searching (once we got here), I did find another school. Hong Lok Yuen International School- it's actually located right in Tai Po where we'll be living. However, they didn't have a spot for Jack but in Year 2 and that would mean him skipping an entire grade. I just don't think he's that prepared. So, AIS called two weeks ago and said they had a spot! Hallelujiah!
Best be prepared, once you have paid your application fee and they have a spot, you still have to go through an informal interview for Jack (they test him on his knowledge, etc.,) then an informal interview with the parents. So by the time we did the whole process, it took about 3 weeks to get Jack into school.
Alas, it is taken care of and Jack started school on Monday! Ah! :) I think the entire family was happy! Jack was thrilled- I cannot tell you how much he was missing having friends and going to school. I was happy- I have been doing homework books with that child for awhile now and I love him and am happy to do homework, but I was not cut out to be a teacher. Henry was happy too I think- they are not used to being around each other everyday, all day.
Anyway, Jack is completing his first week of school today and has had a great week. :) He's super happy and has already made some great new friends. We have a bit of work to catch him up, but let's face it, he's going into Year 1 towards the end of the semester (so in reality he's only getting about 4 months of 1st grade).
Here are some helpful links and/or information for those looking for schools in Hong Kong. It also helps to go to the different expat websites and see what other parents are saying about the schools, etc.,
www.esf.edu.hk/ - This is for the ESF Schools- there are a number of them around Hong Kong. The application fee is only about US$20 so it's not bad. VERY long waiting lists so apply early- as in right when you know you are moving.
hongkong.geoschools.com/forum/ - Another great website that gives you school information by districts/areas, etc.,
http://guides.wsj.com/hong-kong/guide-to-hong-kong/education/ - Again, another great website that gives you a plethora of information. Also leads to the different international schools websites, etc.,
There is also a magazine that I've found here called "Playtimes"- they have great school information and other activities, etc., that is obviously geared towards children and parents. Wonderful information- http://ppp.com.hk/educational-publishing/playtimes/
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