First hand experience at Hong Kong Preschool at Royal Ascot Fo Tan

Posted by happy77 (930 days ago)

Just wanted to know does anyone knows about Hong Kong Preschool in Fo Tan. Have heard its good but would like to know from someone who actually send their child/children there. I would like to send my son from coming Sept. for the preschool as he will turn two then.

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Posted by caty (929 days ago)

Hi happy77
Two of my nephews who live very close to us have attended this school for more than a year. They are now in K1 and K2 in international section respectively. This school, I must say, is a little pushy as the kids go up in the grades. They really try hard to let the children learn English and Mandarin not only in speaking and listening but also in reading and writing. Do you wish your child to learn Mandarin? If so, it may be a good start. Especially for my elder nephew, he always carries a heavy school bag with lots of books inside and lots of homework in mostly Chinese writing. It's like two poles apart compared to my child's kindie with no homework at K1 which is right next to HK preschool. In terms of the facility of HK preschool, it's spacious, clean and well maintained. They do have lots of events like birthday parties, field trips, and sports day. You may not see many expats' kids in this school, though. There are some Koreans and Japanese kids from the neighboring Shatin area.

Posted by Okie (926 days ago)

Caty,
Do you mind if I ask where you send your child. I have a 2 year old and have also looked at HKP, but am wondering what alternatives are available way out here in the boonies for children who do not speak Cantonese. We have also looked at the Good Times at Shatin Plaza. Does anyone have any experience with this school?

Posted by caty (925 days ago)

Hi Okie,
My child currently attends International Christian School in FoTan. US based, with lots of emphasis on Christian education. Very, very Christian teaching values and morals with caring and loving teachers. My girl love the school so much even though they look a bit more strict on discipline than other regular kindies. They do accept lots of non-Christian children as well. The school is located in the shopping mall called Jubliee Garden. This school is a through-school up to the secondary. You can check their website: www.ics.edu.hk
The kindergarten will move out in the near future from the current site, which is very, very old, to a new place, while the elemetary and the secondary are moving in to the new campus in ShekMun next year. But for kindie, they won't join in ShekMun and haven't decided exactly where and when to go. It will definitely be in Shatin area, though. If you're interested, you can give them a call. They do not have a nusery and start from K1. No Chinese lesson in the kindergarten, English only. The school has lots of nationalities other than Chinese, including US, UK, other European countries, Korean, Japanese, Malaysian and more.
In NT, you can also consider Anfield in TaiPo and Boxhill International in MaOnShan. Both are just a kindergarten with a little Chinese lessons (as is the trend these days...), no elementary or above. Hope it helps!

Posted by happy77 (925 days ago)

Hi Caty and Okie,

First of all thanks a lot Caty for sharing your thoughts about the HK Preschool.

Does anyone knows any other preschool in Sha tin/ Ma On Shan/ Fotan wherein I can send my 18 months old? HK Preschool is the only preschool which is structure and formal which accepts the toddlers of two years of above.
There is Think International in Ma On Shan however they have the playgroups in the afternoons when my little is having a nap. If I can find any other options then I will have to change my little one's routine which I really don't want to.

Please advise.

Posted by Okie (924 days ago)

Thanks Caty,
I'm familiar with ICS - thought about sending my older son there but it didn't work out. Anyway, my little one is still too young for ICS - will only be 3 in September. I will look into the other 2 schools though.

Happy 77,
There is an English speaking school at Shatin Plaza called Good Times & they have openings for 2 year olds. They don't have a website, but they are listed in the phone book or let me know if you need their number. The tuition is less than HKP and they have morning or afternoon classes. I don't have recommendations on the quality of instruction as my child is not yet attending there, but at this point this is the school that we are leaning towards.

Posted by happy77 (923 days ago)

Thanks Okie,
Thats very nice of you. I'll try and talk with them this afternoon and see what they say.

My son is 18 months and I would love him to make friends. I am interested in meeting up with people having kids around same age in an informal setting. I guess you live in around Sha tin. I live in Ma On Shan. Would you be interested? Or anyone else you know who might be interested?

Posted by Okie (923 days ago)

Dear Happy,
I would be interested, but unfortunately I have to make a trip back to the States next week & won't be available until the last week of April.
I live by the Shatin race course, but don't mind traveling to get together. My daughter is two and a half and I have another one due in May.

There is also another pre-school in Ma On Shan called Woodland. Have you checked it out yet? They sent me a flyer about a month or so ago. I will look around and see if I saved it.

Posted by happy77 (922 days ago)

Thanks Okie,

Thats okay I can understand that you will be very busy with your second child once you are back from your trip. We can always be in touch here and share things we can find useful for our kids in our area.

I have never heard of WOodland. However let me go to the EMB web and check it out. If you can find the flyer could you please pass me their contact no.
Thanks a lot.

Posted by Okie (918 days ago)

Sorry, it's not Woodland (memory lapse) it's Wellborn Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten & International Play School. They're at Chevalier Garden, Ma On Shan/Shatin and the telephone number is 2642-6033.

Posted by happy77 (918 days ago)

Yes I know that one. I have been there. But I find its a bit too local. But none the less thanks for your efforts.

Posted by CPL (911 days ago)

If Taipo is not too far away for you, there is Anchors near to Tai Wo KCR which I am hoping to send my daughter to (we also live in Shatin). It's quite modern and they run an international class as well as cantonese. They also have school buses. From all the local kindies I've viewed in the NT, I have to say that Anchors has one of the better atmosphere, I have also seen HK Preschool and I am being waitlisted there. Although having read Caty's thread, I am not so sure anymore...I've also viewed Good Times it is quite local but the staff there were very friendly and helpful.

Posted by happy77 (909 days ago)

Hi CPL
I too heard about Anchors a lot but recently one my friends had not so good experience there. Her son went there in K 1 but at the middle of the term she had to change the Kindergarten and switched to Norwegian International. She is very happy with the same.

Also I think it would be a little too much for a two year old to take a bus and change to KCR and again a bus and go to Kindergarten. School bus again I would not like to sent him all by himself in the bus. I am not sure he is ready for that.I think Tai Po would not be a choice for me at this stage. I think I have two options at present that are Hong Kong Preschool and Think International. Lets see I still have few months.

Anyways thanks. And lets keep sharing our options.

Posted by jesuis (901 days ago)

Dear Happy77 and Okie,
Hi there! I have a 13mth son and would like him to make more friends as well. I also live in Ma On Shan, is it alright if I join you guys for gathering? look forward to hearing from u

Posted by CPL (895 days ago)

Hi Happy77

Could you elaborate on your friend's "bad" experience at Anchors. My daughter attended the interview last Friday and the staff seemed helpful and friendly. I am hoping that she'll get a place. However, I would like to find out as much as I can before committing my daughter there especially if there is anything negative regarding Anchors.

Thanks.

Posted by shimmrs (571 days ago)

Hello fellow mommies..
WE came from Singapore recently. We are putting up at Fotan. My ger who is 3yo, is on waitlist at HKPS.

We are not considering BoxHill at Ma On Shan. Any views/opinions on this school??

hi Caty
We are on waitlist at ICS. May i check with you again that they do not teach potonghua (mandarin) at all in the Internatinonal section?

hi CPL
May I ask where is Anchors Kindy exactly? May i have the full name of the school and contact no.? Thanks in advance!

hi Happy77
Since you resides at Ma On Shan, have you visited Think Intl Kindy & Boxhill Kindy? My hb and I quite like these 2 schools after our visits. Now we are deciding between these 2 schools. My priority is still HKPS cos its the nearest to where we resides.