Hi all,
Our daughter has been accepted at the International Montessori School in Wanchai/Admiralty for next year's kindergarden and she is currently attending Woodlands Montessori's playgroup.
We really like Woodlands, but looking to the future, it seems easier for her to go to IMS as there will be a continuance after kindergarden. One of the sticking points about IMS seems to be it's recent establishment and the price of its debenture. (Woodlands doesn't have debenture).
Has anyone come across the same dilemma or maybe have experience with either schools to give an opinion?
Maybe one solution is to enroll her in IMS for kindergarden and maybe assess the situation before continuing with her primary education? Other options for primary could be ESF schools?
Any opinions would be much appreciated,
Confused and bewildered parents...
Please support our advertisers:
My son will be 3 in Sept and we're hoping to have him enrolled in one of the two kindergarten's you've mentioned. We had a school tour of the International Montessori recently and I too was a bit put off by the debenture and the $1000 non-refundable registration fee (which I think is a bit steep). Anyway, I have not even submitted the application form yet so don't know if my son has a chance of getting in. If he does get in, it will be walking distance for us. The Woodlands Montessori on Caine Road seems to take in new students every month so I thought if he doesn't get into IMS, then we'll probably put him into Woodlands. We'll be leaving HKG in summer of 2009 so we'll be out of here before he starts school. Sorry, I realise my reply is of no help to you...
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks anyway. I think there is a waiting list at IMS and we applied about a year ago. Our daughter is currently at Woodlands Tai Tam and it's a very nice school. Great teachers and nice area. But the journey up to there is a bit 'dangerous'... and we just can't see us going up there for the next 3 years until she's ready for Primary.
We'll be talking to Woodlands tomorrow about what their part maybe in helping us get into Primary after Kindergarden. Maybe after that discussion, it will be easier to decide.
Please support our advertisers:
SSMom
19 yrs ago
Hi
My kids have also been at the Woodlands Tai Tam for a year and they absolutely love it. They helped me a lot getting my son into primary school (this September) and I think they have 100% record of getting kids from there into the school you want.
Please support our advertisers:
SSMom,
Do you know what primary schools their kids normally end up?
Please support our advertisers:
SSMom, Is that because they work hard on preparing them for primary interviews or on their reputation as our Woodlands boasts the same success rate?
Please support our advertisers:
SS Mom I would really like to know how they have a 100% record of getting kids into the school you want. I personally do not think that is possible in a million years.
Please support our advertisers:
SSMom
19 yrs ago
Hi adachan and burtsbees and hettijames, to answer your questions, my friends kids have got into HKIS, Quarry Bay school and the canadian school and other parents seem to be moving on this year too. My friend's child stayed on some afternoons before the interview but don't know whether its their reputation too???? Friends I speak to have got into the schools they've applied so... ????
Please support our advertisers:
Keen on International Montessori in Wanchai. How much is the debenture you mentioned?
Please support our advertisers:
Debenture at IMS in Wanchai is HK$50,000 for personal and HK$300,000 for corporate.
To transfer debentures it will cost HK$10,000.
K.
Please support our advertisers:
kar
19 yrs ago
Actually the debenture at IMS in Wanchai is HK $50,000 for personal and HK $200,000 for corporate.
To transfer corporate debenture is HK$ 20,000. To transfer personal debenture is different---I want to say HK$ 30,000 but I'm not positive.
Please support our advertisers:
Can someone please explain how the debenture works?
I was quite keen on IMS but a friend of mine who sent both her kids to a Montessori kindergarten (not IMS) said she now regrets it as there's no proper structure with the Montessori method. They're allowed to do what they want and put things away when they've finished. When her children then went to a non-Montessori school for primary education, they found it difficult to adjust when they were asked to put away what they were doing as they basically said they weren't finished with it! I suppose it's okay if you stick with Montessori schools all throughout. In my case, we'll be moving out of Hong Kong when my son is about to start school. Don't know where we'll end up but it's more likely that he'll have to go into a traditional schooling sytem.
Please support our advertisers:
fel
19 yrs ago
hi all,
i m also wondering how tis debenture works? is it like a deposit? and does anyone know if the teachers @ IMS is really good?
thanks,
Please support our advertisers:
There is a terms and condition from the Canadian International School for debentures which might be indicative of how it works generally.
http://www.cdnis.edu.hk/en/funding/cdp.jsp
Looks like it's basically money that locks you in with the school, the benefit is that your child is allowed a place in the school (as long as he qualifies admission). Debenture may not accrue interest, school at the very least will pay the 'face value' on surrender (subject to conditions) etc...
K.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail