Posted by
HannahChan
19 yrs ago
We went to the german swiss international school's kindergarten open house last week. We learned for the first time that they are such a competitive school, accepting only 20 children out of 150+ they interviewed (international stream). They really didn't say much about the interview except that they said they only test the child's native english ability.
Has anyone's child been to their interview ? Could anyone please share your experience ? If your child was accepted, could you please share how you prepared your child for the interview ?
Hannah
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
My daughter was accepted there. Cannot tell you what happened at the interview because parents waited outside. As far as preparation goes, I just told her that she was going to see if she liked a new 'big girls' school'. We arrived in enough time for her to play around in the waiting area, so that when the teachers invited them in, I just said to have fun playing with the teachers and the other children in the classroom.
I presume that they just observed the children playing and inteacting.
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Hi mrsl,
Just a few more questions: Are you German ? Did your daughter apply for K1 or K2 ? How long before the interview did you put her name down (I heard some did it at birth)?
I heard from the teacher at the open house that they allow 1 parent to be inside the room with the child during interview. But that's for K1.
Thanks...
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
It was for K2. Yes, they requested that only one parent come along (and no siblings), so my husband looked after my son at home. Only put her name down 2 months earlier (when we decided to move to HK). We are not German, had heard good thngs about the school's academic reputation and the fact that it was based on a British style curriculum, so decided to apply.
Incidentally, the offers of places are subject to a 6 month 'probationary period'. I presume that is to discourage parents from tutoring just for the interview. Judging from the conversations in the waiting area, quite a few children are groomed for the assessment. Heavenm only knows how or why you would do that to a 3 year old!
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Thanks mrsl. Yes, I heard about the probationary period too. Do you have a corporate debenture ? At the open house, besides corporate debenture and having sibling already attending the school, they place a lot of emphasis on the time of application, which we haven't really started. That's why we got really worried. But based on your case, timing isn't really important.
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mrsl
19 yrs ago
No debenture. Don't worry about it, just apply if you're interested. A lot of it is down to luck; if your child has a good day, if there are lots of sibling places that year etc. Most people apply for a few schools, you only have the application fee to lose. There are lots of good schools out there.
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Hi mrsl,
I do have a few schools in mind. However, we like GSIS's academic reputation. My little girl is quite shy so I am not sure whether that will post a disadvantage for the interview. I personally believe in first come first serve basis. Really, how much can you assess from a 3-year old ?
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