advice needed about schools

[bdw]

What some people I know are doing is sending their kids to LIS until a space opens up at DBIS or DC. So you should still put them on both waiting lists and then maybe in a couple of years they can go to DBIS or DC in Y2 or Y3.

[delight]

Hi there

have sent you a pm

d

[delight]

meant to say Hi Josbie - sent you a pm!!

[mum2one]

I have just left DB and moved to Kowloon because of the school situation there. It is a disgrace. In 6 months, we moved from position 112 to 104 on the DBIS waiting list. At this rate, my kid will be dead before getting a position there. The discovery college is even worse. Dont even bother applying to both schools unless you have the $300,000 queue jumping fee.

My son is going to the Australian school in Kowloon Tong. Its much easier and more schooling choices in other parts of HK. Forget DB. Its so ironic because DB is suppose to be the place for families!

Hi,
We have had our son (4 years old) on the wait list for DBIS since mid 2008. Now is 70 on wait list!!! Hopeless....
We are now seriously considering AISHK and I would like to know how you (and your son) have found it. We would be looking at starting Prep in 2011. Also thinking about moving too...don't want to subject a small child to hours of travel each day!

[bdw]

Hi mum2one. Sorry to hear about your school problems. Unfortunately its all too common in HK, especially DB.

We left DB in December. Honestly, we do miss it sometimes and think about going back in a few years when my son is older and easier to get into school.

But really, living in Kowloon aint that bad. We are in a brand new development with nice clubhouse facilities, and it is FANTASTIC to have taxi's at your doorstep and being so close to everywhere in HK. It's ironic, but it is really hard having kids in DB and trying to get around somewhere. Even going to the plaza was a nightmare for me living in Chianti, but now I am surrounded by shopping malls and supermarkets everywhere.

As far as AISHK goes, my son is loving it so far. He is in prep this year. They have 3 classes this year and the 3 teachers gave a combined presentation to parents about a month ago outlining what they do and how they do it.

Now they have sports days once a week, library once a week, PMP every 2 weeks, computer classes weekly, Chinese 45 minutes daily, and starting in April they will do swimming twice a week.

He loves the bus and its only 15 minutes from where we live to school each day. But they have many buses going all over HK and you can basically live anywhere EXCEPT DB and Tung Chung and you will be fine.

Are you Aussie? If so, they seem to have a fairly small waiting list. I remember when I applied around June last year they indicated they might not have room, but in the end was no problem and he made it into the class. Of course, the earlier you apply the better.

[Bowen Arrow]

My daughter born 2004 goes to Lantau internationa in p1 currently.She loves it, and the bus ride isnt an issue, she gets the bus at 8.15 am and is home at 3.50pm. The school runs after school activities and organises for DB kids to get home, usually with teachers who live in DB.

We are moving out of DB in a month to South Lantau at Ham Tin, we find the closed communuty of DB stifeling at times and can get a big house and garden and have a car again, for much less than the cost of a small apartment in DB.

[mum2one]

Thanks bdw - that's very helpful info.
Our fist choice is CIS actually, but we are waiting on results... if not, then we will be seriously considering Aust International as we are both Aussies who are keen for our little man to learn some Mandarin. We enjoy living in DB but I agree with both you and Bowen Arrow, it can be stifling and frustrating getting around atho there are so many things about it we enjoy too... just wish we had more options locally!