Posted by
TayTay
20 yrs ago
I've just realised that I've missed the deadline for applying for my daughter's schooling in 2007-8 (well at least for some of the schools I've tried).
Anyway, she was born in Dec 2004, and can just make it for the minimum age requirement of 2yrs and 8 months for K1 in 2007. However, I still think she's a bit too young to start kindergarten and will most probably be one of the youngest in the class.
I was educated overseas, and before my daugther came along, I swore I would never fall under this trap of "keeping up with the Jones'" and applying for a school when we left the hospital after delivery!
But am I wrong? It seems that my lax attitude has now got me in a situation where I have to consider whatever school will give out applications at this point in time, or just have her do another year of preschooling and let her be one of the older students in her year.
What do you all think of this situation?
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crj
20 yrs ago
I am similar to Joshmomm.
Our baby was born in January, and I was very worried that he would always be the oldest...
But actually, I think it is an advantage to be the oldest in primary (for all the reasons above - confidence, maturity, etc...), and a disadvantage in secondary - who wants to be a school kid wearing a uniform at 19 or 20 years old just because they were born in January?
There is a whole thread on this...
http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/momsdads/threads/86621.asp
But saying that, do apply for the schools you want, and get on the waiting list. If money is no object, it is more important to choose a school that fits into what you feel is best for your child rather than the one with space.
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Thanks for the advice. I do agree with you both in that the school of our choice is more important than one that has availability. I am just so disappointed that it's so competitive here (not that I didn't know that before).
My husband and I definitely want our daughter to be happy.... that's most important. Thanks again!
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crj
20 yrs ago
competitive and expensive :(
But a good education is to be had and a great experience growing up in a multicultural/international city!
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I've just been looking at other threads and it seems that some schools can accept students in the middle of the school year, say for example, January or April. Would you consider doing this, or prefer September admission?
Does this mean for mid-school year admission has a different deadline for application? I can't seem to get past the question "how do go about obtaining the application form for 2007 entrance?" before the receptionist answers bluntly and puts the phone down.
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Ha Ha -- not laughing at you but at the absurdity of the circumstance, surely not such pressures for PRESCHOOL?!!! -- because there was a recent article in NY Times about all the American hyper-achieving parents who are holding their kid out of school for a year so they'll be the "oldest" in their class, therefore more advanced and supposedly more able to do better on standardized tests etc. The theory is that being a bit older than other students in the class will give their child an advantage (grades and test scores) to make it into the Ivy Leagues. I know life is competitive, but my thought is that in all circumstances try to pursue what is best for your child and your family, in spite of whatever the Joneses may be doing or the ego temptations of sending the child to the most "prestigious" school. (There have also been articles from time to time in NY Times about the problems of student suicide at some of the highly selective American universities, not that it doesn't happen other places as well.) Good luck, it's so hard to be a mommy isn't it!
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Ha Ha -- not laughing at you but at the absurdity of the circumstance, surely not such pressures for PRESCHOOL?!!! -- because there was a recent article in NY Times about all the American hyper-achieving parents who are holding their kid out of school for a year so they'll be the "oldest" in their class, therefore more advanced and supposedly more able to do better on standardized tests etc. The theory is that being a bit older than other students in the class will give their child an advantage (grades and test scores) to make it into the Ivy Leagues. I know life is competitive, but my thought is that in all circumstances try to pursue what is best for your child and your family, in spite of whatever the Joneses may be doing or the ego temptations of sending the child to the most "prestigious" school. (There have also been articles from time to time in NY Times about the problems of student suicide at some of the highly selective American universities, not that it doesn't happen other places as well.) Good luck, it's so hard to be a mommy isn't it!
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crj
20 yrs ago
Meigouren - I read that article too!
Unfoturntatly in HK the situation is different. If you don't want to go to a local school, there are limited school choices and they do fill quite quickly. So it is important to apply in advance.
And if you want to go to a local school, the good schools are very competitive and the not so good schools are really not so good... (schools are 'banded' in HK, and the lower band schools have low graduation rates, etc...)
You also have to consider commute time, which might limit choices further.
So while it is easy to laugh, a parent does need to plan in advance here.
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It is hard being a mother... the guilt that comes with it is immense! I know in my heart how I would like to raise my daughter, but it's always a case of feeling "am I doing the right thing for her", "will she miss out on anything if I don't follow the rat race".... blah blah blah. It's terrible!
I do agree that being one of the oldest has its advantages, more than disadvantages. It's just so sad.... a child has years to come of stress at Uni, the workplace etc..... why should they be subjected to this at such a young age? I even read in one of those school guides how the child should dress for the interview! Shouldn't the focus be more on the parent & child choosing the school rather than the school choosing the child?
Oh well, that's life I guess, and being a parent is wonderful most of the time!
Thanks for all the advice! Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way!
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Yes, I guess I wasn't "really" laughing -- it's difficult. I got some good parenting advice one time from a friend. We were talking about the "gifted" label and I told her I didn't like putting labels on children. She replied, "The school WILL label your child, it's up to you do make sure the label is the right one." Those words were surely true; you do need to play the game. Stop feeling guilty, get in there and play ball! Make a decision you can live with and then do your very best to "go for it." If deadlines have passed, sometimes friends or directors or exceptional test scores etc. can help.
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