When choosing a school which factors are taken into consideration? Any ideas and experience are welcome.
Here's my experience of choosing one from two decile 10 nearby schools: looking at website and pay an on-site visit. The decision was not hard to make.
On school A's website, it emphasises its european majority twice in different places on its home page "It is composed predominantly of European descent", "Eighty percent of the school’s community is of European descent." With regard to international students, it says"The school’s intakes of International Students is small (maximum of 12)".
Whereas on school B's website, it says"Within our school community we have a growing cultural diversity, which broadens the experiences of all our children. "We welcome international students and the contribution they bring to our vibrant multicultural school."
To my knowledge, I know both schools have very high proportion of european students. however, it sounds like school B has hold a more multicultural perspective.
The on-site visit proved our thoughts from the reading. The administrator from school A was cold-faced and did not even bother to proceed our queries to others; Whilist school B people were professional, warm and made a quick decision for our son's enrollment.
Now both of our boys are learning happily at school B, making friends, and we making friends with other parents. Just like the website says, " our school is a happy and positive school environment and family community."
说说我们选学校的经历吧。在奥克兰儿子上的是CORNWALL PARK PRIMARY 通过OUT OF ZONE上的,孩子上这么好的小学可不能因为大人的原因给耽误了,所以下基督城也得给他们找个好学校。下来之前网上研究了下基督城,先看的就是学区。先看的就是你那个区,网上华人评价好学区好,也发现华人基本集中在西区。无奈离工作地方太远,而我那时候工作在BURWOOD,之后可能会来CITY,所以就选了这个PAPANUI一带,有三个小学都是不错的,华人倒是没特别推荐。于是我们研究了这三个学校的DECILE以及学校网站,下来之前订了PAPANUI ROAD上的一家MOTEL。
一下基督城就去三个学校走访,先是MERIVEL SCHOOL,学校网站上强调对某方面有天赋的孩子会特别培养,还附上孩子们写的诗,想到我家老大也喜欢作作诗什么的,于是首选MERIVEL这个富人区的学校。虽说当时正好是地震后遗症,人家似乎还是不愁生源,一定要我们落实了学区内住址才收 (可是后来儿子的橄榄球队认识的队员也有同时期通过OUT OF ZONE在那所学校入学的,所以就不是生源已满的问题了),RECEPTION态度还不够热情,直接说我们可以去其它学校,也没把我们PROCEED给其它的有关负责人。所以和这学校的交道也就到RECEPTION为止。RECEPTION可是学校的门面啊,人家不要我们,我们还未必舔着脸要它呢,加上学校网站中似乎强调了白人比例有多高那段介绍让我们感觉不是很舒服,而且孩子读书不能耽搁啊,所以转战9级的WAIMAIRI SCHOOL。此处不留爷,自有留爷处。
there was something appealing to us at first. School A says "The school’s vision is to promote a culture of high expectations, high standards and delivering excellence."
However, school B says they are promoting a culture of positive life-long learning.
Now I think being happy is more important than achieving excellence.作者: 小雨点123 时间: 2013-7-5 19:18:16
thank you for sharing your experience. I've written about my own experience in details regarding choosing a primary school from the three in Chch WHEN we moved down here. I'll try to find it out and post here as well.
Talked to a respectable doctor today regarding private schools and public schools. He went all the way through his education in public schools and his high school was Auckland Grammer. i AM glad that my instinct is right that public schools can be very good at producing good results.作者: assel 时间: 2013-7-13 13:57:30
we need to walk 30 minutes to get to the school. there is a catholic school decile 10 just across the road, but we did not think about trying.作者: 小雨点123 时间: 2013-7-13 19:21:37
? small world? I am not aware there is Chinese neibhour on my street... thats good news, come by and pay a visit if you see me. paparoa street is not that close, about 30 mins walk.
I was not in the motel on Meadow street but a motel called Tall Trees on Papanui Street.作者: assel 时间: 2013-7-18 22:15:57
每个人心里都有自己的价值观,觉得对自己重要的东西,或者不重要的东西。就如孟母三迁,她觉得环境影响对孩子重要,所以就不辞辛苦地迁了,这是一种价值观。而GO WITH THE FLOW,比较随意顺其自然也是一种价值观,价值观的不同也体现在家长们为孩子择校这件事上。
我的态度是在自己的能力范围内为孩子选择最适合他们的就学环境,这个环境必须包容,开放,环境中的人整体素质高,让孩子能够快乐学校,并且受到积极良好的影响。我们目前的打算就是近十年我们都不用担心学校的问题,可以说我们用最少的本钱收到了最大的收益。以后到孩子上高中了再做打算。以后的事以后再说,以后我们有多少能力办多少事,孩子有多少能力也看他们自己。而很多家长在孩子很小的时候就考虑高中的校区,一方面我们现在没这个能力,二来以后的事情难说地很,一步一步来,不考虑那么远。
谢谢你参加讨论,正好也体现了家长们为孩子择校的一种不同视角。作者: 留下足迹 时间: 2013-7-18 23:14:14
NZ is a small world and some day we might come back to Auckland...who knows what will happen next... Right now we are enjoying CHCH.
chch is a good place for family life with loads of outdoor activities, welcome to CHCH!作者: 墩儿叮当 时间: 2013-7-19 15:44:19
assel 发表于 2013-7-19 10:11
NZ is a small world and some day we might come back to Auckland...who knows what will happen nex ...