I'd like to offer our experience with the Chinese International School as well as ask for information about other suitable schools, particularly the Anglo-Chinese. I've been weeding through the threads but have not found anything about the Anglo-Chinese.
We initially wanted to enroll them (ages 9 and 6) into UWC, but in light of the waiting list considered the OFS, EMAAR (sp?), and ultimately the one we chose, CNIS.
We chose CNIS primarily because of the strong mandarin curriculum, yearly exchange program with the sister school in Beijing, and the strong emphasis on Eastern philosophy, however, we are beginning to regret this choice. Bear in mind that this is only the first week of school, so we speak from limited experience and things may (hopefully) improve, and also it is a new school (in their third year), but the things that have put us off so far are:
1) Turnover. Since last year, the principal left quite abruptly, which we were not informed of until we showed up to speak with him. The main administrative contact also hit the road, which they actually seemed to try and hide until we insisted on speaking with SOMEBODY. The replacement was polite, but had no idea what was going on.
2) Obstacles. Upon trying to meet with the principal to express our concern, we were discouraged and questioned more than I found appropriate as to why we wanted to see him, he was quite busy, etc.
3) Disorganization. I had to ask (many times) exactly what information we needed to bring from the States (transcripts, health record, etc.) and exactly what criteria they had for admissions, but was given vague and elusive answers that boiled down to needing nothing at all.
4) No communication. After asking several times for information about the first day of school: schedules, drop-off and pick up info., teacher names, room location, supplies, etc, the new girl finally told me a packet was just sent off (5 days before school began, which I never received). She finally told me what time to arrive on the first day, but everything else was fuzzy, except that parents could/should? stay for what I assumed was an orientation or welcoming ceremony of some sort, but that at the least I would meet their teachers on that day.
5) Day one: We arrive 20 minutes early, along with the other 60 or so primary students from grades 1-5, who are sitting in rows according to grade. All parents are present, the moms look nice, the dads are in suits ready to buzz off to work after what is sure to be a welcoming ceremony of some sort... but after half an hour of just standing there, some lady, apparently a teacher, announces directly to the children that they are now going to follow "their teacher" back to the classroom. And that was it. Parents were left standing there looking at each other, puzzled. Many of them started approaching the apparent teachers who were trying to shuffle the kids out at that point, creating a sense of chaos. I kept an eye on my first grader, who got separated from the fragmented group at some point and started looking around desperately, so I ran back and took him to where I was shown was the 1st grade rooms, only to find they had a last minute change and moved upstairs, only to find everyone already sitting on the floor.
Then the teacher asks him "Are you in section A or B?" I was appalled. Despite my efforts, I had NO information whatsoever who his teacher was or where he belonged. What's worse was that it turns out that his teacher is not due to arrive until "mid September sometime," so this lady, who was making a fuss about the section, is handling ALL of the P1 children right now.Bottom line is that it was an utterly chaotic, unprofessional, and uninviting first day. In addition to my first grader having no teacher, we just found out there is no music teacher and no PE teacher, which may be why they have been dodging my requests for a timetable of their day.
Now, we are not the type of parents that fuss about much, and we understand there are wrinkles to be ironed out with new schools, but this seems absolutely unacceptable to me, and even to my husband, who pretty much insists on things being rather "messy" and "no frills."
I feel pretty crappy about the whole thing because my older son has been shuffled around quite a bit, and I did not want to put him into a holding area somewhere to wait for the right place. I'm fuming with myself because I finally found a good fit in a school he was thriving in for only 2 years in the States. He has some learning difficulties so it was not an easy decision to take him out and make this move, but in any case I am trying to decide what to do at this point.
Transferring to the SAS seems like the best strategy to me, but one that I don't even know will be possible as early as next year. My husband was initially very keen to pursue SAS, but keeps hearing other happy stories about other schools from his colleagues, and now wants to consider the Anglo-Chinese school and local schools.
I have a hunch how this is going to play out, but I'd like to ask what, if any information anyone might have about the Anglo-Chinese school.
Thanks much.
,which raised the more hashed out topic of international vs. local schools, which was informative.
