If you don't mind, I have a few specific questions:
1. I heard complaints that HKIS often ask parents to seek professional help for their kid if the kid slightly lags behind in certain area. Is it true?
they have a learning centre staffed with professionals - OT, ST, writing, gifted ed. etc. so they have the resources to help your kid right from the start. they don't "label" kids as such though because they don't feel it's appropriate at such a young age, but they do give your support to be successful.
2. Is it true that HKIS sends parents an annual report on how their kid compares to their US peers based on Standard test scores?
G1-G2 (I believe to G6) have students sit the standford test which is a standardized test commonly use in the states...they do compare students here to the US because alot of parents are US based and will eventually return there for education.
3. We are not a religious family. Does it make it difficult for our daughter to fit in at HKIS?
no - not at all...the do sing a song / rhyme before snack / lunch to thank the "lord" for their food, and yes there are religion classes too...but each year they also learn about a different religion, e.g. R1 learns about Diwali, R2 learns about Judiasm, etc. (not sure exactly what the religions are, but it's mere exposure I feel)...some people are highly against it though...depends on the family...
4. How serious is the budget/resource issue at ESF and is it affecting their quality of education noticeably?
I'm not so sure about ESF - i know they increased tuition so that they could hire more EAs for their Chinese department to strengthen that so it can't be THAT bad?!? but not sure...
5. My daughter is very interested in art and music but less so in sports, between Kennedy and HKIS which school offers a better environment for her?
not too sure....just know that there are many opportunities to join bands at HKIS...but perhaps there are at Kennedy too...sorry!
6. I know neither school offers a strong Mandarin program, but is one better than another?
both offer daily chinese - there are 2 streams at HKIS and 3 streams at Kennedy...i don't know about how easy it is to move up within the streams at Kennedy, but at HKIS it's pretty much impossible since one stream learns traditional characters and the other simplified characters. each class has one EA at Kennedy and but only "BIG" classes have teaching assistants at HKIS. that being said, the class size is much bigger at Kennedy (30) as opposed to 15-20 at HKIS. the class time is 30mins at HKIS and 45mins at Kennedy (for most classes) daily...personally I feel that ESF is more supportive of Mandarin learning than HKIS, since they are actually pumping $$$ into the program for staff...but the quality of staff is the key - not so sure about that
sorry didn't really answer your question...hope the issues I've pointed out are helpful though!
Thanks a million in advance![/QUOTE]