Melbourne City School is a new option for people who are happy for their kids to go to school in the city, and can afford the pretty amazing fees (amazingly high that is). It looks like a fabulous school from the information kits and newsletters I have received and has the added advantage of having out of school hours options in term holidays, design to suit the city worker.
The latest newsletter includes an invitation for parents that could be worth attending for anyone who has a child starting at any school next year:
Transition to School Seminar
Open to all parents not just those considering Melbourne City School - this valuable seminar will cover all aspects of preparing your child and yourself for the transition to school from kindergarten or other child care or home care situations. Presented by early years’ specialist Sonia Van Hout the seminar will help you to make this exciting transition as smooth as possible.
Tuesday 22nd June 2010, 4.45pm – 5.30pm (including light refreshments)
Booking essential – email us now or call 9433 9973 to secure your place. The email address is: reception@mcs.vic.edu.au
You can learn more about this school at their website - http://www.melbournecityschool.com.au/index.htm
If you can afford the price, this looks like a real winner, any feedback from people who have looked at the school would be great.
Learning about learning! What matters in the quest to get the right school for your child.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Kiddie Tour Guides
Arriving at State School No. 2 I am a little flustered, wanting to get there on time, dragging the kids, pushing the pram, trying to find the entrance, fighting my way through the construction, Kevin07 has certainly managed to get some new buildings built.
My disappointment is high when the assistant principal introduces me to Sally and Jane, dressed in their lovely blue Class of 2010 jumpers, excited and nervous to be showing three adults around their school. "So, where do you want to go?" they say. I would like to utter "home" but we are here now so lets get on with it.
The school rooms are massive, they each have a little library that joins the next class room. This little room is also being used for reading times, I presume it is a parent volunteer listening to children read while the teacher is with the main class. There are a lot of computers. The Prep and 1 rooms are old portable class rooms. I don't know if the new construction is going to include new rooms and these are going as Sally and Jane are not sure, they wont be here to see the finished product anyway.
There is a little play area for Preps only, small, but still a place for them to call their own.
Half way through the tour and I am chatting to the other mothers as we pretty much take over our own tour and direct it where we want to go. Discussion starts to centre around how old your child should be before they begin school. We are sending Miss A a year "late", while mother B is sending her child "early" this will make her child 15 months younger than mine, but let's discuss this issue at another time.
As we wander about, the PA system calls us all to the TLC. Mmmm the what? where? We follow the crowd and enter the Thinking and Learning Centre, otherwise known as the Library. Looks pretty much like the other libraries I have seen. The Principal makes a wonderful appearance, how nice of him. He tells us about all the great things at the school, and there are many, this is a well known school, has had great results and a reputation that reaches far and wide. A parent asks his thoughts on play based learning for Prep level students, he makes it clear there will be none of that sort of stuff at this school, there will be strategies, for each child with the objective very clear - high levels of literacy. While this is sweet music to the ears of some, I wonder why these individual strategies are required if play based learning isn't even an option. We all want the one outcome - a literate child, what if his current strategy is not working for a student? His brochure mentions "Learning is a dynamic and interactive experience" but obviously not one that can incorporate play based learning, even for those as young as four.
The assistant principal starts talking to our group, one of the mums is saying that she will most likely enrol her twins at the school. Oh, well you can add them to the list, but you're not in the correct 'zone' she is told. The mum is surprised, she has walked here, she lives much closer than to the other State school being mentioned. Sorry, too bad, says the assistant P, but you can always try us and see how you go. I mention this because other Principals have mentioned that Victorian State Primary schools do not have zones, they pretty much have to accept everyone who wants to go there, subject to visas and residency. The assistant also discusses that they try and stick to the governments recommendation that Prep classes do not go above 22, but sometimes they go higher, again, other schools state that the recommendation is 21. At the moment I am not sure who is right about class sizes and zoning, but I am sure I can find out.
My disappointment is high when the assistant principal introduces me to Sally and Jane, dressed in their lovely blue Class of 2010 jumpers, excited and nervous to be showing three adults around their school. "So, where do you want to go?" they say. I would like to utter "home" but we are here now so lets get on with it.
The school rooms are massive, they each have a little library that joins the next class room. This little room is also being used for reading times, I presume it is a parent volunteer listening to children read while the teacher is with the main class. There are a lot of computers. The Prep and 1 rooms are old portable class rooms. I don't know if the new construction is going to include new rooms and these are going as Sally and Jane are not sure, they wont be here to see the finished product anyway.
There is a little play area for Preps only, small, but still a place for them to call their own.
Half way through the tour and I am chatting to the other mothers as we pretty much take over our own tour and direct it where we want to go. Discussion starts to centre around how old your child should be before they begin school. We are sending Miss A a year "late", while mother B is sending her child "early" this will make her child 15 months younger than mine, but let's discuss this issue at another time.
As we wander about, the PA system calls us all to the TLC. Mmmm the what? where? We follow the crowd and enter the Thinking and Learning Centre, otherwise known as the Library. Looks pretty much like the other libraries I have seen. The Principal makes a wonderful appearance, how nice of him. He tells us about all the great things at the school, and there are many, this is a well known school, has had great results and a reputation that reaches far and wide. A parent asks his thoughts on play based learning for Prep level students, he makes it clear there will be none of that sort of stuff at this school, there will be strategies, for each child with the objective very clear - high levels of literacy. While this is sweet music to the ears of some, I wonder why these individual strategies are required if play based learning isn't even an option. We all want the one outcome - a literate child, what if his current strategy is not working for a student? His brochure mentions "Learning is a dynamic and interactive experience" but obviously not one that can incorporate play based learning, even for those as young as four.
The assistant principal starts talking to our group, one of the mums is saying that she will most likely enrol her twins at the school. Oh, well you can add them to the list, but you're not in the correct 'zone' she is told. The mum is surprised, she has walked here, she lives much closer than to the other State school being mentioned. Sorry, too bad, says the assistant P, but you can always try us and see how you go. I mention this because other Principals have mentioned that Victorian State Primary schools do not have zones, they pretty much have to accept everyone who wants to go there, subject to visas and residency. The assistant also discusses that they try and stick to the governments recommendation that Prep classes do not go above 22, but sometimes they go higher, again, other schools state that the recommendation is 21. At the moment I am not sure who is right about class sizes and zoning, but I am sure I can find out.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Train goss
Well, it seems that I am not the only one having to deal with grade six kids. Heading home on the train and I start chatting to a creche Mum, we naturally discuss the school starting topic. I had presumed her daughter would be going to the Catholic school closest to them, so had they. They are 'zoned' for the school, it is close to their house, it is among the reasons that they recently purchased their new home. However, the school can not keep up with the current demand. Inner city areas are more and more packed with children and the education system has not kept up with the trend, expecting us all to want to head to the burbs or city fringe. So, at the school interview she was told that her child would most likely have to attend catholic school B, it is not near her house, not on the way to work, she knows nothing about this school, and the principal had the cheek to suggest that if she actually wanted a tour of the school then it would have to be with some Grade six students, the principal just being too busy to attend to such matters herself.
There are actually a few points here of concern to those soon to enrol at school. Firstly, being in the zone does not ensure you get entry to a school and buying a house in a school zone is also no guarantee that you will actually get into a preferred school.
Secondly, the mini baby boom over the last five years is starting to have an impact on available services, so you need to be prepared if you have a preference for a certain school.
Thirdly, it seems many of the principals are not too concerned with what parents think of the school, they have so many on the waiting list that there is someone else to take your spot.
Solutions are of course - move to a regional area, sign up early, start paying early, network or homeschooling!
There are actually a few points here of concern to those soon to enrol at school. Firstly, being in the zone does not ensure you get entry to a school and buying a house in a school zone is also no guarantee that you will actually get into a preferred school.
Secondly, the mini baby boom over the last five years is starting to have an impact on available services, so you need to be prepared if you have a preference for a certain school.
Thirdly, it seems many of the principals are not too concerned with what parents think of the school, they have so many on the waiting list that there is someone else to take your spot.
Solutions are of course - move to a regional area, sign up early, start paying early, network or homeschooling!
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