[stephchoy]

Has this topic been already talked to death?

But for me, it's the current headache in the last few months as my daughter is 22 mth old and she's due to enter K1 end of next year. Application/Interviews start around now. My main criteria are decent environment, good teachers and convenient location. I'd also really like for my child to learn Cantonese as husband is Brit and I'm somewhat of a "gwei-po" myself having spent time abroad. Also, I'm on a budget too...so I'm staying away from really expensive international schools. Something from around $2000 - $3000 including all the food, textbooks, transportation expenses is OK.

We live in Olympic City but aren't so keen on the kindergartens in the Mongkok, Yaumatei, TST areas. I've looked and applied for some schools in the Kowloon Tong area and will interview with them. But my concern is that baby will still have to take a school bus for at least 30-45 minutes and they are also not always within walking distance from the MTR in case we have to rush to pick up the child in a typhoon or other emergency. Anyway, did anybody else have similar considerations when choosing a kindergarten for their child?

And what do you think about the following schools?

York English Kindergarten (Kowloon Tong)
Canaan Kindergarten (Kowloon Tong)
St. Nicholas (Kowloon Tong)
Learning Habitat (Olympic City-but they have had other branches in Tsing Yi & Hunghom)

Also, is it SO important for them to get into a well known kindergarten to get into the right primary school, to get into the perfect secondary school, to enter an IVY League university, to get a six-figure job when they graduate.....to become a major success in life?????

Love to hear any advice or experiences anyone has had!