[Junnifer USA]

Our 10-yr old is very excited! He has a millions questions about school and what he has to look towards! I can't answer them all. Would you all help me out?

I have a well adjusted boy. WIll be 11 in May 2005. We plan to move mid February. By May he would be finishing grade 5. An A and B student in a competitive class of 11 kids. Well liked.

Question 1 . We think we are headed to CHch. Not sure of final destination. DO I place him in a school temporarily 1-2 weeks after we arrive?

2. Since the seasons are reversed, did you move your child forward hald a year, or back?

3. What was the placement process... and in determining what class to put your kid?

4. Was the school friendly about another immigrant child arriving?

Thanks,
Jen

[freeflyer]

Hi Jen ,
from what we experienced in Chch we found that the schools were very friendly and welcoming , it was very easy to arrange an appointment to meet the principal and have a tour of the school, but remember that lots of them are zoned.

Coming from the Uk we thought that the schools were about one year behind in the level of work that they were doing , but not sure how it would be coming from the US.

All the schools had a different sort of character and focus , so it would be worth investigating them, many have websites , and selecting a shortlist of schools to visit when you arrive so that you and your son could find one that your both happy with.

we found that after meeting the principal , our daughter could start within the next week , so very quick.

maybe your son would enjoy looking at the schools on the internet before you leave , to give him an idea.


good luck with your move
Anna

[jocalla]

hi,
I popped my kids in school just for the last week before the hols,(boy of 10, 11 in march, girl of 7) just so they could make some friends for the school holidays. Must say like Anna said,the school was very good, I just went in to enquire about enrollment and they gave me and the kids a tour then and there, made us feel really welcome. Can't tell you much on the classes yet until they start again end of Jan
I was very relieved that both kids enjoyed it there :nice1 and everyone was fine with them. We were in holiday accommodation for the first month so they didn't start school till we moved into our rental.
Joanne

[Wannaway]

Hi Junnifer,
We don't have experience of that age or Christchurch but if it helps we found the schools very welcoming. As someone has already said most are zoned so unless you are going private you will need to seriously look at schools when you are looking at whereabouts to live. If you are living in the zone for a school they have to offer your child a place. I presume your kids have got/ will have study visas?

My biggest worry when we arrived in NZ was that we had to find somewhere to rent in zone for a good school quickly so that my son could start school. We just had to prioritise all the things that needed to be done and put that top. You can check out the school's decile rating ( anyone know the website? - If not I'll get Lee to post after work as he did all that side for us) so you know how their last report went etc. Then ring for an appointment and tour. If you're in the zone you can usually start the following week.

You'll need to speak to the head about your point 2.

We found them to be very friendly - certainly no 'attitude' towards immgrant children.

Check out as much as you can on the net before you arrive but there is no substitute for being here to work out where you want to live and which schools you like - but at least you will have some idea what you are looking for.
Nicky

[shagen]

Hi Jen,

Here is the website Nicky was referring to.

www.ero.govt.nz

We are also looking for a school in the Chch area for our 6 year old son. Becasue schools are zoned it is difficult to pair off where you want to live and where you want your kids to school.

Vera and I will be in Chch hopefully in March to check out the neighbourhood and schools.

We will be watching this thread as we are in a similar boat as you are.

[zsj]

Sorry to butt in - what is with the deciles? Is 10 good or bad, how do they run? Have seen a couple of schools in Wellington on line that I like for my 5 year old, one says it is a decile 10.

Thanks,

Sarah.

[zsj]

Oops, scrap that - having read all other blurb I fianlly read the common questions! :oops: Sorry folks!

Sarah.

[shagen]

What does the decile actually tell you about the quality of a school? Or does it?

[zsj]

I don't know that it actaully tells you anything about the quality of the school, more the area that it is in I guess. So decile 1 schools have the highest proportion of students from a lower socio-economic background, and decile 10 the lowest proportion from that background.

So...I saw 2 schools I liked, both decile 10 (I didn't at this point know what that meant) and then looked at houses in that area - I had to go up a whole price bracket to find any in that area! Higher socio-ec background! Hmmm... Now it makes sense!

Sarah.

[shagen]

I would rather my kids attend a school with dedicated teachers and a has a good reputation than sending them to a school in a rich neighbourhood.

So what does the decile actually attempt to achieve?

[markkellaway]

Unfortunate as it is the socio economic background of an area will affect the "quality" of a school to a degree. Lower income areas will, in general, have a higher proportion of crime, unruly kids, etc. than a higher income area.

Not trying to start a political debate here, and I appreciate there will be exceptions. I myself am looking at a number of areas outside Christchurch, looking at Kaiapoi/Rangiora for example, Kaiapoi High is Decile 6, Rangiora is decile 8, but I feel that Kaiapoi is a nicer area (more character) (opinions please!!).

Cheers,

Mark. :P