Schooling - Public or Private
Jun 2nd 2004, 8:02 am
#31
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Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Dawesville, WA
Posts: 1,192
Originally posted by darkless
For what it is worth the following are my observations on the schools we visited in April in the Northern Suberbs of Perth area.
Dave, Helen & Nathan
For what it is worth the following are my observations on the schools we visited in April in the Northern Suberbs of Perth area.
Dave, Helen & Nathan
Does anyone have any experience of private schools south of Perth from Rockingham to Mandurah?
Kind Regards
ACE
Jun 2nd 2004, 8:32 am
#32
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Location: Perth, Since Jan 05
Posts: 708
Originally posted by MSB
Thanks David and Helen for this post its got lots of interesting info in as we are in the same boat.
Hope you dont mind me asking but did you look at Hale?
We have also been asked for $3000.00 from Christchurch to secure a place for next year, which we have to pay by the end of the month. Like you we dont have jobs etc to go to so keen to commit to $12k a year, especially having not had a good look round the school.
Did you think Christchurch would be good value for money? Is there a balance between academic subjects and the arts? Your views would be very appreciated before we write off $3K.
Thanks
laura
Thanks David and Helen for this post its got lots of interesting info in as we are in the same boat.
Hope you dont mind me asking but did you look at Hale?
We have also been asked for $3000.00 from Christchurch to secure a place for next year, which we have to pay by the end of the month. Like you we dont have jobs etc to go to so keen to commit to $12k a year, especially having not had a good look round the school.
Did you think Christchurch would be good value for money? Is there a balance between academic subjects and the arts? Your views would be very appreciated before we write off $3K.
Thanks
laura
The day we visited all the kids in the school were wearing the colours of their houses and had their arms, legs and faces painted the same colour. They were congregated on the main field in some kind of formation and they floated a large blimp with a camera above them and took photos. I am afriad I am not arty, but I guess you could class this as arty.
I felt that they had a good school with good variety of subjects and extra curricular activities.
However, I found that most of the schools had a good range of subjects and activities - a lot of the schools did surfing as an option of PE/games, etc.
We didn't look at Hale no. It appears that both Hale and Christchurch are easy to get into so long as you have the money, therefore we will move Nath there if Duncraig doesnt work out.
One of our goals of moving to OZ is to become an Aussie - not just a Brit abroad. The best way I feel that Nathan can do this is be in a typical Aussie environment. However there is a balancing game between this and what is best for his needs. I felt that Christchurch was full of lots of international students and a few wealthy Aussies.
We purchased a house in the Northern suberbs also, so getting Nathan to Christchurch would be difficult. If we have to then we obviously will manage this somehow. We are fairly confident that Duncraig will provide for Nathans needs.
Cheers
Dave
Jun 2nd 2004, 8:48 am
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Location: Floreat - Perth - WA
Posts: 48
Thanks Dave,
We too want to be 'aussies' so your point about international students at Christchurch has given us lots to think about. Have e mailed both Joondalup Baptist College and Duncraig today to ask about spaces.
It was good to see Duncraig's website designed by 2 of the students there instead of a design agency. My son is very good at music and is keen to be a rock star! when he grows up so its good to see they also offer a specialist music programme.
We were in Perth in April and looked at 2 houses opposite Duncraig High school, the agent commended the school as did 2 people looking round the house whose 2 boys went there.
My son currently has an hours bus journey to school every day and has no friends who live close by. I spend most of my spare time being a taxi service and it is a real negative that he hasn't got friends round the corner he can call on, so the position of Christchurch is a worry as we want to live on Northern suburbs too.
Was there places available at Duncraig? Will he be starting in January 05 in year 8 as my son is? If so have you thought about schooling until then?
Laura
We too want to be 'aussies' so your point about international students at Christchurch has given us lots to think about. Have e mailed both Joondalup Baptist College and Duncraig today to ask about spaces.
It was good to see Duncraig's website designed by 2 of the students there instead of a design agency. My son is very good at music and is keen to be a rock star! when he grows up so its good to see they also offer a specialist music programme.
We were in Perth in April and looked at 2 houses opposite Duncraig High school, the agent commended the school as did 2 people looking round the house whose 2 boys went there.
My son currently has an hours bus journey to school every day and has no friends who live close by. I spend most of my spare time being a taxi service and it is a real negative that he hasn't got friends round the corner he can call on, so the position of Christchurch is a worry as we want to live on Northern suburbs too.
Was there places available at Duncraig? Will he be starting in January 05 in year 8 as my son is? If so have you thought about schooling until then?
Laura
Jun 2nd 2004, 9:05 am
#34
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Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Perth, Since Jan 05
Posts: 708
Originally posted by MSB
Thanks Dave,
We too want to be 'aussies' so your point about international students at Christchurch has given us lots to think about. Have e mailed both Joondalup Baptist College and Duncraig today to ask about spaces.
...
Was there places available at Duncraig? Will he be starting in January 05 in year 8 as my son is? If so have you thought about schooling until then?
Laura
Thanks Dave,
We too want to be 'aussies' so your point about international students at Christchurch has given us lots to think about. Have e mailed both Joondalup Baptist College and Duncraig today to ask about spaces.
...
Was there places available at Duncraig? Will he be starting in January 05 in year 8 as my son is? If so have you thought about schooling until then?
Laura
Hi Laura,
If you live in the Duncraig area, the school MUST give you a place as it is a state school. I recommend you talk to the principle Graeme Smith as he was very helpful to us. We have bought a house in Currambine (suberb next to Joondalup) but the school did say that if they had someone in one of their specialist programmes it is at their discretion to let them enrole. We have decided to rent a house for two weeks from poms in perth when we first get there. We have booked their Duncraig house and thus can give a legit. Duncraig address.
As with the Maths Gifted and Talented program, you are right, they also offer this for Music as well.
My main issue with Duncraig is that their uniform policy is fairly relaxed. Any trousers/jeans/skirts you like plus a school polo shirt / top. That said at the end of the day with the weather as it is in Perth wearing blazers as most private schools insist you do, sounds like a nightmare to me.
If you are not on the list for Lake J Baptist Col then for year 8 it is doubtful you will get in (at least that is what they told us in April) - That said we are considering putting Nath on the list just in case Duncraig doesnt work out - maybe in a years time it will be easier to get in.
It sounds like our boys are in the same situation. Nathan is 12 in October and will enter year 8 in February.
It is all so hard making these decisions about schools!
Cheers
Dave
Jun 11th 2004, 4:13 am
#35
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Originally posted by sembonor
I don't live in Perth nor have I visited before. But through my observation of the housing (from realestate.com.au or other website), Ocean Reef seems to be a place where the well to do families are living. And I though drugs problem or school with drugs problem are usually located in poor suburbs?
When you say a lot of problems with drugs, can you elaborate more? Like of what year the kids start to have drugs problem? And how widespread? Is it in isolation or you can say that every class 5%, 10% or 30% of the kids use drugs.
I remember someone mentioned here that in Netherlands, almost 50% of adult ever tries drugs during their schooldays. If that's true, I wonder how, recently, a politician in Darwin could suggest to legalize drugs.
I don't live in Perth nor have I visited before. But through my observation of the housing (from realestate.com.au or other website), Ocean Reef seems to be a place where the well to do families are living. And I though drugs problem or school with drugs problem are usually located in poor suburbs?
When you say a lot of problems with drugs, can you elaborate more? Like of what year the kids start to have drugs problem? And how widespread? Is it in isolation or you can say that every class 5%, 10% or 30% of the kids use drugs.
I remember someone mentioned here that in Netherlands, almost 50% of adult ever tries drugs during their schooldays. If that's true, I wonder how, recently, a politician in Darwin could suggest to legalize drugs.
In my highschool in southwest WA(town, pop. 4000), in 1996, about 90% of the kids in my year, year 9, had smoked pot. And a large number(I believe at least 50%) of them were smoking regularly. And their parents grew their own weed.
THen I moved back to the Netherlands. Here, maybe 2% of my highschool smoked weed. Of course some more have probably tries it.
Of all my friends now, only a few smoke weed, and that's not regularly.
Btw, I think it's pretty silly to think the more well off suburbs have less problems, with drugs.
Friends of my parents, who've lived in Hillary's for 17 years, told me about the bad attitudes of the private schools kids. Lots of swearing etc etc in the public transport. It really doesn't matter, in that respect, private or public, rich or poor. I'm quite convinced of that.
Jun 12th 2004, 2:47 am
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 55
Originally posted by Simone
Just noticed this. (bit late)
In my highschool in southwest WA(town, pop. 4000), in 1996, about 90% of the kids in my year, year 9, had smoked pot. And a large number(I believe at least 50%) of them were smoking regularly. And their parents grew their own weed.
THen I moved back to the Netherlands. Here, maybe 2% of my highschool smoked weed. Of course some more have probably tries it.
Of all my friends now, only a few smoke weed, and that's not regularly.
Btw, I think it's pretty silly to think the more well off suburbs have less problems, with drugs.
Friends of my parents, who've lived in Hillary's for 17 years, told me about the bad attitudes of the private schools kids. Lots of swearing etc etc in the public transport. It really doesn't matter, in that respect, private or public, rich or poor. I'm quite convinced of that.
Just noticed this. (bit late)
In my highschool in southwest WA(town, pop. 4000), in 1996, about 90% of the kids in my year, year 9, had smoked pot. And a large number(I believe at least 50%) of them were smoking regularly. And their parents grew their own weed.
THen I moved back to the Netherlands. Here, maybe 2% of my highschool smoked weed. Of course some more have probably tries it.
Of all my friends now, only a few smoke weed, and that's not regularly.
Btw, I think it's pretty silly to think the more well off suburbs have less problems, with drugs.
Friends of my parents, who've lived in Hillary's for 17 years, told me about the bad attitudes of the private schools kids. Lots of swearing etc etc in the public transport. It really doesn't matter, in that respect, private or public, rich or poor. I'm quite convinced of that.
90% compared to 2%?
Jun 12th 2004, 4:04 am
#37
Dutch expat/Aus citizen
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: South East, Perth (was Holland)
Posts: 5,789
Originally posted by sembonor
Is that number correct?
90% compared to 2%?
Is that number correct?
90% compared to 2%?
I was just pointing out what I've experienced personally. It'd different everywhere... You can't generalise.
