Originally Posted by Liana

That is really inexpensive, even for a private school here in Canada. Even $8500 for one child is not expensive.
We sent our children to private schools too because the curriculum was broader and a higher standard so that if we returned to the UK they would not be behind at the high school age. Fortunately they did the IB programme and it was worth every penny. Though I do believe there are some public schools that provide the IB programme now.

Originally Posted by Ki76

What do you mean? Are the school standards in Canada not as good as UK - I mean, standard to standard not private or independent... and what is an IB programme?

Originally Posted by iaink

Canada out performs most other countries (including the UK and way better than the US) in international literacy and numeracy testing.

Originally Posted by iaink

Canadas education system is better than the UKs. Canada out performs most other countries (including the UK and way better than the US) in international literacy and numeracy testing. I also think that the system produced nice well rounded individuals in most cases too.

BUT, it takes a bit longer, HS grad here is 18 or 19, if you leave at 16, then you are at a severe disadvantage in the job market. I have zero qualms about schooling my kids here, although obviously the gap becomes a headache if moving school age kids either to or from Canada. But the system itself is OK.

Having to send a three year old to JK on the same bus as highschool kids... not so good. Not good at all

Originally Posted by Morwenna

My son (aged 15) registered at his senior high last week. I wrote a cheque for $230 for the year, broken down as follows:

Mandatory fees:
Instructional resource fee .............. $132.00
Refundable security deposit ........... 50.00

Elective fees:

Lock and locker rental .................. 10.00
ID Cards ................................... 5.00
Technology ................................ 3.00 (these three are "highly recommended"!)
Yearbook (optional) ..................... 30.00 (Of course I want a yearbook!)

He also will need to buy gym kit (not sure how much that is yet), and the usual writing implements and binders etc ..... On top of that we will probably have to get a monthly bus pass at $47 (of which we can claim $15 back as he lives more than 2.4 km from the school.

In Calgary they are running a campaign asking people to fill a backpack with schooly items and hand it in to Sleep Country Canada (I think) for needy Calgarian kids. Quite a good idea!

They will accept post-dated cheques for the annual fees, but they have to be paid in full by the end of December I think.

Originally Posted by wonderwoman

Is this the norm :scared: i read a thread the other day about school buses in the usa forum, and the little ones being expected to travel with the bigger kids, what are people experiences of this, because the thought of me putting my little lad on a bus to school just freaks me out :scared:

Originally Posted by Ki76

... and what is an IB programme?

Originally Posted by snowqueen

International Bacclaureat (Bac) = globally recognised and highly regarded second level qualification.

SQ

Originally Posted by dbd33

Whether or not a school offers the bac is a good measure of how academic it is, that and offering courses geared to the SAT. All private schools and the better public ones are concerned that students do well in both. I gotta say it was like some sorta validation when one of the kids, who took the bac in French, broke 1500 in the SAT in English; 100% in the language paper is well good, innit?

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

SAT= Scholastic Aptitude Test?

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

I thought that was just for US universities?

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

If so, why is it important/relevant?

Originally Posted by dbd33

I suggest that it would be imprudent for a Canadian student to rule out US schools. The combination of sports and academic scholarships available in the US makes university there an economically sensible alternative to university in Canada. Thus it makes sense to take the SAT, just to see if one is in the game.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

Economically sensible? Doubt it. Educationally sensible? Doubt it even more.

What's more sports scholarships are anathema to academic success, while "academic scholarships" are very unlikely to offset the massively more expensive fees in the US ( unless you're a resident in a particular catchement are).

As you know, caveat emptor applies, but I've worked in UK, US, German and now Canadian Universities. Taking the SAT in Canada is not recomended (except by private schools who are innit for the $$)

Originally Posted by wonderwoman

Is this the norm :scared: i read a thread the other day about school buses in the usa forum, and the little ones being expected to travel with the bigger kids, what are people experiences of this, because the thought of me putting my little lad on a bus to school just freaks me out :scared:

Originally Posted by hot wasabi peas

I took a school bus from kindergarden through to grade five with all the other students up to high school. It was definitely the norm and not a big, or any kind of, deal. I'm actually surprised to see people reacting to this to be honest.

Some kids might try to pick on younger kids but then those kids will usually be dealt with by other kids further up the chain. Or the bus driver!

Seriouisly, in my experience the older kids usually look out for the younger ones. They were told and expected to do this. There was not a lot of bullying between different age groups. Of course, this was < cough! > thirty years ago and I guess it depends whether the community you live in has gone to the dogs or not.