Visa granted yesterday..flights booked today! Now looking into schools Waikiki??

[emmie2010]

Hey all.

I received my spouse visa yesterday in the hype of things we booked the flights too. Not until the end of October but things are moving along.

Im looking into schools around Waikiki, I have been looking at Charthouse, Has anyone got any children their, if so how is it? How do the schools differ from Uk? I have been reading about contributions and charges that have to be made. I have 2 children 7 year old and 4 year old (5 in jan)

Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks

Emma

[Deb]

Hi sorry can not help with school but plenty on here will be able to.Good luck with everything

[Lou8670]

Hey all.

I received my spouse visa yesterday in the hype of things we booked the flights too. Not until the end of October but things are moving along.

Im looking into schools around Waikiki, I have been looking at Charthouse, Has anyone got any children their, if so how is it? How do the schools differ from Uk? I have been reading about contributions and charges that have to be made. I have 2 children 7 year old and 4 year old (5 in jan)

Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks

Emma

 

Hi Emma

 

We are currently in Waikiki and two of mine go to Waikiki Primary. They are in year 3 and are both just 8 years old. Tbh I was really worried about them going there as the schools results are pretty average for this area (I think Charthouse on the other side of Read Street are better) but we ended up not having a lot of choice! You can only enrol them into the catchment school and, as we are currently staying with family in Harrington Waters, Waikiki Primary was their catchment.

 

I needn't have worried! They have only been in school a few weeks and are loving it! They've made lots of friends and are excited to go every day! My only criticism is they are finding it too easy and there is not a lot of focus on reading at home which I think is really important. They change their school reading books once a week whereas at heir old school it was every day unless the book was longer then it was every other.

 

In terms of costs each school has a 'book' list of all the materials they'll need. At their age it won't be too expensive; perhaps a couple of hundred bucks max. If you can bring anything they already have like pencils, rucksacks etc the.n it'll save you buying hem again. We went to Big W and managed to get everything they needed very cheaply. If you talk to their teacher when they start you may find they don't need everything as they're starting part way through the year.

 

We made do with the minimal amount of school uniform because they are likely to move schools when we move into our own house. So I only purchased a school collared t-shirt and sweatshirt each and picked up the navy bottoms they needed from one of the big stores. The 2 t-shirts and sweatshirts came to just over $100.

 

There are some voluntary contributions the school asks for but in the States schools these are not prohibitive.

 

Mine went to a grammar school in Jersey so I'm pleased they're settling in well even if I'd prefer them to be pushed more!

 

Keep in touch because if you do settle around here no doubt we'll bump into one another out and about!

 

Lou

Edited June 24, 2014 by Lou8670

[emmie2010]

Hi Lou.

Thank you for all the information have been a huge help.

We too will be staying with family and will be in catchment for Charthouse. Have emailed them so can apply now and then have a proper look around once we are there and ask my list of questions to them face to face The schools seem a lot bigger over there! Do they wear full school uniform? My partner said it used to be just a school top and any trousers but that was quite a few years back now.

Thanks again

Emma