Choosing Schools
I honestly cannot believe it is that time already. For starters I still feel like I’m only 21, let alone 27 with my oldest starting school next year. It’s enough to make me want to put my name down at a mental health facility aged care facility already.
But that time has come. I had picked out a couple of wonderful schools for M&M next year in Brisbane, depending on where we ended up living. But since it looks like she’ll be going to school here, I’ve had to basically start from scratch. So, here are the choices:
- Christian College. Private school, relatively new (went to year 12 for the first time in 2006). Cost: approx $6000/year fees + uniforms, books etc. 2 minutes drive. Potentially walking distance in a pinch.
- Local State School. A little older. Much cheaper: approx $250 fees + uniforms, books, excursions etc. 5 minutes drive. Not walking distance. Not much parking, although across the road from the shopping centre.
- Catholic School. Diocese run Catholic School. Cost: $1700/year for one child, approximately $2000/year for three children + extra’s. 15 minute drive (20km) each way. No school bus.
There is another public school down the road from the catholic school, but I’m not seriously considering driving 15 minutes each way every day for a public school when (as far as I know) the one 5 minutes drive away is perfectly respectable.
I haven’t heard anything bad about any of the schools, so I guess it’s just time to make inquires at the various schools and see what happens. While M&M is a fairly easy going child, who I think will do well in any school with her enthusiasm, I do need to think about Kiki, who I think would benefit from military school a more structured environment. Also as M&M will be one of the oldest in her class, and is already learning to write and read (very slowly) I want to make sure the schools are willing to cater for that, since Prep is “play-based”.
So, I guess I’d better get moving on this one. The first two schools would be ideal travel wise. I mean a 30min round trip twice a day would get old pretty fast. On the other hand I’m already making that trip 4 - 6 times a week anyway, so how different would it really be?
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I guess you look into everything else and then weigh up whether or not the school is worth the travel time.
Good luck
Because Kiki needs a structured program I’d say #3 is your best choice. she’d have M&M already there to help her learn the ropes, Miss Moo to follow, the tuition for three is much less than the first option. Does the school go from prep right through to year 12? This would see the girls through their entire education knowing their environment, making (possibly) lifelong friendships, and the teachers would get to know them well enough to know in later years where their best academic choices might lie, also whether they are genuinely struggling with any particular subject(s) or just going through some adolescent goofing off etc. It might be an idea to see if you could spend a day or two in each school experiencing the general environment and learning/teaching methods before making a final decision.
If you e-mail me I might know some of the schools and be able to tell you a bit more.
I didn’t realise you were in Brisbane!! I graduated from a P-12 private school on the sunshine coast a few years ago now, but I really enjoyed my time there. As a teacher in training I also know that public schools, at least in the primary schools aren’t so bad. But I would definitely, definitely look at the private school when high school comes around!!
Where about in Brisbane are you?
My thoughts on schools are that you should look at all your options, talk to people about why they send their kids to certain schoools & then go with your gut instinct!
Thanks Bettina
It’s tougher than I thought. The last schools I had picked out were easy!
River - I’d love to send them to the 3rd school. The travel time is a concern. And it is only a p-7 school, BUT there is talk of going to year 12 in a few years, so it may happen that way for my kids. I can tell you right now though there’s no chance of them going to the public high school. Toooo many issues going on there. But that’s another story
Talia - We were planning on moving to Brisbane, but have ended up staying here in north Queensland for Hubby’s work. I also went to a p-12 school in Brisbane. Northside, girls boarding school. I just can’t afford three girls at that particular school
Tess - thanks for the offer - I’ll email you in a couple of weeks (after exams!)
Thanks Kelli - I really need to start on the research I think, especially if we go for options 1 or 3…
See if you can pin them down on which year they may be expanding to include high school. That could be a turning point in your decision. And like you said, you’re already making that trip 4-6 times a week anyway.
From everything I’ve heard River, it looks to be 5-7ish years away before they start year 8, which would work out quite well for M&M, assuming we’re still in the area
And by then they might get a bus service because of extra students. of course if you’re no longer in the area you’ll have the same decision problem again, with a whole new set of schools………..