DS had his Kindy interview today.

He was able to name 48 of 52 coloured pencils and could *almost* count to 20 (left out the 15, addded his favourite 'eleventeen') but he could count to 10 confidently even with pencils taken away and added to the pile. And he generally followed instructions and chatted with the Principal.

What I'm concerened about is that he couldn't draw a picture of himself or his family (he drew a smiley face and a balloon), he couldn't colour in (he just scribbled in the circle) and can't write his name yet (he can recognise letters, but he wasn't asked).

He was also very squirmy towards the end, and got out of his chair twice and the principal had to tell him to sit back down. He also interrupted us while we were talking, and the principal looked less than impressed.

It's not a selective school, but it is a Catholic school with limited placement numbers.

We don't find out until July if he is successful, I am wondering if there's a chance he could have 'failed' the interview? Has that ever happened to anyone? Should I enrol him elsewhere in case he doesn't get into this school?

I'd REALLY appreciate any replies!
TIA

i would enrol him somewhere else just to be safe just in case, sorry i dont have much experience with catholic schools my DD goes to a public school and at kindy most of them couldnt write their names or colour in or name all their colours. my DD used to leave out 15 all the time too lol good luck with it

sorry, i don't have any personal experience, but i did work with a lady who's child was not offered a kindy placement at a catholic kindy (connected to an elite private school)after an interview.

This lady had her daughter 'enrolled' at this school since birth and was horrified when she wasn't offered a place at the kindy after the interview when she was 3. The kindy's explanation was that they didn't have enough places - but she still took it personally.

I don't know anymore of the story - but i guess a child can 'fail' but i think it is really more about limited places and a decision needing to be made somehow.

good luck - i hope you get your place - i am sure your child did fine!

Thanks for the replies, I've been worried since the interview.

I did ask the Principal if I should apply elsewhere in the interim in case DS isn't accepted, and she said that he should be ok.

Should be.

I don't want to chance it, so in case he isn't successful, I probably should enrol him somewhere else so he has a place somewhere in any event.

July seems ages away!

I'm sorry I am just a little shocked about an "interview for kindy" and the fact that a child could fail this!!!

I live in Queensland and my son goes to public school and I have never heard of an interview of the child for kindy, prep or grade 1.

I don't understand any school (private or public) that would test children prior to enrolling just to get the "smart" ones! I hope this is not the reason they do this.

On the up side, your little one sounds quite smart on the counting and colours side of things!

I shouldn't think that a child could fail a kindy "test". But I do know a selective private school in Sydney that one of my ex's went to that made all of thier prosective enrollments to take an iq test, a knowledge test and some other test just to see if they qualified to make the enrollment list. The school was 6 figues a year, so they have quite a long waiting list for students. I thought it was stupid for the kids (he was in grade 5 when he took the test - passed and got in - but I think the dad pulled quite a few stings and made a "donation" to the school. ). The waiting list was almost 6 years !

I'm sure that you DS did fine, he sounds like quite a smart little man !

Good Luck and I have my fingers crossed for you and your DS.

I must admit too, I'm a bit shocked at this, since it's not a selective school. I've never heard of this type of interview before (not that I've got any experience in this area ).

We had our DD's interview last week (private school/non selective). It wasn't really an interview for her, more for us to ask any questions and for the principal to make sure we were aware of what we were in for. DD just played with some toys that were in the office (interrupted us occasionally) and then we went on a tour of the classrooms etc.

At the end of the interview we were given our little envelope offering us a place and asking us for the contents of our bank account.

Not sure how I would have felt if they had wanted to "test" her.

I just don't get how the poor little ones can 'fail' before they even begin

Isn't the whole point that children are supposed to attend school for them to be taught these professionals

I work at a public high school and my children both attend our local public school and we are more than happy, there is no such 'interview' with the children involved in this manner.

Good luck to you though I wish you success in obtaining a spot for your DS.



OMG!!! There is NO WAY we would give out this sort of information

Thanks for all the replies ladies

I've been chatting to some friends about this, and the general assumption is that a child can't really "fail" the interview process, especially if they were able to do at least half of what was asked of them (thinking this makes me feel better ) but they could easily work around that by saying the places were all full if they didn't want to accept DS (but I hope this won't be the case!)

I guess the only thing to do is wait and see.

I'm not too fussed anymore. Whatever the decision may be, I know what DS is capable of, and he will never fail in my eyes

Um, that was a joke. It meant that we got our envelope stating DD was being offered a place and to secure that place we need to pay the enrolment fee. It was just supposed to be a humorous way of saying the enrolment fee was expensive.

wow private schools sounds intimadating
i wouldnt stress about it i think the interview is to gauge if your child is ready for kinder and if your family will fit with the school community but i have no expierence with private schools so i could be wrong

Ahhh OK I didn't read it the way you intended

I am aware that Private Schools can be on the expensive side though.

We to have just had the pleasure of interviews for school next year and my DS1 is the same age as yours - 4.5yrs.

Qld Catholic schools with limited places and double the amount of children enrolling for them.

In Qld DS1 will start Prep next year and this is not compulsary, so in the interview they are ensuring your child is ready to go full time to school in Prep.

DS1 was asked to draw a picture of his family (turned out very abstract), write his name on his picture (which he can not do), count objects, name colours and follow instructions. He was asked about which activites interested him to see if he could hold a conversation and hold eye contact.

Principal ensured us DS1 was ready for Prep as he completed all tasks except writing his name and she also commented that that is what they teach them at Prep - he is not meant to be able to write his name (although many can!).

From our experieces with our interviews, it sounds to me as your DS has not failed his interview - but passed with flying colours. Remember they go to school / kindy / prep to learn - they are not meant to know everything before they get there. In interviews they are checking the childs interest and readiness to learn, not really what they know.

AJJJ I wish our interview was as reassuring as yours. Sadly, she focused more on what DS didn't do that he should have been able to do (draw his family and write his name) and didn't really acknowledge the fact that he knows all his primary colours and is quite confident in counting, and also communication. She was quite intimidating actually

On the bright side though, DS said to me last night "mummy, I'm sorry I drawed a balloon" (when he was asked to draw a picture of his family, he drew himself then 2 balloons, the principal was not impressed!)

So he drew me a picture last night of the three of us, his first ever family portrait I gave him a massive hug, but almost cried when he said:
"...but I'm crying in my picture"
"why sweetheart?"
"because mummy's at work again"

Awwwwww

...

It was St. Aloysius College. At milson's point I think. If you look across the horbour at circular quay (in sydney) and see a big blue cross. That's St. Aloysius College.

Don't know if the fees were really that high, but that's what my ex told me.

To the OP, I think your 4.5 year old did a bloody fine job and you should be proud.

Jackie

Thanks Jackie

Hi there,
We just went through the interview process last weekt a Sydney catholic school..
My son was asked to draw himself (he drew a head and legs) identify colors, count to 20 (he forgot 15) do puzzles etc.
We where told during the proccess not to worry as it wasnt a test it was just to assess where he was up to and what level teaching he would need.
In the Catholic schools around this area the teaching is done in stages instead of years. For example in kinder there is 2 classes but to learn math, english etc the classes are joined together then split into 4 groups depending on there level..
And this test,as well as the pre kinder program at the end of the year also heps them to determin where they are..they want to have mixed level classes for normal kinder but just have the right level of teaching and help for the important subject..
It in no way played a part on if her was successful in gaining entry or not. This depended on if we went to the local parish and if we lived in the area then they went down a list with non catholic children being accepted but last..
We where also told there shouldnt be a problem but what happens is that our school has to run everything by the parish preist so the principle couldnt give us an answer only a guess. maybe thats also why she said it shouldnt be a problem..
I have also applied to another local catholic school as well just to compare and as a backup incase things dont work out like they have said..
Goodluck. I have found it to be a very emotional experience and look forward to when we have a confirmed place in a great school..

Edited to say my son also got up and down a few times to look out the window as there where some kids playing out there and he had a hard time just sitting there so the principle gave him a puzzle. I think she was use to it as thats pretty normal behaviour for a bored 4/5 year old...

To the OP, I kind of know what you are going through. Our DD had to go to an interview for Kindy earlier in the year, and boy, did we stress over it!!! They basically wanted to ask her a few questions, see how she interacted with other kids, that kind of stuff. Well. Imagine our horror when she arrived at the door, dug her heels in, and announced in a low growl, "Get me out of here!!" LOL!!!!!!!! She refused to budge, and my DH ended up having to carry her in, screaming and kicking!!! Talk about your worst nightmare come true!!!

BUT!!! After a little while, she did settle in and really got into the different activities, was talking with the teachers etc etc.

Honestly, I think it is very difficult to assess whether a child is ready or not for Kindy/Prep in a half hour 'interview', conducted in strange surroundings, no less. What if the kid is having a bad day (like our daughter was)?? The interview she went for was for 4 year old Kindy at a private school. She currently attends 3 year old Kindy 2 days a week - LOVES it, interacts well, etc etc - yet on the day of her 'interview' for the private school, she was a right little terror!

Thank goodness, she was offered a place. I like to think that the teachers understood she is a KID, and a three year old kid no less, and that kids are KIDS - they will not always act 'properly' (is there such a thing?!!).

To base entry on a one half hour session, imho, is a bit ludicrous. I think these entry assessments should not only encompass the 'interview' session with the child themselves, but also staff interviews - ie that staff should also talk to others who know the child and how the child copes in similar type settings (eg childcare workers, 3 year old kindy teachers etc etc). This would provide a much more realistic picture of whether or not the child is capable/ready for a program or not.

Anyway, sorry I've rambled on a bit, but as I said, I know where you are coming from. In the end, you know your child, and any school that turns you away based on a 30 minute or so session isn't worth it, imho.

Good luck with everything!!

Trying Again,

You've voiced a lot of my fears too.

DS had his interview a couple of weeks ago for Kindergarten at a Catholic School and we don't find out until July either.

Although, in defence of the school, the "interview" was considered more of a chance for me to meet with the principal and discuss/ask questions about the school.

But during this DS was given some tasks to complete such as:

* Write his name - he wasn't able to do this. He could write the first letter of his name, but drew random squiggles after this. He can recognise his name when it is written though.

* Trace around a picture of a bus - he did this with no problem.

* Draw his family in each window of the bus - he kind of did this, although it was just a face, which I guess makes sense, because you wouldn't see much more in the window .

* Name some colours - no problems there.

* Count to 20 - no problems, although unlike some of the other kids here, he misses 14.

* Recognise numbers written on a sheet - no problems

* Above each number that was written, draw the number of circles inside the larger circle (example: 3 was written underneath a large circle, so he needed to draw 3 cirles inside the big circle) - he didn't want to do this, he wanted to draw however many circles he wanted in each of the large circles.

The principal didn't seemed fazed by any of this and said he's doing well. I was concerned about him "missing" a few things, but he might have redeemed himself by being so polite and such a little man, with his charming smile and saying thank you when the principal offered him a lolly when we were leaving.

I've decided I need to stop worrying about it. My reasoning is that there's still a lot of time left before he actually starts school, therefore a lot of time to learn the things he missed - like writing his name.

Best of luck - I'm sure everything will be fine .

Thanks SO much for all the replies!

That principal sounds like a biatch.



Glad to hear your DS was accepted and hope that the principal was just having a bad day & that it really is a nice school,

ali

TBH, I am both pleased but also a little scared... the Principal was a little.... anyway.... we'll just have to make the most of the next 6+ months to fine tune things and worst case scenario, I've already discussed with DH that if DS doesn't thrive in their environment or it is too much for him, we'll consider placing him elswhere.

Thanks for all the support

Your little guys sounds smart as a cookie to me! Give him a break, he's only little. He sounds like he did his best and if the school wouldn't take him on account of what you said he 'couldn't' do, screw them. Your lad sounds marvellous to me..
Enrol him somewhere else. After I read your thread elsewhere recently about this school, I think he is too precious to be put under all this pressure already at his age. Let him be a kid while he can and the rest will follow!

GULP! This made my heart sink.

If I was the principal I would have focused on his wonderful creative expression!