Australia-- Moving?

[Nutsy]

As to the school issue, we don't have anything called IB.............we have OP (Overall Position in the state) and OP of 1-10 is considered very good.......OP1 is the best you can get and you will get into any course you want with that.

The middle of the school year shouldn't be a problem..........the school principal will interegrate the kids. I don't think that would be a problem, but if you like I can ask a teacher I know who came out here from Canada and get her point of view on it.

What ages are the kids? Our school year runs a calendar year Jan-Dec with short breaks every few months.

 

[Cindy B]

As to the school issue, we don't have anything called IB.............we have OP (Overall Position in the state) and OP of 1-10 is considered very good.......OP1 is the best you can get and you will get into any course you want with that.

The middle of the school year shouldn't be a problem..........the school principal will interegrate the kids. I don't think that would be a problem, but if you like I can ask a teacher I know who came out here from Canada and get her point of view on it.

What ages are the kids? Our school year runs a calendar year Jan-Dec with short breaks every few months.

IB is short for international baccalaureate. Does that help?

Most of the the IB schools are outside the USA, so my school district is one of the few in the state, and one of the first public no cost schools to do it in the NATION.

Most of the IB schools are in Europe.

 

[Nutsy]

Just so you are aware when looking at suburbs.........the inner Melbourne suburbs you are virtually living on the street........I kid you not, the houses are built right to the fencline at the front and your neighbours are so close on either side you could shake hands out the window with them. No front or side yards at all. All the more reason to move out a bit to get something decent.

Also, with the inner suurbs, you park your car on the road........no driveways or garages.


[url="http://img.domain.com.au/img/lms/3/5/23WE/8e2fc00a-5c94-4bb6-ab3d-ea430bca6ea9.jpeg?mod=060301-121651"]http://img.domain.com.au/img/lms/3/5/23WE/8e2fc00a-5c94-4bb6-ab3d-ea430bca6ea9.jpeg?mod=060301-121651[/url]




That is an example of in inner suburb home in Melbourne.....they are not very big, only cottages and you see on the left how close the neighbours house is and also how close to the front they are.

 

[Nutsy]

Never heard of IB Cindy.................the only thing I know we have is the OP and that is Australia wide.......we have OP subjects and non OP subjects. OP subjects are the ones you need to get into University.

Like if you wanted to study Law, or Medicine or Accountancy or something, you would need to choose OP subjects in year 11 and 12. Then at the end of year 12 the results are sent in and you get your score in the mail.....if you get an OP1 which is the best you can do, then the world is your oyster so to speak.

 

[barkley]

there are also some (in my opnion) odd predjudices in place-as recently as the 70's and 80's some well established u.s. christian faiths (in particiular the seventh day adventists) have been met with some hostility and prejudice because of their anti alcohol and tobacco stances.QUOTE]

Don't know where you heard or read that. I'd say the only thing we don't like is the door to door religion, but Mormons are not the only ones who do that. Most people do not appreciate someone coming to the door every week preaching religion at them. Even if we say we have our own religion etc, it is still pushed through the front door by some.

Anti alcohol and anti tobacco? It's not only the Mormons who may be against that.........I think you will find a lot of religions are and a lot of the general public as well.

i think it's well documented that in the late 80's (post jim jones/people's temple mass suicide) that large populations of aussies viewed the seventh day adventests as a "cult"-and the members were treated less than "christian like". this seemed to come to a head with the azuria chamberlin killing (in around 88 i belive)-many members of the public (and a lot of the media) focused on the familie's sda membership (the dad was a pastor) and their (completly baseless) cult like practices (sacrificial slayings and other complete hooey). the move based on the sitation ("a cry in the dark") touches this briefly, but the docementation on the actual case delves into probelms members had experienced on going with locals.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Thanks everyone for advice. Actually, I have already researched and lots of independent/private secondary schools in Australia offer the IB program. The problem is if we go the public route, and I get a Victorian Certificate of Education, well not many college easily reconize that in the states. An IB diploma would reconized world wide by prestigous collges. I am going into 11th and sister will be 3rd. Some of the schools said I would have to wait to start IB since they are half way through year which would be the problem.

Matt

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks everyone for advice. Actually, I have already researched and lots of independent/private secondary schools in Australia offer the IB program. The problem is if we go the public route, and I get a Victorian Certificate of Education, well not many college easily reconize that in the states. An IB diploma would reconized world wide by prestigous collges. I am going into 11th and sister will be 3rd. Some of the schools said I would have to wait to start IB since they are half way through year which would be the problem.

Matt

Actually, I kind of agree with the IB program directors there. Are you thinkings of the regular IB programme, or the diploma programme that goes with IB? (intensive 11th and 12th grade program)There are two programs here in the high school for my district.

The 11th and 12th grade programs are intense. I've subbed in those classes here in my district. I would suggest going to the IB website www.ibo.org and find a list of schools. Maybe you've already done that.

Anyway, here's a thought. Can you find a public high school in the States that offers it and maybe you can do a distance learning route or something like that online? This would be something you could talk to guidance or registration about. If this helps you, my high school is in Camden County in NJ.

Good luck. IB is more widely recognized in the states.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Yea, I agree IB would be hard coming into middle of the year. I just want to figure out something so I wouldnt be out of school for 6 months and then end up missing and having to start college a year later. Dont want to do that at all! I would go VCE route which might be easier to get into but do they have like advanced classes like we have AP. I just dont think VCE would reconized widely here in the USA. They only lists a few colleges that they know that will accept it. I am going to email UC admissions right now though.

Matt

 

[Cindy B]

Yea, I agree IB would be hard coming into middle of the year. I just want to figure out something so I wouldnt be out of school for 6 months and then end up missing and having to start college a year later. Dont want to do that at all! I would go VCE route which might be easier to get into but do they have like advanced classes like we have AP. I just dont think VCE would reconized widely here in the USA. They only lists a few colleges that they know that will accept it. I am going to email UC admissions right now though.

Matt

What time frame are you leaving? You could get some IB instruction either online or nearby, and then go the IB route in Australia.

Are there local school that offer IB? I guess we are lucky that the IB high school is nearby.

Again, try to work with the school system to see if that will work for you. What types of IB instruction do you need?

In my school district, some high school students (usually seniors but some juniors) are taking college courses at a local college while still in high school. I had a senior in high school in a night class at my local college. You could find an accredited college (maybe your school pick, or a community college that you know would transfer) and take an entry level online course. That way if you do well, it will go on a college transcript.

I've seen high school students take the following college courses. English 101, Basic Psychology, and World Literature.

 

[Nutsy]

Just had a quick peek at the site and I see qutie a few primary schools offer this program, but not so many high schools. What I would suggest, maybe get in touch with some of the schools in Victoria......if you take a look there are some grammar schools......those schools are private and very prestigious...usually where all the doctors and dentists kids go and the wealthy families. Not sure how much the school fees are down there, but I know the Brisbane Grammar School is like $16,000 a year and I think that increases year by year....so for example a child commences year 8 and their fees are $16,000, by the time they reach year 11 it could be $20,000 a year. That is something to think about and to look into.

So, I'd research the schools that offer this program that you want, even get on the web and see if you can get a map of Melbourne and suburbs and get an idea of where the schools are. Also, some grammar schools over primary schooling as well as secondary, so you may be able to kill two birds with one stone in that respect.

Another thing I just thought of...........with our school year, being Jan - Dec we are ahead of you guys, so, if you did have to wait until the following January to start you wouldn't be behind by a year, but only by a few months, due to the fact that you would be commencing the new school year in August/September in in the states.

 

[Nutsy]

i think it's well documented that in the late 80's (post jim jones/people's temple mass suicide) that large populations of aussies viewed the seventh day adventests as a "cult"-and the members were treated less than "christian like". this seemed to come to a head with the azuria chamberlin killing (in around 88 i belive)-many members of the public (and a lot of the media) focused on the familie's sda membership (the dad was a pastor) and their (completly baseless) cult like practices (sacrificial slayings and other complete hooey). the move based on the sitation ("a cry in the dark") touches this briefly, but the docementation on the actual case delves into probelms members had experienced on going with locals.

Well, all I can say is don't believe all you see and hear. That is so not the case in Australia and to the best of my knowledge never has been. The media are well known for making a mountain out of molehill and making the opinion of a few as that of the nation.

As to Azaria Chamberlain, it has been said she was taken by a dingo. Back then this was relatively new, but in years past there have been further incidents of dingoes entering campites and even other accomodation. A big factor in this is when people leave food out and or feed the dingoes. They are wild animals, like the bears in the US, you do not feed them.

But as to the fact that Michael Chamberlain was a Seventh Day Adventist Pastor and the Australian public classing Seventh Day Adventists as a cult is and never was the truth. That is not to say that there is not a minority who may have believed such things, but by and large that is very far from the truth.

For the most part Seventh Day Adventists are just another religion......no different from any other, except their sabbath is a Saturday not a Sunday like most.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I would move to Australia in a heartbeat!We all ready have family there so that would be a nice side benefit!

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

About the starting late thing, technically it would put me a year behind. It would be complicate applying for college because they will expect me to start beginning of the year in August while I will still be in my senior year in Australia. I would rather just for the fact of the matter not have a 6 month delay in school. I have been in school long enough. lol

Matt

Just had a quick peek at the site and I see qutie a few primary schools offer this program, but not so many high schools. What I would suggest, maybe get in touch with some of the schools in Victoria......if you take a look there are some grammar schools......those schools are private and very prestigious...usually where all the doctors and dentists kids go and the wealthy families. Not sure how much the school fees are down there, but I know the Brisbane Grammar School is like $16,000 a year and I think that increases year by year....so for example a child commences year 8 and their fees are $16,000, by the time they reach year 11 it could be $20,000 a year. That is something to think about and to look into.

So, I'd research the schools that offer this program that you want, even get on the web and see if you can get a map of Melbourne and suburbs and get an idea of where the schools are. Also, some grammar schools over primary schooling as well as secondary, so you may be able to kill two birds with one stone in that respect.

Another thing I just thought of...........with our school year, being Jan - Dec we are ahead of you guys, so, if you did have to wait until the following January to start you wouldn't be behind by a year, but only by a few months, due to the fact that you would be commencing the new school year in August/September in in the states.

 

[Nutsy]

Unfortunatly not much can be done about the diff start dates for the school year...........this is the southern hemisphere and so our summer is December, January and February..............wheras USA is June, July and August which is our winter.

So, if you do move over here, you may just have to grin and bear it, if u really want to go back to the states to further your education