Guadalajara, Mexico Report of what it's like to live there - 05/04/17
Personal Experiences from Guadalajara, Mexico
School Name:
Canadian School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
3rd and Preschool
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes, American School, Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln. Canadian School is the only school without the pre-first system.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
The website (in English) finally is working this year. When we were applying, I basically could only talk to people within our community and email the school when I need information. Admission process was very simple and easy.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
School newsletter is in English but everything else is pretty much in Spanish. Home-room teacher will usually write emails in English also. Parents love using Whatsapp, everything is in Spanish.
Headmaster is very approachable if you have any questions, concerns.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
strict uniform, school bag
Academics & Resources:
1. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
yes
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes but access to library for parents are limited.
3. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A small indoor gym, few playing fields. Although the school is expanding every year so they are in the process of building a new campus.
4. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
1:21
5. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
I don't feel my kids are being challenged enough, specially in English.
The school is small, they are willing to work with parents on kids' needs. However, school resources might be limited.
6. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
too much homework for elementary school students.
7. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Most teachers are Mexican, a few native English speaking teachers.
8. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
There are special pulled-out sessions for non-Spanish speaking students, this is optional.
9. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
There are after school activities for additional charge (soccer, karate, yoga, art, track & field, gymnastics ...etc)
The school needs to have a better girls soccer team.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
The school is about 5% expats and the rest Mexican. Students grew up and form their friendship from preschool time.
At Preschool level, the kids play with each other but by 2nd or 3rd grade, it is too late to break into the local groups.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
C+
No, I would pick a school with more international student body.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
This is a good school for younger kids. My preschooler did fine. However, my older child had a rough time, it was just hard to be one of the few foreign students in the school. Spanish is spoken outside of the classroom. If you have elementary school kids, you might want to consider other options. During our second year, we switched our older child to the American School and she was so much happier there with more international students.
