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St Patrick's Academy Bangalore reviews: Why did we choose St Patricks Academy for our children
Ganga,

We moved to another city last year, after sending our kids to St Patrick school for 2 years. But I am still part of their Google group for parents and in general I get very good feedback. There are some complaints here and there that teachers beating kids etc etc. Overall, qualifications of teachers are just average and that is one area the school needs to improve.

They follow ICSE syllabus. Now we moved to CBSE syllabus. Before we came to St Patricks, my impression was ICSE syllabus is very challenging but is good for the future of the kids if they are ready to take the challenge. But after going through CBSE, I realized ICSE syllabus is just "tough" to study but they are sort of outdated. I lost all respect for ICSE syllabus after seeing it for about 2 years.

If I return to Bangalore, I would choose this school itself unless I can find a CBSE school from a similar non-money focused management. I am impressed with their discipline, care for students and focus on extra curricular activities.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 19 Oct 2014

My experience after returning from USA to India
Thomas,

I hadn't reached the stage to apply for citizenship. Sometimes I regret for not waiting enough and for not getting the US citizenship. Even if I do not want to go back, I started getting nervous about the future of kids. If they choose to go back, having citizenship for me would have helped me in some or other ways. My first child is an Indian citizen and two others are not. If my first one wish to go to USA in future, having a citizenship for me would have helped in some or other ways.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 14 Sep 2014

My experience after returning from USA to India
Jose,

It has been 3 years since we moved back to India. Even though we miss a lot of comforts we used to enjoy in USA, we made the right decision. Our kids are growing and we wanted them to grow up here because our roots are here and not because India has a better culture.

We moved to Bangalore for 2 reasons. The primary reason is my business/career, which works better in Bangalore. Second reason is, we thought Bangalore would avoid a culture shock for kids. But we learnt quickly that kids can adapt to any place and any conditions.

We moved back to Kochi last year. After living in Bangalore for more than a year, we realized living in Bangalore will not serve the purpose of returning to India. So we moved back to Kochi and settled here now.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 04 Jun 2014

My experience after returning from USA to India
Vinu,

Yes, I do have US Greencard and I applied for Travel Parole, which is valid until this summer. So, if I want to go back to USA, I have time until then.

Yes, websites is my only income, but they are pretty big sites and is considered some of the highest earning individually owned websites in the country. It may not be practical for someone to start a few sites and bring them up to this level. I started some of my websites more than 10 years ago.

I was 39 when I moved to India, after living about 10 years in USA.

What kind of job are you in?
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 07 Feb 2013

How to choose the school for kids in Bangalore after returning from USA
Ashish,

Some international schools charge higher fees for NRI kids. Schools like St Patricks charges the same fees for NRI kids and other kids.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 30 May 2012

My experience after returning from USA to India
@Priya Nathan,

That is a reality you will have to face in India if you return.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 23 Apr 2012

My experience after returning from USA to India
@Krev,

We preferred CBSE school since it is relatively easier than ICSE. However, we ended up in an ICSE school We were afraid that kids may not do well in ICSE but now 1 year is completed. My first child ranked #2 in his grade and second child ranked #1 in his grade. Both of them scored A+ in all subjects.

So, if your child is doing well in the school in USA, be confident that they will do well in India as well. If they don't score A or A+ in USA, then you may want to consider CBSE instead of ICSE.

International schools are good only if you want your kids to grow in foreign environment and if you are sure they will go abroad for higher studies and job. If you expect your children to compete with other students and find a job in India, or if you expect them to go for higher studies in colleges like IIT, then International Schools are not an option since they won't give the challenges to the kids to grow in Indian system (of inconvenience, difficulties, challenges, problems...)
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 15 Apr 2012

My experience after returning from USA to India
@Arvinder Singh,

There is nothing much to tell about the response of my family relatives. Probably my mother is happy that I am back, but she never said a word about it. She is a person who always leave everything to me to choose what is good or bad for my future.

@Ravi,

My kids joined at UKG and 3rd. The 3rd grader had to start Hindi and Kannada. We taught him Hindi letters before moving, so he was able to manage. But in 3rd grade, Hindi is pretty advanced and he managed well by mid of the year.

Both my kids scored A+ in all subjects here. I mentioned it here just to show that coming back from USA does not make a difference. As long as the kids are smart, they can pick up pretty quick. It is usually the parents and not the kids who have adjustment problems.

However, when we considered moving to Kerala this year, my child made request: "Daddy, I am in 3rd grade and I will be going to the 5th school next year. Can we live in one place for few years so that I can make some friends and get adjusted to the place?"

It was my strategy to relocate within USA to avoid kids getting bonded too much to any place or make thick friends and it helped. But now he is growing and he was right that we always had "temporary setup" everywhere. Whenever kids ask for something, we will say "next year we will move again, so why don't you wait another year?".

We decided it is time to settle down and so chose not to move to Kerala. As of now, Bangalore is chosen as our final destination, atleast until kids school education is done.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 15 Apr 2012

How to choose the school for kids in Bangalore after returning from USA
Darshini,

Thanks for the feedback. I am not familiar with the schools in Mysore Road in Bangalore.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 13 Feb 2012

My experience after returning from USA to India
Thanks for the comments.

Why do you think those names are not Indian? My first son is named after my dad, which means the name has been in use in India for 68+ years! The names we chose are common Christian names in India. Traditionally, Christians choose the name of saints for the kids, but the new generation started using 2-4 letter names (like Tony, Tim and so on...).
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 03 Jan 2012

Where to buy PAL to NTSC converter in Bangalore, India
us2India,

Thanks for your comment. In my opinion it is worth bringing a TV from USA to India if it is 50" or bigger TV and also if you are already shipping other things. If you are shipping just the TV alone, then the cost involved may be too high and may not be worth.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 22 Nov 2011

St Patrick's Academy Bangalore reviews: Why did we choose St Patricks Academy for our children
Anselm Pinto,

You are right...there is homework for kids at St Patrick's. One of the complaints we heard while considering this school was, lot of home work and heavy syllabus. But the other side of it is, as you said, one of the reasons we returned from USA to India was to give the Indian method of education to our kids.

It has been more than 5 months our kids going to this school now. We do not find any difficulty yet. Or, in other words, we are adjusted to the system. My 3rd std son sometimes complain that school was much easier in USA, but then we remind him that he was in 2nd grade in USA and 3rd grade in USA wouldn't have been fun at all. I think he buys that argument!

But personally, school in USA was fun and easy for kids, atleast in lower grades. Parents never had to bother about homework (except for some projects), we never had exam pressure, and so on... However, my wife used spend the same hours with kids teaching Indian syllabus at home to prepare them for the Indian schools. The extra work really helped when we came back to India. Except for Hindi and Kannada, kids did not feel any difficulty in coping with the syllabus. Kids actually like the extra curricular activities in the school and St Patrick's has a lot of activities.

I don't think tough syllabus is anything specific to St Patrick's. Any other school in India would have the similar syllabus, except schools like "Prakriya" and other true international schools where schooling is fun!

My petty complaints about the school are:

1. Low fees attracts people who are really looking for cheap schools rather than people who look for quality education. This is lowest fees private school in the area.

2. Every month, two Saturdays are working days in the school, which is Okay for me, but school has not used any sense at all in picking which Saturdays are working days. Unfortunately, if any Friday or Monday is a holiday, it is guaranteed that, the Saturday is a working day, making it impossible to enjoy any long week end! (I am not complaining about a single occurrence, but many such cases were there.) I would not miss to talk this to the management next time I visit the school, who usually pay attention to the parents, unlike many other schools.

But overall, I still rate the school very high and it matches very close to our expectations than any other school in town.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 15 Nov 2011

What is the fees structure and admission process in St Patric's Academy Bangalore
Joy,

Yes, the yearly fees for the nursery for next academic year (2012-2013) is Rs 25,000. Last year (2011-2012) it was Rs 20,900. So the yearly fees increase is Rs 4,100 for nursery. For higher classes, the increase is slightly more (varies between 4K to 5K, depending on the class)

Looks like many other schools in the area significantly increased fees for next year, but St Patrick's is still very reasonable.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 15 Nov 2011

St Patrick's Academy Bangalore reviews: Why did we choose St Patricks Academy for our children
Bobby,

Thanks for your feedback.

My wife spends about an hour with my 3rd grade son and that really helps. During exams, she end up spending about 2 hours with him teaching and fighting! It is hard to manage 3 boys!

We were really worried if our kids would be able to do well in the ICSE schools especially after attending the US Schools until now. But they are adjusting well now. He just got the results from the first term exam and did rank very good in the class. Looks like kids can adjust to any situation pretty well.

In most cases, both parents are working. I think no matter which school you send the kids, you will need to spend about an hour everyday to follow up with homework, help with projects etc.

One thing I don't like in St Patrick's is, alternative Saturdays are working days and they pick the Saturdays adjacent to the long week ends and holidays! This might have happened accidentally because they overlooked it when they prepared the school calendar during the beginning of the academic year.

2. St Patrick's management is not really money minded. There are no other extra fees other than bus fee. Occasionally, you will have to spend some money to buy paper, coloring papers, crayons, paint brush etc. Uniform and books are included in the fees.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 22 Oct 2011

Difference between American education system and Indian education system. Which is better?
Thanks for the comments, Noel.
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 22 Oct 2011

Where to buy PAL to NTSC converter in Bangalore, India
AppaRao,

I could never find a good one in Bangalore. Finally, I ended up bring a Com World PAL to NTSC converter from USA, which works reasonably well. Recently I got my Atlona converter repaired by the manufacturer in USA.

Which is the TV that works without a converter?
Author: Tony John Posted Date: 21 Oct 2011