By Louis Petrich (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 4:13 pm: |
We are moving to Bonaire in August, from USA, with an 11-year old son and a 4-year old daughter. Are there any English speaking middle schools (other than Pelikaan, which is full) that we might consider for our son? And does anyone have any recommendations of a pre-school for our daughter (need not be in English). thanks
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By silvia taurer (BonaireTalker - Post #53) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 2:33 pm: |
hello Louis,
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By silvia taurer (BonaireTalker - Post #54) on Saturday, March 28, 2009 - 2:42 pm: |
Louis,
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By tilimaster (BonaireTalker - Post #35) on Monday, March 30, 2009 - 8:19 am: |
Hi Louis,
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By Louis Petrich (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 4:02 pm: |
Thank you Sylvia and Nydia for this helpful info about Aquamarin. I'll pass it on to my wife and she will try to call the school.--Louis
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairebliss.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3667) on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 4:07 pm: |
Contact Pam at Paradise Moon. Her teen goes to a school (middle school age) in Tera Cora.
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By Louis Petrich (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - 4:11 pm: |
Ann--Do you have contact info for Pam at Paradise Moon? A phone number or email would suffice. Thanks--Louis
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #629) on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - 10:32 am: |
Watch out for the school that Pam's daughter goes to. It is operated by fundamentalist Christians, and the reports I heard from Taylor of the contents of the science classes (particularly such basic things as whether the earth is 4.3 billion years old vs. 6000, the veracity of evolution, etc) were extremely disturbing.
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By Pietri Hausmann (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #161) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 8:15 am: |
make sure if you find a school that it is accredited and attendance can be applied to the students permanent record ..
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By eileen Mcfarren (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 1:27 pm: |
Is there a requirement for school aged children to be in school? Can they be home schooled?
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #630) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 2:59 pm: |
If you play the hop, skip, and jump game by being a permanent tourist that never spends 90 consecutive days on the island, you can get by with home schooling. You can't get a residence permit unless your children are enrolled in a real school.
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By silvia taurer (BonaireTalker - Post #58) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 3:23 pm: |
kevin,
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #631) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 3:50 pm: |
Sometimes the best help you can give is to tell someone they are making a mistake. There's a big difference between a child in pre-school (like yours was, or the daughter being discussed) and someone in 6th or 7th grade. At the age of four, I'd be reasonably supportive. At eleven, I can't be.
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By silvia taurer (BonaireTalker - Post #59) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 4:15 pm: |
I had the impression that the BT forum is about and around bonaire, sharing knowledge and expressing valuable information, I do think this kind of personal expressions should be posted at everything else bonaire or at the forum chat.
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By Freddie {Moderator} (Moderator - Post #721) on Thursday, April 2, 2009 - 4:23 pm: |
this is fine where it is it is a Local thread and I would think a school is local...now please get back to the subject at hand...Please
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By eileen Mcfarren (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, April 3, 2009 - 9:52 am: |
Thanks everyone for a very active and helpful discussion (and concern). What are the laws that apply to education in our situation? The homeschool program we propose is accepted by our school district. We do want to participate in local life as practicable while meeting the needs of our son.
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #632) on Friday, April 3, 2009 - 11:41 am: |
All personal judgments aside, the laws are pretty simple: children of residents must attend a government-licensed school. Home-schooling of resident children isn't permitted.
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By silvia taurer (BonaireTalker - Post #60) on Friday, April 3, 2009 - 12:20 pm: |
you have to stay off the island for at least 48 hours. Kevin is right. the immigration does monitor that and is not very amused lately.
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By Pietri Hausmann (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #162) on Saturday, April 4, 2009 - 10:41 am: |
that law of 90 days on island -off for for 48 hours then back still is in effect . however the LAW is no more then 180 days on island in a calendar year .. so whatever your purpose of being here is more than that .. YOU MUST follow our country's rules and apply for residency . it is that simple .. as we move forward in our change of status .. the rules will be enforced ..as regard to schooling . i have lived here nearly 30 years and have been thru the education quandary long before you .. it is very simple and i have written about this before .. my son is of usa parents .. played in papiamentu and was required to learn in dutch .. as a result he is now fluent in 7 languages ..but as parents ,we were required to send him abroad at age 12 .. as happens to almost all of us who want a professional career for our child over a technical program which is is only available here .. if you are moving here for a short term then you have alot of problems concerning your child's education .. the schools here on on a European system .. math alone is totally different .. the curriculum will not in anyway apply to an American system . it is great if education at the higher level will be continued in Europe .. your child will struggle in a land of many languages .. English is most often in last place . our school days are different .. you cannot compare America with what is the norm here ..i so totally agree with Kevin .. if you do not plan on living here permanently you are doing a disservice in a grand style to your child .. just alone .. the culture is so different and then the challenges of the multiple languages .. not easy for any child .. .. i can only say .. think hard .. this is a foreign country .. it is in NO way America .. ..and no.. home schooling is really not an option .. it just will not be permitted by the government here and if your children are not in an acceptable educational program.. your immigration will not be approved .. think about it I know .... i live here .. done all of this .. i know you all will argue to make it your way as happens on BT regularly .. it really is important to listen to us locals ..maybe we might know something .. probably what you don't want to hear or think you can change .. or get around .. the answer is the law is the law . i would never challenge the rules of the USA .. bonaire is small but we stand tall and hard .. it is not a game in anyway for the playing with the laws here .. RESPECT BONAIRE .. please
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By eileen Mcfarren (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Saturday, April 4, 2009 - 12:47 pm: |
Again, thanks for the concern. I am happy to report that my family has lived in 3 European countries for periods of over 2 years each and in Central Asia for more than 3. We have also taught and sent our son to school there. So, the assumptions being made are... Eurocentric. We are not trying to circumvent the laws; we are trying to find out what they are. Unfortunately, we have tried to talk to immigration, consulted websites, consulted the embassy in Washington, ad infinitum to no avail. We know, thank goodness, that Bonaire is not Maryland. That's why we wish to come. So, indeed, we appreciate helpful information. Thanks again. Eileen
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By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3632) on Saturday, April 4, 2009 - 1:30 pm: |
Petrie...now if you ask Chief Inspector of Immigration, Look, now tells me that no matter if you do own property you are still limited to the total of 90 days per year without residency.
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #633) on Saturday, April 4, 2009 - 5:43 pm: |
About the only assumptions I made is that your child is fluent in English, and isn't fluent in Dutch or Papiamentu (which would solve the problem) or Cape Verde creole, Spanish, Portuguese, or Afrikaans, all of which would go a long way towards solving the problem. Let me know if I assumed incorrectly.
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By Pietri Hausmann (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #164) on Sunday, April 5, 2009 - 11:16 am: |
the Consulate General of the United States of America located in curacao is a great resource for you .. the consulate -in my opinion -has given me outstanding service in the multiplicity of problems that have arisen over my 30 years here .. and if you live here you must register with them anyway .. .. the consulate is located at J.B. Gorsiaweg # 1 .. Willemstad .. curacao .. telephone 599-9 461-3066... Fax: 599-9 461-6489. once you establish a direct contact at the consulate .. it is possible for you to have an e-mail address for your contact person .. hope this will work for you ...
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By Pietri Hausmann (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #165) on Sunday, April 5, 2009 - 11:57 am: |
Micheal ..as it happens . i will have contact with immigration tomorrow .. let's see what info I get .. as it is well known .. everything here is always "subject to change" .
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By Pietri Hausmann (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #168) on Monday, April 6, 2009 - 3:11 pm: |
as always Micheal you are right .. no more than 90 days in a calendar yesr unless an application for temporary residence is filed .. 3 weeks or so ago .. it was the other info .. got to keep on your toes -well flippers- here....
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By Louis Petrich (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Monday, April 6, 2009 - 6:48 pm: |
Pietri or Michael: The exchange about schooling has been helpful, but one thing still confuses me: is enrollment in a local school required before the issuance of a residence permit; or is such enrollment required for one's children after the permit has been issued? How is the law in this matter enforced?
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #634) on Monday, April 6, 2009 - 10:09 pm: |
Part of your paperwork package for the residence permit is proof of enrollment. They won't issue the residence permit without it. I don't know how the post issuance enforcement works.
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By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3641) on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - 8:53 am: |
SO much depends on who you talk to here. It really boils down to keeping your cool and networking with someone who can shepherd your papers through immigration for you. e mail me for a contact name for someone who has lots of experience and can help. info@chatnbrowse.com
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By melodi morgan (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 11:54 am: |
Help! You are all making it seem quite horrible about trying to live in Bonaire if you have children. We are trying to find schooling for three kids, 8,10,12 that speak english only. We are only on the island for 16months while I go to school.
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By Tribs - aka Jeanine! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8229) on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 12:03 pm: |
Hi Melodi! Are you coming for the med school? I met a family last year who had their son enrolled in on-line schooling, while his father attended the med school. I have no idea how it worked. Hopefully someone here will join in who knows more than I.
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By melodi morgan (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 12:09 pm: |
Jeanine,
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairebliss.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3682) on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 12:56 pm: |
Melodi, I moved with a 10 year old to Bonaire in 03. Please email me at ann@bonairecaribbean.com. She spoke some Dutch from private tutoring before our move which helped a great deal. As Michael posted it would behoove you to hire a specialist to help you move your papers. There must be some concessions for medical school students as we read about this often here. I am a resident but am required to file paperwork each year and I hire someone to handle this for me. It is affordable and take the stress out of the entire experience. If I was on island for 16 months assuming 6-8 of them my child would be in school, I would home school them but that's me based on what I learned as a parent.
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By Tribs - aka Jeanine! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #8234) on Monday, April 13, 2009 - 6:19 pm: |
Melodi...no I do not live on island, nor do I have kids. You might want to ask the med school. They have had other students in the same situation. Don't forget to email Ann, she is a wealth of knowledge.
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By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3651) on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 9:29 am: |
Sorry but there really are no concessions made for English speaking students. Our budgets for schools are already strained and the government has problems enough to contend with. As a student you are not a taxpayer so if you come with 3 kids that need schooling, there is no way that Bonaire can afford to have special programs. I don't mean to sound negative, but the medical school should have informed you better as to your options. Once we become a full Dutch Municpality, there may be some changes, but I would not look for anything positive in the near future.
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By melodi morgan (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 9:38 am: |
I dont want special concessions...I am willing to pay for private school that is taught in english. All I wanted to know is how many english taught schools are there? Where are they?and if they have a special visa program for those going to school with families. As a student coming to the island we are not coming for free....we are renting properties, eating in restaurants, frequenting your shops and paying for all extracurricular activities such as diving. We are not coming to mooch off your goverment , we are just asking if maybe we could be accomodated somehow with short term visas.
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #635) on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 12:46 pm: |
I think you read Michael's message more harshly than he intended. He is correct, though ... there aren't English-speaking schools on the island, and enrolling your children in licensed schools (which are taught in Papiamentu and Dutch) is normally a requirement for residency. There may be an exception for medical students, but I've never heard of one.
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By michael gaynor (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3653) on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 6:22 pm: |
There are no English speaking schools as yet here other than the one mentioned that teaches in a very controversial curicculum. You can offer to pay as much as you want but the government will not recognize any school other than one that has been sanctioned by the school board, Your expectations are really much too high and there are no special visas nor considerations for medical students or their families. You may spend money, etc. but you do not pay taxes to support the infrastructure. I think the school has done you a disservice by not informing you as to the realities of Bonaire
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By eileen Mcfarren (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 1:33 pm: |
I just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback. It seems that we've got the schooling taken care of, the residence permits in the works, and can now really look forward to a wonderful experience. We're working on our Dutch...and look forward to contributing to our new home.
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #641) on Thursday, April 23, 2009 - 2:27 pm: |
If there's a legal solution that permits schooling a middle-school age child in English, would you share it with us?
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By Kevin W. Williams (Bella Vista Estates) (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #643) on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 4:16 pm: |
Please, Eileen: if there's a legal solution to this problem that no one on this board was aware of, please share it with us. The only way this system works is if people share the answer to questions when they find one.
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