Woodlands Montessori vs IMS (Wanchai)
- Thread starter Gail Gail
- Start date
orangebaby
Registered User
IMS is very good school
One thing about IMS is that is fully equipped with Montessori materials in each classroom. In each classroom, there is a fully trained teacher, many of the teachers have their Diplomas from Association Montessori Internationale. Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) is the Montessori Association set up by Dr. Maria Montessori. It is headquartered in Amsterdam. Its training standards are the highest standards in the world.
You will find that many schools with the Name Montessori are just versions of Montessori with a few of the Montessori materials... it will look nice but are the materials used by the children and understood by the teacher? I am an AMI teacher. My daughters both attended IMS for two years. IMS has outstanding AMI teachers, even some of the Mandarin teachers are fully trained Montessori AMI teachers or they are currently training to be AMI teachers.
When I taught there, it was an outstanding school. The current elementary teacher, Victor is superb, he did his student teaching in my class during his AMI training in America. Karin Ann and Anne Sawyer are comitted to having an outstanding bilingual Montessori school with fully equipped classrooms and fully trained teachers from AMI. The children are loved and nurtured and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Visit the schools in Hong Kong which are Montessori schools and compare the equipment and credentials of each school's teachers. IMS has it all and provides the highest quality for each child. It may cost more, but there is a quality programme for your children.
One thing about IMS is that is fully equipped with Montessori materials in each classroom. In each classroom, there is a fully trained teacher, many of the teachers have their Diplomas from Association Montessori Internationale. Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) is the Montessori Association set up by Dr. Maria Montessori. It is headquartered in Amsterdam. Its training standards are the highest standards in the world.
You will find that many schools with the Name Montessori are just versions of Montessori with a few of the Montessori materials... it will look nice but are the materials used by the children and understood by the teacher? I am an AMI teacher. My daughters both attended IMS for two years. IMS has outstanding AMI teachers, even some of the Mandarin teachers are fully trained Montessori AMI teachers or they are currently training to be AMI teachers.
When I taught there, it was an outstanding school. The current elementary teacher, Victor is superb, he did his student teaching in my class during his AMI training in America. Karin Ann and Anne Sawyer are comitted to having an outstanding bilingual Montessori school with fully equipped classrooms and fully trained teachers from AMI. The children are loved and nurtured and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Visit the schools in Hong Kong which are Montessori schools and compare the equipment and credentials of each school's teachers. IMS has it all and provides the highest quality for each child. It may cost more, but there is a quality programme for your children.
orangebaby
Registered User
ami,
Thanks for your information!
My friend told me, her frd's son studied in IMS before, but becoming more autistic than before, so he changed school.
The parent mentioned it's bcos the children do their work alone most of the time.
Will children in Montessori school have more tendency of becoming self-centred ?
Any group activities daily in IMS to have children in social ability?
Like role play, or circle time to let them sharing of views ?
Since I read some Chinese books talking abourt a Montessori school in China has such kind of activities.
Thanks for your information!
My friend told me, her frd's son studied in IMS before, but becoming more autistic than before, so he changed school.
The parent mentioned it's bcos the children do their work alone most of the time.
Will children in Montessori school have more tendency of becoming self-centred ?
Any group activities daily in IMS to have children in social ability?
Like role play, or circle time to let them sharing of views ?
Since I read some Chinese books talking abourt a Montessori school in China has such kind of activities.
orangebaby
Registered User
ami,
Also the quality of teachers is also important.
I learned that CDB in SHEUNG WAN claimed that they are all AMI teachers. I think it is very important as you said.
If CDB has quality teachers and cost less for half day, I may choose CDB instead of IMS.
I doubt if IMS is non-profit making in regard of high fee and debentures requirement in regard other Montessori school of lower fee can still survive.
Also the quality of teachers is also important.
I learned that CDB in SHEUNG WAN claimed that they are all AMI teachers. I think it is very important as you said.
If CDB has quality teachers and cost less for half day, I may choose CDB instead of IMS.
I doubt if IMS is non-profit making in regard of high fee and debentures requirement in regard other Montessori school of lower fee can still survive.
I don't understand how someone's child can become "more autistic" because of their school. My kids both attend IMS and they are both quite social (perhaps too much...they never seem to stop talking!) Children do not work alone all the time in the Montessori setting. They work a lot with their classmates as well. The little ones do have circle time each day as well.
IMS Fully Equipped classrooms, exquisite
IMS has the equipment and the trained teachers. The Mandarin teachers are doing the Association Montessori Internationale training. It is a quality first rate program. My daughters attended and are now in upper elementary in Tokyo! We have six former IMS kids in Montessori School of Tokyo, all fine students.
IMS has one of the best schools anywhere, Karin and Anne do a great job managing their staff and are supportive of their parents in the school. IMS has has many wonderful teachers and students there. I taught the first two years of IMS and now teach in Japan.
Your children will love attending IMS, mine did!
IMS has the equipment and the trained teachers. The Mandarin teachers are doing the Association Montessori Internationale training. It is a quality first rate program. My daughters attended and are now in upper elementary in Tokyo! We have six former IMS kids in Montessori School of Tokyo, all fine students.
IMS has one of the best schools anywhere, Karin and Anne do a great job managing their staff and are supportive of their parents in the school. IMS has has many wonderful teachers and students there. I taught the first two years of IMS and now teach in Japan.
Your children will love attending IMS, mine did!
orangebaby
Registered User
IMS will be relocated to South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau...
_________________________________
Dear Parents,
We regret to inform you that IMS is being forced to relocate its Casa and Toddler programmes as of the 2007-2008 academic year. Kindly visit the following weblink to see the circular detailing the background behind this move, and displaying photos of our new location in South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau:
http://www.montessori.com.hk/MoveUpdate.htm
Although we believe that the new South Horizons location will turn out to be an even better facility for us than QRE has been, we regret the unexpectedness of this change and recognise that it may present problems for some families and will certainly raise questions for everyone.
We understand that you have applied for your child to attend the Toddler-Caregiver Groups in the 2007-08 academic year. We are pleased to confirm that we will be adding morning and late afternoon sessions starting in September 2007, and will be providing the detailed class schedule to you in July 2007. In the meantime, we wish to make you aware of our impending move to allow parents time to understand the background behind it, and the opportunity to view the new site and to assess whether it is convenient for your child and your family.
To try to give as many people as much information in as efficient and timely a manner as possible, we are arranging the following:
- Two briefings / open question and answer sessions at QRE on:
o Friday, June 15th at 8:30 a.m.
o Wednesday, June 20th at 7:00 p.m.
- Two Tours of the new campus. Parents will meet at QRE and be bussed to the new campus on either:
o Friday, June 15th at 10:00 a.m. or
o Saturday, June 23rd at 2:00 p.m.
We deeply regret the suddenness of this relocation and appreciate your support during this difficult time. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.
Sincerely,
_________________________________
Dear Parents,
We regret to inform you that IMS is being forced to relocate its Casa and Toddler programmes as of the 2007-2008 academic year. Kindly visit the following weblink to see the circular detailing the background behind this move, and displaying photos of our new location in South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau:
http://www.montessori.com.hk/MoveUpdate.htm
Although we believe that the new South Horizons location will turn out to be an even better facility for us than QRE has been, we regret the unexpectedness of this change and recognise that it may present problems for some families and will certainly raise questions for everyone.
We understand that you have applied for your child to attend the Toddler-Caregiver Groups in the 2007-08 academic year. We are pleased to confirm that we will be adding morning and late afternoon sessions starting in September 2007, and will be providing the detailed class schedule to you in July 2007. In the meantime, we wish to make you aware of our impending move to allow parents time to understand the background behind it, and the opportunity to view the new site and to assess whether it is convenient for your child and your family.
To try to give as many people as much information in as efficient and timely a manner as possible, we are arranging the following:
- Two briefings / open question and answer sessions at QRE on:
o Friday, June 15th at 8:30 a.m.
o Wednesday, June 20th at 7:00 p.m.
- Two Tours of the new campus. Parents will meet at QRE and be bussed to the new campus on either:
o Friday, June 15th at 10:00 a.m. or
o Saturday, June 23rd at 2:00 p.m.
We deeply regret the suddenness of this relocation and appreciate your support during this difficult time. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.
Sincerely,
sophwillsmum
Registered User
I was wondering if anyone could tell me how far South horizons is from Bel air Cyberport? As we are new to Hk I have not yet put my sons name down at any prescholols. As he will turn three soon, I would really like for him to start preschool in Sept. Maybe this move will mean they have some places?
we been offered a place recently at IMS, and we were v happy. But with tis relocation, we are really not sure now. cos we stay in hk island east and travelling to IMS aberdeen everyday for school could b quite taxing for my 3yr old.
Can anyone share if you have similiar experience putting your young toddler on a long school bus ride? Cos i really not sure if she be comfortable.
thanks for sharing.
Can anyone share if you have similiar experience putting your young toddler on a long school bus ride? Cos i really not sure if she be comfortable.
thanks for sharing.
signorinakaren
New member
Confuse??? soon to be mom
Looking at this thread has really threw me off my balance. I'm a soon to be first time mom in HK (not native) and neither is my husband!
How, when, where should i start to look into play group, pre-school, kindergarten? as soon as the baby is born? heard that this year's birth rate is really high and may be harder to get a place in school for the kids??
Firstly, how soon/ early should i start looking at pre-school?
It's really confusing! and scary too....
Please, can someone give me some advise.
Looking at this thread has really threw me off my balance. I'm a soon to be first time mom in HK (not native) and neither is my husband!
How, when, where should i start to look into play group, pre-school, kindergarten? as soon as the baby is born? heard that this year's birth rate is really high and may be harder to get a place in school for the kids??
Firstly, how soon/ early should i start looking at pre-school?
It's really confusing! and scary too....
Please, can someone give me some advise.
rani
Administrator
Karen,
Check here for Annual fees for HK Kindys
http://www.geobaby.com/articles/education/list-of-preschools-and-kindergartens-on-hong-kong-island/
Check here for Annual fees for HK Kindys
http://www.geobaby.com/articles/education/list-of-preschools-and-kindergartens-on-hong-kong-island/
I made a visit to CDB some time ago.... Unlike my friend, I was not so convinced about the place... It looks very nice to grown-ups but I questioned myself whether kids would also like the very spacious but very white (with almost empty walls) space...
Joanna said that she will continue to fill the indoor playground with things but my gut feeling was that it will take some time. She also mentioned that the school is currently in the process of the application for a 'certificate' as it is not a certified montessori school yet...
Maybe CDB will be very great place next year or a year after.
Joanna said that she will continue to fill the indoor playground with things but my gut feeling was that it will take some time. She also mentioned that the school is currently in the process of the application for a 'certificate' as it is not a certified montessori school yet...
Maybe CDB will be very great place next year or a year after.
elephantine
Registered User
Each person/child will have different responses to different physical environments and we should all go for what will best suit our own children. I personally thought the space was refreshingly spacious, orderly and beautiful but certainly, others might think differently.
As for the certifications, however, the HK government pre-school certifications are clearly displayed on the walls at CDB. I don't think that's an issue. If the question is about an international montessori certification, I understand both teachers of the 2.5-6yrs class are trained by the highly respected AMI - but AMI is an American organization which really only accredits schools within the U.S. (some other montessori organizations routinely accredit schools outside the U.S., but these non-AMI organizations were not expressly approved by Maria Montessori).
Joanna has stated that she's seeking to get accredited as an AMI *training center* in Hong Kong, to train more adults in HK to be proper AMI montessori teachers. But this is something quite different to getting AMI accreditation to be a *montessori school* - AMI will not do that in Hong Kong and the best one can hope for here is a school that is fully committed to AMI methods. My sense is that CDB was established with that commitment.
As for the certifications, however, the HK government pre-school certifications are clearly displayed on the walls at CDB. I don't think that's an issue. If the question is about an international montessori certification, I understand both teachers of the 2.5-6yrs class are trained by the highly respected AMI - but AMI is an American organization which really only accredits schools within the U.S. (some other montessori organizations routinely accredit schools outside the U.S., but these non-AMI organizations were not expressly approved by Maria Montessori).
Joanna has stated that she's seeking to get accredited as an AMI *training center* in Hong Kong, to train more adults in HK to be proper AMI montessori teachers. But this is something quite different to getting AMI accreditation to be a *montessori school* - AMI will not do that in Hong Kong and the best one can hope for here is a school that is fully committed to AMI methods. My sense is that CDB was established with that commitment.
I think another problem which some Montessori parents fail to conisder is whether a very strict and traditional montessori environment will hinder their child's prospects of moving to a traditional primary school. I think the education system in HK is unique in that it is highly competitive and most top primary schools will require candidates to undergo some form of assessment. A good Montessori school should recognise this and adapt to the HK environment, rather than just sticking to the book. I think Woodlands and IMS have a good history of sending their kids to top primary schools in HK, but I'm not so sure about the rest.