Important questions that parents must ask about the school when searching for a
licensed kindergarten in Hong Kong?
Teachers' professional qualifications: What expertise do the teachers have?
Our School: All teachers are university graduated, all with
many years of professional teaching experience, and with
many years of participation in Montessori teacher development program.
History & Proven Track Record: When was the school formed? How long has the school been registered and licensed by the Education Department? Parents should look for at least
20 years of proven track record in English/Cantonese and
English/Mandarin kindergarten education.
Our School: Established in 1960's, we are the oldest corresponding Montessori school in Asia, and Corresponding School/International Member School of the American Montessori Society® in Hong Kong with an excellent reputation as a premier international school.
Curriculum details: Inquire about the school curriculum and the school philosophy. Your children will spend a few years of their life in an institution called school. It is most wasteful for their inquisitive minds if they are only "passing time" there.
Our School: Unparalleled curriculum that include American international curriculum and
proven track record for over 20 years of operating
English/Cantonese class and English/Mandarin class and
exceptional after school curricular activities for
parent and children's participation.
Professional affiliation:
Our School: The American Montessori Society®'s corresponding School in Hong Kong
since 80's, and their only International Member School in Hong Kong.
Safety: There are plenty of unlicensed "apartment
or office based" preschools or playgroups in Hong Kong. They are unsafe. Check for at least 2 things: (1)
Kindergarten Registration Certificate from the Education
Bureau, and (2) automated fire detection system connected to a nearby fire station. Do not put your child at risk!
Our School: Montessori appropriate renovated classrooms, fire prevention system with automatic and automated fire detection system.
Equipment: Ask to be shown the complete "Montessori apparatus", i.e. sensory, mathematics, geography, etc.
Our School: Fully child-sized furniture and toilet facilities in a "prepared Montessori environment"
We have developed thousands of worksheet, projects and
teaching apparatus in our history of four decades.
Remember Montessori apparatus cannot be replaced by
toys.
Clean and organized classrooms: Inspect all facilities available for children (child-sized toilets, ventilation, "childproof" classrooms, protection against infectious disease, and so on.) Also check its washroom. Make sure that your children do not spend a few years in
unfit academic kindergarten environment during their
kindergarten years because it sets expectations for
their rest of learning years.
Our School: Professionally designed "green" class room, maintaining the highest level of hygiene.
What is the parent involvement? Ask for photo albums to show parents' involvement in class activities.
Our School: Effective parent involvement in the School's four decades of development.
School discipline: Ask how is the discipline of children handled?
Our School: Effective discipline measure by peer pressure and classroom socialization
International affiliation: To ensure the school is recognized in case your family eventually settles down overseas.
Our School: Recognized by the best grade schools both internationally and
in Hong Kong.
Government registration: You must ask for proof of registration by the Education Department - without that registration your child's classroom may not have the crucial fire prevention and building safety features required of a safe school. It may also lack
of tertiary trained teachers and curriculum, which may affect your child's transition to the
high academic elementary and junior high school lateron.
Our School: Registered for over two decades with the
Education Bureau as Kindergarten.
Emergency measures: What is the policy for taking care of sick or injured children?
Our School: Teachers and staffs have been routinely trained to handle emergency situations of children.
Send mail to
montessori.hk@montessori-edu.com
Telephone:(852) 2869 1811 Fax: (852) 2521 9455
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