PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

Co-founding Principal Karin Ann celebrates 20 years of The International Montessori School

Can you tell us about your background?

I am Eurasian and grew up in Hong Kong. My father is Chinese, and my mother is Swiss. I attended a local school, and spoke both English and Cantonese at home from a young age. My bilingual upbringing was my parents’ greatest gift to me and when I founded IMS 20 years ago, I wanted our students to have that same dual language environment.

How did you co-found IMS?

After 10 years working in business consulting and finance, I found myself wanting to make a greater impact. Around that time, I saw the way children were being taught in schools and it seemed to be even more traditional and rote than in my time. I strongly felt that learning should be more enjoyable for the children. I went back to university and discovered the Montessori approach. Around that time, I also met my co-founder Anne Sawyer, who raved about her own education in a Montessori school, and we decided to start IMS together. That was 20 years ago.

What is the Montessori method?

Dr. Maria Montessori created the Montessori method in Italy in the early 1900’s based on the belief that children have a natural thirst for learning, and the teacher’s job is to curate the best environment for that instinct to flourish. She was the first person to recognise that learning through all the senses – not just hearing and seeing, but using the hands to explore – is critical, and so she designed a full range of interactive materials through which the Montessori curriculum is delivered. What Montessori has been doing for over a century is exactly what education pioneers are talking about today (think Ken Robinson’s TED talk). The results are fabulous. Montessori children are interested in learning, confident, thoughtful and kind.

Can you tell us about IMS’ school facilities?

IMS has four locations on Hong Kong island, all of which offer preschool, with our primary programme being in the Stanley campus. Nature is a big thing in Montessori, and each campus is green and bright, with natural wood furnishings. Our Stanley campus has a large children’s organic garden, along with many sports and STEAM facilities. The Montessori classroom itself is our most distinctive feature, where our children learn and develop in the unique Montessori way, within a material-rich and bilingual environment all day long.

What advice do you give to prospective parents?

‘Help Me Do It By Myself’ is the most famous of Montessori’s quotes, and setting up your home to allow your child independence is the best start to their Montessori journey. Independence brings children confidence, joy and motivation, and whether it is putting on shoes or preparing for a meal, the home is full of opportunities for our children to develop their autonomy. We may feel it is faster for us to do it for them, but in the process we are depriving them of the most important developmental journey!

Can you share what’s in store over the next school year?

It’s our 20th Anniversary Year! When we started IMS, we were hoping to have a small school of 150 students, and never imagined that we would grow to almost 1,000 children! It has been a very rewarding journey, and we are proud to be known all over the world as one of the best (and largest) Montessori schools. We have many celebrations planned for this year, and through the exhilaration of it all, my goal will be to constantly reflect on why we started the school – which is to do our best for the children – and keep trying to do it better.

To learn more about The International Montessori School, or to arrange a tour, visit ims.edu.hk

Canadian International School of Hong Kong

CDNIS marks its 30th anniversary with 30 celebrations. By Gemma Shaw

Since opening in 1991, Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) has earned a reputation as one of the top leading international schools in the territory. As the school prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, we take a look at what sets CDNIS apart.

Why choose CDNIS?

CDNIS is an International Baccalaureate World School with more than 1,800 students and 300 staff. Along with academic achievement, the focus is to inspire excellence, cultivate character, and empower engagement, ultimately creating global citizens of the world. The school has drawn on the strength of its Canadian and Chinese foundations to create a unique learning environment in which students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to seek out, analyze facts and act accordingly. In a recent satisfaction survey, parents praised the school for its warm community, broad education spectrum, supportive and dedicated staff and ability to create well-rounded individuals who confidently inspire change.

Strategic direction

As Head of School for the past two years, Dr. Jane Camblin has navigated CDNIS through a very unique period. Despite the challenges of the pandemic the school has continued to thrive. “There is no secret to our success,” says Camblin. “We’ve listened carefully, responded to our environment, continued to think strategically and above all, our focus has remained on pushing the school forwards. We have a nimble team, strong leadership and outstanding teachers that have excelled in terms of adapting their strategies and

Early Years students

pedagogy,” she adds. The school’s upcoming strategic plan, which outlines future priorities including detailed curriculum and campus planning, focuses on continuing to deliver the level of excellence that students are accustomed to in an environment conducive to the teaching of 21st century skills.

Indeed the school is constantly evolving. Following the additions of the new Early Years Environment and Photovoltaic Farm in 2019, CDNIS unveiled a brand new learning space for Grade 5 and 6 students and two environmentally-conscious cafeteria spaces at the start of the school year. Meanwhile, planning is currently underway for an innovative redesign of the rest of the campus into state-of-the-art learning spaces. It will provide an environment for those students who are passionate about science, mathematics, engineering and technology, allowing them to work individually or collaboratively on entrepreneurial, STEM, STEAM, coding, robotics and design thinking projects.

Enrollment at all-time high

CDNIS popularity is evident. Despite the pandemic, enrollment is at an impressive high, something Camblin credits to the school’s solid reputation over the past 30 years. “We currently have 1,830 students and we are at full capacity. I have my predecessors to thank for that, and the quality of education that’s been provided. We’ve also had extraordinary successes in terms of IB results and college acceptances. So with that, our reputation in Hong Kong has grown via word-of-mouth,” she adds. “We continually maintained our high standards and communicating this to the community has also been very important. It’s a very welcoming campus. Both physically and on an energy level - it’s the ‘Canadian vibe”, if you will. This is a very open-minded and generous place, and I think that’s tangible,” she adds.

Early Years Bilingual programme

a bilingual programme for Early Years 1 & 2 which will run alongside the international programme. Whilst the current international programme is delivered in Mandarin (20%) and English (80%), the bilingual programme will be delivered in equal parts - 50% English and 50% Mandarin. Students will be immersed in the target language for the entire school day with English and Chinese teachers teaching on alternate days. All classes will also have a bilingual educational assistant, who will remain with the same class and switches language each day. There are also plans to introduce a full-day programme for Early Years 2 students (currently only a half day programme is offered) and in August 2023, the bilingual programme will expand to include the Preparatory programme.

Rennovated cafeteria with green wall space

Looking to the future

“Our environmental studies and sustainability initiatives are just one aspect that continue to set us apart. We are currently working

Early Years students planting in the roof garden

on a series of experiential local activities with the aim of helping students better understand the ecosystem in Hong Kong,” says Camblin. CDNIS has formed partnerships with environmentally forward-thinking brands including Nespresso and Maxims. “We’re a recycling outpost for Nespresso pods. The pods are made into compost which we then use in our roof garden where we grow herbs and vegetables for use in our teaching kitchen,” she says. Another notable partnership is with Hong Kong chef and environmental activist, Peggy Chan, who attended CDNIS as a student. “Peggy founded sustainable food consultancy Grassroots Initiatives and works with our staff and students to ensure that food is sourced responsibly where possible. She helps the children conceptualise the importance of where food comes from on an environmental, political and health level. These types of partnerships feed right into our goals of being sustainable, environmentally-friendly and respectful of our position in the world,” she adds.

Celebrating 30 years

Planning a large celebration during Covid is complicated and so the school will instead host 30 smaller celebrations, so that everyone can be involved. “We’ll of course be involving the parents too,” says Camblin. “We have many really talented parents that have a lot to offer. For example, one of our parents who’s a pediatrician has already stepped up to help support parents with the new government requirement for students over 12 to be vaccinated. The credibility of a CDNIS parent, sharing knowledge with other parents has been instrumental in helping us achieve the 70% target,” she adds.

It takes a village to raise a child and it’s evident that CDNIS is more than a school, it’s a community of like-minded people working towards a common goal. CDNIS graduates are well-rounded, forward thinking individuals who not only excel academically, but are innovative global thinkers and future change makers. It’s remarkable to witness what the school has achieved over the past 30 years and exciting to think what the community at CDNIS will achieve over the next three decades.

cdnis.edu.hk

School report

Established date: November 1991 Number of students: 1,830 Class size: Varies from 20-24 in the Lower School to 22-25 (for Academic courses) in the Upper School Curriculum: International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP and DP) and Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Fees 2021/2022: $115,900 (Early Years) to $205,400 (Grade 11-12) Address: 36 Nam Long Shan Rd, Aberdeen Admissions tel: 2240 6363 Admissions email: admissions@cdnis.edu.hk

To find out more about Canadian International School of Hong Kong, or to arrange a tour, visit cdnis.edu.hk