Principal’s office: The International Montessori School

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. I went back to university and discovered the Montessori approach. Around that time, I also met Anne Sawyer who raved about her education at a Montessori school. It felt like serendipity, and we decided to start IMS together. That was 20 years ago.

What is unique about IMS?

IMS is unique firstly because the way children learn in Montessori is completely different, and secondly due to our emphasis on dual-language and our interactive Chinese curriculum. Each IMS classroom is directed by two teachers – speaking English and Putonghua. The key to acquiring Chinese is to keep it interesting and relevant, and we do that very well – from preschool through to primary. When children graduate through to international secondary schools, they’re consistently placed in the most advanced Chinese stream.

Where do students typically graduate to?

As IMS is a preschool and primary school, most of our children graduate to the international secondary schools in Hong Kong, with some going overseas to boarding school or returning to their home country. We are a very diverse community and so every family will have a different preference, and every child needs to find the school that fits them best. IMS children take the International Schools Assessment (ISA) standardized test every year, which is also what almost every other international school in Hong Kong administers, so our students can be assessed on a platform that is familiar to other schools. Since we have such a strong focus on Chinese, we always have a steady group of graduates going to CIS, but our children are successful no matter where they go, with ESF, HKIS, CDNIS, GSIS, and Kellett being the other popular destinations.

What have you been most proud of over the past year?

In every profession you will find people who are super dedicated, but when I made the move from the commercial world to education, the passion I saw everyday was at a completely different level. Being a teacher is really a calling, and I would like to say that being a Montessori teacher is even more so. Montessori teachers deeply believe that this is the best way for children to learn, and they reflect on their work and the philosophy of Montessori all the time. When a child finds themselves in the care of a good and devoted teacher it makes an enormous difference, and that is what our teachers have done in this very challenging year. I am so proud of my team of teachers – they have been flexible, thoughtful, caring and creative, to make the most of every day for each child! sg

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