For the coming weeks, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from our upcoming 2014-2015 School Choice Guide, which comes out in early February 2014. Scroll down for more information on how to participate in our annual school choice fair in March 2014.
La Maison Montessori de Pékin (LMMP) is the first bilingual French and Chinese Montessori kindergarten in Beijing, catering for children between 2 and 6 years old. The kindergarten is situated in Dongsishisitiao, close to Dongzhimen area, in a beautiful Chinese courtyard, which provides a perfect local cultural setting.
The school was founded by Julie Castellotti, a Montessori teacher, and two mothers, Natalia Roitman and Li Shuwen, who wished to create another educational option for the French-speaking community in Beijing. The school aims to provide a method of education that takes into account the individual needs of each student in a bilingual environment. The small structure enables the teacher and families to communicate daily about the progress of the children and the small courtyard helps the students feel at home. The class includes two AMS Montessori certified lead teachers (one French speaker and one Chinese), as well as a Chinese assistant teacher. The curriculum incorporates the five domains of the Montessori environment and a social and emotional learning curriculum.
Founding date: 2013
School type: Bilingual French- Chinese Montessori kindergarten
Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? N/A
Accreditations: None, but the teachers are AMS (American Montessori Society) certified
Tuition fees (2013-2014 Academic Year):
- Application fee: 1200 RMB
- One-year tuition: 55,200 RMB,
- Lunch fee: RMB 550 per month
Food offered: Chinese and Western; partly organic produce and vegetarian options
Types of scholarships offered: N/A
Age range: Currently ages 2.5 to 6
Number of students: 16
Nationality of students: French, Chinese, British
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? Yes
Primary teaching language: French and Chinese
Languages taught: None
Class size: Maximum of 16
Teacher/student ratio: 1:6
After school activities offered: Daycare services for students available, as well as classes in French, English, Chinese, cooking, art, music, montessori and theater classes. The school also hosts Montessori introduction classes for parents, other family members and ayis.
School facilities: Situated in a traditional Chinese courtyard with two classrooms, a reading corner and an outdoor yard. The school has one air filter machine per room.
Total area of campus: 150sqm
School nurse: No, but lead teacher has first aid training. The Dongzhimen hospital is in 3 minutes walking distance from the kindergarten.
Contact: 50, Dongsi Shisi Tiao, Dongcheng District (8401 3974 / 131 2025 0341 for French / 139 1025 3125 for English speaking / 136 8354 1333 for Chinese lamaisonmontessoripk@gmail.com) 东城区东四十四条50号
Word from a parent:
“La Maison Montessori de Pékin is really a second home for our son Gaëtan. Since he started at the school, he leaves every morning laughing. The crying crisis of wanting “To stay with maman” are over. This little school allows him to grow in a safe and intimate environment, away from big classes. Here he develops his own rhythm and confidence with the other children. He passes the day in his mother tongue, French, and also in Chinese. By choosing a small school, we as parents are able to closely follow the education of our son. Every day we can speak with Julie, the French teacher, and learn about how his day was. This constant contact is most important in making the connection between home and school. There is total transparency and so confidence is built naturally. I know he is happy and he becomes more confident and independent every day. The proof: every morning, a smiling little boy, pulls me by the sleeve so we are not late to school. What else could I ask for?”
– Agnes Ah-Kong, mother of Gaëtan (3)
For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide e-mail editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail schoolchoicefair@truerun.com.
Photo courtesy of La Maison Montessori
