School Daze

Cole has started school at the International Montessori school near our apartment!

The decision on where to send Cole for preschool was a bit of a process - thanks to all who offered input.  I checked out a few different options and in the end we  felt strongly that this was the right thing. The school is right across from our apartment (about a 10 min walk from door to door factoring in slow walking children) and seemed to offer the most from our choices.

Cole was super excited on his first day! He had been asking me every night since we got here if he had school tomorrow. It's nice to finally say yes. 

The school

Approaching the school - it's in a gated/guarded complex

Kenney in the walkway outside the front

Kenney climbing a tree in front of the school

Private playground

This is my first experience with a Montessori so I'm not sure how much of what they do procedurally is China vs. the philosophy.  

Each day when we come, Cole's teacher meets us at the front door.  They walk the kids to class two at a time as they arrive and then come back for the next batch of kids.  They don't allow parents to go into the school very much - I was told parents bring germs (not kids?).  When we arrive the first thing they do is a quick health check of each child in the lobby - take their temperature with a fancy gun dohickey, give them hand sanitizer and look in the kid's mouth with a flashlight (looking for Hand, Foot and Mouth disease maybe?)

Health check station. Cole's teacher is on the right

Cole's class has 23 kids made up of kids from various countries around the world.  My guess is half are Chinese, the other are international.  There are three teachers in the class - one  lead English speaking and two Chinese speaking. There is also an ayi to help clean up / take kids to the bathroom, etc. Depending on who is working with the kid or guiding them decides what language they hear.  The school provides all the meals and snacks during the day.  The kids actually help make the food as well.  It's a mixture of some western and Chinese dishes.  The lead teacher reports to me each day how Cole did with eating - he's going through a bit of a picky phase (age related) but has been pretty good eating at school.  

The class has 3-6 year olds. After lunch the younger kids have the option to take a nap.  The school day is 8:30-4, so they younger kids do get a break if they need.  There is a nap room that is set up with each child's individual mattress, pillow, and blankets.  On the weekends the bedding  some home for cleaning. They also have 3 extra sets of clothes that stay at the school,  a toothbrush and cup for brushing after meals and a pair of indoor classroom shoes so that the dirt outside doesn't come in.

Cole's bed set

So far Cole seems to be enjoying himself and is participating well.  They do individual activities, circle time, PE and get some language instruction in English and Chinese.  In addition once a week they do flower arranging, have a special art class twice a week and Cole will start individual piano lessons in February twice a week as part of the curriculum.  

When school is over, Kenney and I go pick up Cole.  The parents or ayis wait outside the lobby to pick up the kids.  The guards radio to the classroom who's escort home has arrived.  

Parents waiting for pick up

After school a lot of families with play in a quad area in front of the school.  It's a fun social time.

Cole in middle holding hands with his friend London

Hanging out with friends

The montessori's "Black Student Union" - haha.
Cole's friend London is in his class and also from California.

Cole's Chinese friend Edison happened to have the same bike that's in our shipment on it's way.
 Edison kindly let Cole ride to Cole's delight.

The boys riding home.