My question is more-- do you want immersion at any cost? Or French at any cost? Or do you want Spanish and are hoping to move languages in future years. It's a question I'm sorting through now as well with a single digit WL number, and I'm not sure we have interest in French.

We love Lee but I've got to admit the arguments for Stokes are pretty strong, particularly if you are really interested in a language; though I've been told by friends with kids in immersion schools that they still have to provide outside tutoring.

Do you know a variety of people who have children at Stokes? We know parents who love it and others who have moved their children because it wasn't the right fit. I can't speak to what their particular issues were because I really don't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another new Lee family here... Still thinking if we would stay at Lee if we get off the wait list at Stokes or ITS... Could Montessori parents tell me how would a very outgoing and loud child like those 3 hours of "work" that kids do every day in Montessori classroom? I am a bit concerned if he will like it! He is used to jumping and playing and running and singing with his friends at daycare. Is that even allowed in Montessori? Those are just some concerns I have. Would you guys pick Lee over ITS? But I am still pretty stoked to get into Lee!

There are at least two current families who have done exactly that- choose Lee despite having sibling preference at ITS.

At Lee. Yes one of which I know and they wanted to keep their young one in Montessori because that is where they came from and they thought it would make for an easier transition. Ultimately they are moving sibling to IT (I think this year). I wouldn't base a decision from what other families do because we don't know their motives or reasons. I would try as much as I could to assess the two schools and get feedback from parents about respective schools. No point in putting schools against each other as it's rare families can give you their opinion about each school from personal experience.

PP asked whether people would pick Lee over ITS and it's clear that at least two families have done (and both are staying at Lee this year BTW). Is it relevant to anyone else's decision? Probably not, but it does answer the question. There are always any number of "motives or reasons" that people pick one school over the other and they are all individual.

Wow that's a tough one! In theory I value Montessori over immersion. And Lee is great (Lee parent here - it really is great). But the location uncertainty and the fact that Lee isn't so established that a couple of big staff changes couldn't change it's trajectory . . . tough choice!

I would choose it over ITS though (ranked it behind Lee on my lottery last year). Nothing against ITS - we just wanted other schools more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another new Lee family here... Still thinking if we would stay at Lee if we get off the wait list at Stokes or ITS... Could Montessori parents tell me how would a very outgoing and loud child like those 3 hours of "work" that kids do every day in Montessori classroom? I am a bit concerned if he will like it! He is used to jumping and playing and running and singing with his friends at daycare. Is that even allowed in Montessori? Those are just some concerns I have. Would you guys pick Lee over ITS? But I am still pretty stoked to get into Lee!

There are at least two current families who have done exactly that- choose Lee despite having sibling preference at ITS.

At Lee. Yes one of which I know and they wanted to keep their young one in Montessori because that is where they came from and they thought it would make for an easier transition. Ultimately they are moving sibling to IT (I think this year). I wouldn't base a decision from what other families do because we don't know their motives or reasons. I would try as much as I could to assess the two schools and get feedback from parents about respective schools. No point in putting schools against each other as it's rare families can give you their opinion about each school from personal experience.

Anonymous wrote:Another new Lee family here... Still thinking if we would stay at Lee if we get off the wait list at Stokes or ITS... Could Montessori parents tell me how would a very outgoing and loud child like those 3 hours of "work" that kids do every day in Montessori classroom? I am a bit concerned if he will like it! He is used to jumping and playing and running and singing with his friends at daycare. Is that even allowed in Montessori? Those are just some concerns I have. Would you guys pick Lee over ITS? But I am still pretty stoked to get into Lee!

There are at least two current families who have done exactly that- choose Lee despite having sibling preference at ITS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Stokes K parent. You would be crazy to turn down such a great school.

I feel the same way about Lee, Lee parent here.

+1 more Lee parent here.

Anonymous wrote:Didn't Stokes have no pk3 slots for non siblings? What happened? OP, did you have ITS on your list too?

Not OP but Stokes was working off premise that all siblings would be coming. Families move away, move on.

Didn't Stokes have no pk3 slots for non siblings? What happened? OP, did you have ITS on your list too?

Anonymous wrote:Stokes.

Lee seems great, but it's great in the honeymoon phase. We know stokes is great.

6 months is really early/honeymoon. I would take the leap of faith if I had no other options, but only in that scenario.

Anonymous wrote:Another new Lee family here... Still thinking if we would stay at Lee if we get off the wait list at Stokes or ITS... Could Montessori parents tell me how would a very outgoing and loud child like those 3 hours of "work" that kids do every day in Montessori classroom? I am a bit concerned if he will like it! He is used to jumping and playing and running and singing with his friends at daycare. Is that even allowed in Montessori? Those are just some concerns I have. Would you guys pick Lee over ITS? But I am still pretty stoked to get into Lee!

No question I would choose ITS or Stokes. No knock but even 4 years of experience makes a big difference. The videos and observations I have seen at ITS really encourage play, inquiry based learning and they seem to do a good job translating into real learning of basics.

Anonymous wrote:Another new Lee family here... Still thinking if we would stay at Lee if we get off the wait list at Stokes or ITS... Could Montessori parents tell me how would a very outgoing and loud child like those 3 hours of "work" that kids do every day in Montessori classroom? I am a bit concerned if he will like it! He is used to jumping and playing and running and singing with his friends at daycare. Is that even allowed in Montessori? Those are just some concerns I have. Would you guys pick Lee over ITS? But I am still pretty stoked to get into Lee!

From what I've seen in the classroom both outgoing and shy kids benefit from Montessori and take great pride in their "work" (the outgoing kids are positively bouncing up and down excited to tell their parents what they've learned). Every part of what happens in the classroom is individual to the child. The teacher has an individual lesson plan for each kid. They do a lot of jumping and playing and running during recess -- which is almost always outside -- but during the 3 hour work period every kid is engaged with activities like polishing shoes, or washing tables or preparing snacks or arranging flowers or tracing sandpaper letters or building towers or sorting colors or counting beads. They seem to do a lot of singing in the classroom, if the songs my kid comes home with are anything to go on. Not your traditional pre-school songs either. Recently we've been introduced to a fairly obscure Woody Guthrie number!

Did you sign up to be paired with a buddy family? Your buddy family can help answer questions like this. Welcome to Lee!

Another new Lee family here... Still thinking if we would stay at Lee if we get off the wait list at Stokes or ITS... Could Montessori parents tell me how would a very outgoing and loud child like those 3 hours of "work" that kids do every day in Montessori classroom? I am a bit concerned if he will like it! He is used to jumping and playing and running and singing with his friends at daycare. Is that even allowed in Montessori? Those are just some concerns I have. Would you guys pick Lee over ITS? But I am still pretty stoked to get into Lee!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happy Lee parent here who understands that the 2016 location can be a stressor. I'm glad you see the many great things about our school... plus awesome before and aftercare (if that's a consideration).

We hope you will join us next year.

Is it as awesome considering the extreme raise in prices?

What are the prices for next year vs this year?

This year, $4 for first hour, $12 until 6pm, including enrichment like karate, yoga, dance, Challenge Island, Lego robotics etc. Next year $385 per month flat rate until 6pm, no extra enrichment just MOMIES after care (which is great).

Wow, that is a huge increase. Did they explain why?

Anonymous wrote:I am a Stokes K parent. You would be crazy to turn down such a great school.

I feel the same way about Lee, Lee parent here.