We are an immersive bilingual Montessori school with an emphasis in English and Mandarin Chinese. Serving Berkeley and the Bay Area, our preschool is dedicated to quality learning using the Montessori method - teaching everything from the most basic life skills to core subjects such as reading and writing in English and Chinese.
The Montessori program is based on the belief that children learn best through their own drive to learn about their world. Montessori methods provide the foundation for everything we teach at GMIS. Each of our two programs -Young Children's House and Children's House - features a spacious, bright classroom.
The Montessori program is based on the belief that children learn best through their own drive to learn about their world. Montessori methods provide the foundation for everything we teach at GMIS. Each of our two programs -Young Children's House and Children's House - features a spacious, bright classroom.
Services
Our son went to GMIS for preschool and loved it. Caring, gentle teachers, a strong parent community and Mandarin - all that we could hope for. GMIS is such an incredible school. We always tell other parents it's the best school in the area because you get the Mandarin language education PLUS Montessori program.
At the end of our GMIS Summer Programs, we praise every GMIS teacher for the commitment and dedication that is evident in the planning behind each summer session. With excellent lesson-planning and organizing of crafts, art projects, outside activities and creative snacks, GMIS Teachers offer a wonderful well-rounded and most importantly, fun Montessori Summer Program.
Reviews (10)
Niki G.
Feb 03, 2022
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Our family has had a difficult journey with GMIS and we feel that it's important to share this with perspective parents considering the school.
We shopped around *a lot* for a preschool for our child, starting when she was 6 months old. This was before the pandemic so we toured each school. We eventually realized we wanted a bilingual immersion Montessori program for our daughter, and looked into several in the east bay. We chose to apply to GMIS because the cultural programs were appealing and we liked the facility. We toured and liked the teachers. We were set to enroll last year, and
We shopped around *a lot* for a preschool for our child, starting when she was 6 months old. This was before the pandemic so we toured each school. We eventually realized we wanted a bilingual immersion Montessori program for our daughter, and looked into several in the east bay. We chose to apply to GMIS because the cultural programs were appealing and we liked the facility. We toured and liked the teachers. We were set to enroll last year, and
Patty B.
Mar 10, 2021
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We did an exhaustive search of Mandarin-immersion preschools in the East Bay and SF--combed through websites and reviews and attended every single open house. At the time we were still pregnant so we had time! ;) We had many conversations that began with, "How old is your child? Are you looking to join in the fall?" And then my husband explaining, "Well...our son isn't born yet but we heard that waitlists can be long so we wanted to plan ahead." Yes, we were that couple.
Choosing GMIS as our top preschool option was an easy choice. The school itself is bright, spacious
Choosing GMIS as our top preschool option was an easy choice. The school itself is bright, spacious
Sophia H.
Jul 30, 2019
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Our daughter has been attending GMIS for a little over a year. We relocated from New Jersey to the Bay Area in 2018 with little time to plan the move. One of the biggest thing to decide besides where to live was which school to enroll our daughter in. Since she had been attending Montessori school in NJ, we decided to start there. After some research, we learned that there are lots of bilingual schools in the East Bay area. GMIS came up as one of the options. I decided to contact GMIS based on the one picture that I saw on Yelp that had traditional Chinese in the background. We brought our daughter
Jo U.
Jul 29, 2014
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I think we were lucky enough to catch the last best years of this school. When we first interviewed at their old location, we could not wait to get in. However, especially the last year of our pre-school experience was less than desirable.
Since 2013 summer they lost a very key administrative director who literally managed the whole operation of the school, and the school has been going downhill since. Although the communication has always been spotty, but with no administrator and without replacing one in a year (it was taken over by part timers), the communication has been extremely inconsistent
Since 2013 summer they lost a very key administrative director who literally managed the whole operation of the school, and the school has been going downhill since. Although the communication has always been spotty, but with no administrator and without replacing one in a year (it was taken over by part timers), the communication has been extremely inconsistent
Bruce M.
May 10, 2011
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My son has been enrolled at GMIS for almost two and a half years now
(since he was two years old), in the Chinese language program. He
really enjoys the environment, the teachers, and of course his
friends.
The teachers and staff at GMIS genuinely care for the well-being of
all the students. They provide a warm, supportive environment for
kids to learn and explore the world around them.
Some of the other reviewers have commented much more eloquently than I
could about the benefits of a bilingual Montessori-based education,
and how it's implemented at GMIS. I can however say that my son
(since he was two years old), in the Chinese language program. He
really enjoys the environment, the teachers, and of course his
friends.
The teachers and staff at GMIS genuinely care for the well-being of
all the students. They provide a warm, supportive environment for
kids to learn and explore the world around them.
Some of the other reviewers have commented much more eloquently than I
could about the benefits of a bilingual Montessori-based education,
and how it's implemented at GMIS. I can however say that my son
Teens H.
Sep 03, 2010
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I have 2 kids at GMIS since it first started and approaching our third year. Each year the program gets better and better. In addition to the language-immersion program, music, art, PE, and soccer are now part of the weekly program. This dynamic program is evidence that the Director, Vivi Teng is actively committed to providing a well-rounded education for the children.
My children are in the Mandarin immersion program. They both can speak, write, and read Chinese, which is amazing since there is no Chinese at home. AND they are highly motivated to learn more Chinese! (spilling over to Spanish
My children are in the Mandarin immersion program. They both can speak, write, and read Chinese, which is amazing since there is no Chinese at home. AND they are highly motivated to learn more Chinese! (spilling over to Spanish
J. Ching T.
Sep 02, 2010
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It's ironic that someone without any personal experience at GMIS writes about it going down hill... The fact is: GMIS is THRIVING! It's elementary program is expanding rapidly and it's children's house full.
Our children attended PRINTS when it was the only option for Chinese bilingual, and we also followed Ernie Mahr to GMIS. But we chose to stay at GMIS when Ernie left to opened AIM, and we have been more than happy with our decision throughout the last 1.5 years.
GMIS is what I call Montessori with warmth and creativity. You feel it when you see the campus and hear
Our children attended PRINTS when it was the only option for Chinese bilingual, and we also followed Ernie Mahr to GMIS. But we chose to stay at GMIS when Ernie left to opened AIM, and we have been more than happy with our decision throughout the last 1.5 years.
GMIS is what I call Montessori with warmth and creativity. You feel it when you see the campus and hear
Mc M.
Sep 02, 2010
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I had both my children at Pacific Rim International School for a total of seven years. When Ernie Mahr broke away from PRINTS to co-found GMIS with Vivi Teng, I stayed at PRINTS out of respect and loyalty for the many wonderful years they gave my children. However, Ernie's departure had decimated both the PRINTS student body and teaching staff, and by the spring of that difficult year I had decided to enroll both my children at GMIS. Not a week after I applied, Ernie broke away again to form a third Japanese/Chinese immersion Montessori program. All three of these schools are within a 3 mile
F. Z.
Sep 02, 2010
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Our two kids have been at GMIS since its founding and we cannot be happier with the school, teachers and staff. Our son started at PRINTS and we moved him to GMIS because GMIS has a warmer and more nurturing environment. The school has definitively cultivated the love of learning in our kids. They literally look forward to returning to school after every weekend so they can do more "work" - the Montessori descriptor of the various exercises and activities that the students do. Our kids' Chinese is almost better than mine and the bottom line is, they are truly happy!
The program
The program
Seven S.
Mar 09, 2010
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If you are struggling to find quality schooling in this crumbling education environment, check out this school!
Montessori/Chinese/Japanese language
My 2 kids are in the elementary Japanese language program. The teacher/student ratio is about 1/5!! They can read, write and speak in Japanese (and English of course), and are thriving. They have developed such a passion for reading, love going to school each day (the sign of excellent teachers) and are excited and challenged. I can't be more satisfied with their education and the quality of teachers here.
This school is also a bilingual
Montessori/Chinese/Japanese language
My 2 kids are in the elementary Japanese language program. The teacher/student ratio is about 1/5!! They can read, write and speak in Japanese (and English of course), and are thriving. They have developed such a passion for reading, love going to school each day (the sign of excellent teachers) and are excited and challenged. I can't be more satisfied with their education and the quality of teachers here.
This school is also a bilingual
