International Montessori School [IMS] vs Canadian Internation School [CDNIS]

[Jomama1]

My 3 years old son was accepted into IMS and is waiting for results from CDNIS.
Yes, the decision is now down to these two (or one; if CDNIS doesn't give us an offer, we'd then happily settle with IMS). We'd like to be prepared to decide which school to attend as the school usually need us to make a decision quickly. This is what's important to our family:

1. Finding a through train school with a solid enough academic curriculum (without beating the desire to learn out of the child)
2. A school that nurtures good characters & virtue
3. A sufficient Chinese learning program which allows the child to be able to read the newspaper & write in paragraphs with ease by primary graduation.

IMS
Pro- Solid learning program with great Mandarin teaching in traditional characters.
Con- Montessori system maybe a difficulty to transition into mainstream IS (and that we will have to apply all over again)

CDNIS
Pro- truly through-train with great environment to grow up in. well-balanced.
Con- weak PYP curriculum and Mandarin taught in simplified characters.

I'm just listing out the key pros & cons in my eyes.
Any suggestions or comments is greatly welcomed.

 

[babystuff]

If I had to choose I would go with CDNIS, although am not a fan of PYP, seems like the school has embraced it and doing their very best. Through train is a plus both for primary and secondary.
Great facilities and numerous activities. Kids seem to be well rounded.

IMS don't know much about this school, only what I've read in the the papers. To be honest, am not very impressed.

 

[Jomama1]

Thank you for your vote IBorNot2IB (and your ID name sums it up quite well). To be honest, if we just look at the kindie & primary section, IMS is an academically much stronger school, and prepares a child well for life. The school is new and has its growing pain, and after a school visit today at IMS I have some gut feeling hesitation. Hard to pinpoint why. The kids there all look wonderful though, just not sure if my boy will thrive in it or not.

IB does suit my son's inquisitive social nature, but I am afraid it will lack the self-discipline & concentration which my son truly need to acquire. A Montessori education can provide such trainings.

I know I have a lucky headache, but nevertheless it is a headache which will greatly affect a child's formative years, and I fear so much in choosing incorrectly...