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Authentic Montessori
Independence, concentration, intellectual curiosity, purposeful work, and a lifelong love of learning.
Chinese–English Immersion · Ages 2 years 9 months–6 years
Growing minds.Brave hearts.Open worlds.
Authentic Montessori education, true bilingualism, a world of discovery, and the courage to become.
Courteous in Character. Courageous in Spirit. Confident in the World.
Welcome to Jun Zi Lan
A foundation for life, in two languages.
At Jun Zi Lan 君子兰 Montessori School, children discover the joy of purposeful learning in a warm, thoughtfully prepared environment. Our authentic Montessori program brings Chinese–English immersion to children ages 2 years 9 months through 6 years.
The Jun Zi Lan flower is known for its patient, remarkable bloom—a fitting symbol of Montessori’s three-year learning cycle. In Chinese, Jun Zi evokes a person of integrity: courageous yet courteous, capable yet humble. These are the qualities we hope to nurture as each child grows in confidence, character, and understanding.
What makes Jun Zi Lan distinctive
The Four Pillars of Jun Zi Lan
Montessori is our foundation.Bilingualism opens the world.Whole-child education broadens the mind.Character gives children the courage and kindness to participate in it.
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True Bilingualism
Chinese–English immersion and individualized literacy instruction, nurturing deep language and cultural fluency.
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Whole-Child, Global Education
Science, geography, history, art, music, and real-world experiences that connect children to a wider world.
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Character & Courage
Courtesy, integrity, emotional intelligence, resilience, healthy boundaries, and the confidence to speak up.
Our founding story
The Spirit of Jun Zi Lan
Jun Zi Lan opened in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when uncertainty touched every family and every classroom. We began with a conviction stronger than the circumstances around us: children deserved a place where curiosity, courage, and kindness could flourish.
Building that place demanded resilience, imagination, and a community willing to work together. Families and educators met each challenge with trust, flexibility, and determination. We learned to be nimble, to find new ways forward, and to stay unwaveringly focused on what mattered most: the children.
That founding spirit lives in the small moments of every school day: a child returning patiently to difficult work, a friend offering help, a young voice speaking with kindness and conviction. We believe that purposeful work, mutual care, and the courage to try again shape a community in which children can flourish.
“Kind without being passive. Confident without being arrogant. Courageous while remaining courteous.”
Jing Su · Founder & Head of School
The person behind our purpose
Meet Our Founder
Jing Su
Founder & Head of School
Before entering education, she spent more than a decade as an energy strategy consultant and company executive, building bridges between Chinese and American cultures.
Jing holds a master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Yale University, a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She is an American Montessori Society (AMS) certified Montessori educator trained at the New England Montessori Teacher Education Center.
A mother, educator, and community builder, Jing brings both Montessori expertise and life-coaching training informed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) to her work with children. She believes that self-awareness, resilience, emotional intelligence, and a growth mindset are cultivated through everyday experiences. At Jun Zi Lan, she helps children develop healthy boundaries, find their voices, and speak up with kindness and confidence.
“The greatest achievement of education is not simply what children know, but who they are becoming.”
Our curriculum
Every child. An individual learning plan.
A world of possibilities.
Individualized academic lessons in English Language Arts, Chinese Language Arts, and Mathematics are paired with a thoughtfully sequenced cultural curriculum.
English Language Arts
Individualized phonics, reading, writing, vocabulary, and comprehension lessons—from early sounds to confident independent reading.
Chinese Language Arts
Immersive Mandarin experiences and individualized instruction in speaking, character recognition, reading, and early writing.
Mathematics
Quantity and number relationships, the decimal system, and four operations, progressing from hands-on concrete materials to abstract reasoning.
The Montessori foundations
Hands-on learning builds a thinking mind.
Practical Life
Concentration, coordination, independence, order, and purposeful action.
Sensorial
Refining visual and other sensory discrimination, comparison, and classification.
Mathematics
From quantity to operations, then from concrete understanding to abstraction.
Language
Systematic, individualized pathways toward reading and expression in both languages.
A world of discovery
Connected knowledge, one discovery at a time.
Our monthly cultural studies help children understand how ideas, living things, places, and creative traditions connect.
Classifying Life
From living and nonliving things to plants, animals, and fungi; then vertebrates, invertebrates, and major animal groups. Children learn to observe, compare, and classify.
From Space to Earth
Beginning with the solar system and Earth, children explore the continent map and study the seven continents through focused monthly themes.
Artists Across Cultures
Monthly appreciation of artists including Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Qi Baishi, followed by observation and creative expression.
Listening with Wonder
Discovering composers and musicians, including Mozart, while developing attentive listening, rhythm, melody, and appreciation of musical traditions.
Beyond the classroom
The world is our classroom.
We help children make real connections with the world around them. Visits to grocery stores to select flowers and produce for snacks and lunch become lessons in Practical Life, communication, and responsibility.
Riding the subway offers opportunities to practice independence and Grace and Courtesy. Visits with Cambridge's mayor introduce civic leadership; trips to the Harvard Art Museums connect classroom art appreciation with original works.
These experiences help children see that what they learn has meaning beyond the classroom—and that they are capable participants in their community.
Daily life
A Whole Day of Montessori Learning
Montessori does not end after the morning work cycle. Independence, purposeful work, social development, nature, and bilingual learning extend across the school day.
8:30–11:00 AM
Morning Montessori Work Cycle
Individual Montessori work and one-on-one academic lessons based on each child's development and learning needs.
11:00–11:15 AM
Culture, Geography & Grace and Courtesy
Group lessons in cultural studies, geography, self-care, respect for others, and peaceful classroom life.
11:30 AM–12:30 PM
Outdoor Play & Exploration
Movement, play, nature observation, physical coordination, and growing independence.
12:30–1:15 PM
Fresh, Hot Community Lunch
Our hot lunch program brings children together for a nourishing meal and a moment of connection. Children practice serving themselves, grace and courtesy, conversation, and caring for their shared space—because mealtime is part of Montessori learning, too.
1:30–2:45 PM
Afternoon Rest & Second Montessori Work Cycle
Younger children rest while older children continue individualized academic lessons and independent Montessori work.
3:00–5:00 PM
Extended Day: Nature, Montessori Work & Chinese Language
Optional extended day with nature walks, a third Montessori work cycle, and continued Chinese language development.
Our daily rhythm balances focused learning, cultural enrichment, outdoor exploration, rest, and language development.
Community life
A Community Where Families Belong
Community building is at the heart of Jun Zi Lan. Throughout the year, we bring families together to build friendships, celebrate traditions, and create a genuine sense of belonging.
Apple Picking
Families share the beauty of the season and make memories beyond the school day.
Halloween Parade
Children and families come together for playful, joyful community traditions.
Harvest & Spring
Harvest gatherings and spring egg hunts celebrate the changing seasons together.
Parks & Family Outings
Shared excursions strengthen friendships among children and the families around them.
Every child is known. Every family belongs.
Everyday moments
See Life at Jun Zi Lan
Explore our classroom environment and follow the learning, discoveries, and celebrations that make each day meaningful.
Join Jun Zi Lan
Your journey begins with a visit.
The best way to understand Jun Zi Lan is to experience it. We warmly invite you to observe our classroom, meet our educators, and imagine your child growing here.
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Schedule a Private Tour
We welcome a personal conversation about your child and your hopes for their education. Email jing@junzilanmontessori.org to arrange your visit.
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Submit an Application
If Jun Zi Lan feels like a wonderful fit for your family, complete our online application through Transparent Classroom.
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Sign the Enrollment Contract
After an enrollment offer, families complete the enrollment contract to confirm their child's place.