Reviews of Pear Tree School (Kindergarten)

Henry Du

The theme based projects as the curriculum are impressive! Kids learned not only knowledge but also various skills, including time management, team cooperation etc.

Crystal Ehresman

Pear Tree is the best option in the city for busy parents. Their curriculum is well-rounded in arts and athletics which really takes the pressure off from finding extracurricular activities. The days are extended compared to public schools, and there is a before and/or after-school care option. This was a huge relief to me because my schedule requires flexibility. I love not having to pack lunches or provide snacks. The in-school chef saves me the time and mental energy that comes with meal prep and I can count on nutritious snacks and lunches. Most importantly, the faculty, staff and students are wonderful people, and I know my daughter is well-cared for.

Ari K or Alannah S Kelamis - Stewartt

Pear Tree has created something truly special. Project based learning and the kind patient teachers had a positive effect on my child. She looked forward to learning and was excited to tell us everything great about her day. Thank you Pear Tree!

Paul Dreger

My short summary (due to character limit). We chose Pear Tree for our daughter, currently in G2; the previous 3 years she attended a top ranked prestigious private school. In searching for Pear Tree, we were not solely looking at academics, we don’t prescribe to the idea of repetitive memorization of facts and math. We believe in critical thinking, problem solving, curiosity, art, play and creativity. - Pear Tree Staff & Faculty are awesome and wonderful! - Our daughter likes the mixed grades (G2, G3, G4), she realizes that ability and competence is not a matter of age or grade but more of engagement and practice. - Project-Based Learning. Just like real life, the students are faced with a problem and together, they learn and research to find a solution(s). All the while, they are learning reading, writing, math, science, communication, collaboration, preparation and public speaking. When we ask our daughter what she did at school she usually answers “we had fun working on our projects”. Example 1 (Biodiversity): The students researched different types of land formations, biospheres, animals, human cultures, and how all of those elements interact. Example 2 (Math): The students worked on calculating the rate of glaciers melting, the growth rate of an animal. The math work includes the written solution, drawings to scale, and a physical representation. This differs from the repetitive style of multiplication tables, the students see a real purpose for math and they have fun. Example 3 (Collaboration): The students are currently working on publishing an encyclopedia, both in paper format and an e-book. Due to project-based learning, we found that our daughter takes homework very seriously, she understands the reason for finishing her work by a set deadline, she even records her homework activities on a calendar. Daily Physical Education, so important! - Pear Tree utilizes the local community centre, nearby gymnastics, or take public transit to the Hive for rock climbing, doing so, the students become more aware of their community. - The students create new games and rules. In an interview, Wayne Gretzky said there is no creativity in hockey anymore because the young players are run through constant drills without opportunity for being creative. Nutrition - Their full-time chef prepares healthy wholesome meals from scratch (morning snacks, lunch, afternoon snacks); the smell of cooking makes Pear Tree feel very homey and welcoming. Nutrition is essential for brain health. Since our daughter is eating healthy while at school and not skipping meals, we find she is not “hangry” when we pick her up; which is the opposite of the previous school year. - The students will also learn how to cook a dish, how to budget the costs of the dish, they will also go to the local produce and buy the food, and finally they present their cooking to their classmates. Community Engagement - The students have partnered up with a senior home, they visit their senior buddies to read books and share stories. I read an article, where it was observed that these interactions are healthy for both the young person and senior. Some of the seniors find a new spark in their life, a sense of purpose, for some their health improves, and some even wean off their medication. Feedback Loop & Goal Setting. We are kept up to date daily on our daughter’s progress by in-person interactions and through a student/parent web application. The teachers run the students through timed drills for math and reading; the students compare their progress to previous results and then set goals. In an interview, Steve Balmer (ex Microsoft CEO) stated, through his foundation, he learned that 30% of grade 3 students in the USA are not at reading level, this problem compounds as the child ages through the school system. Thanks Pear Tree for creating such an amazing learning environment!

Luna G

Pear tree elementary is a small but exceptional school in Vancouver. My son could adjust well thanks to their careful attention and full support when we moved to this new city. My son loves Pear Tree’s tailored approach to teaching and learning. He’s learning how to learn in PTE. In particular, I like this about the school. PTE offers a variety of activities and special classes, so children can have diverse experiences. One more thing I must tell you is the best teachers with passion and professionalism. I highly recommend PTE.

JR Kline

Amazing staff and students at PearTree! I adore teaching the guitar program and feel like part of the family:)

Neda Shahbandian

Today I went to this school for privet tour , after half an hour delay its manager (Paul) was coming he behaved completely impolite toward us, without any sorry for delay. He didn't show us anythings and just asked "what is your question?" when I asked my question he said :"there are all answers in their website". On the other hand this school is so bad and really small like a small daycare , I never will register my daughter in horrible school.

Cassandra Knight

The owners Paul and Alexis are warm and wonderful people who are truly passionate about education! You can tell when you walk in how hard they work to make Pear Tree an amazing learning environment for the children. They put immense time and effort into creating the best educational experience and the most engaging learning environment that anyone can ask for!

Ryusei Koyama

I was a student at pear tree, and this school was the best school I ever went in my life! The cook’s food is really healthy AND good!

Kristie Keeney

After two months here, my daughter now loves school (she dreaded it before) and can't wait to go every day. She even complains on the weekend that she wants to go to school. I cannot say enough about how effective and unique this school is - they use cutting edge well-researched teaching styles here that make learning effortless and fun for the children. She also now brags about how much healthy food she eats, so that was an unexpected bonus.

Angie Tsai

Pear Tree was new to me when I first checked out their website. And what interested me was their philosophy. To teach the kids learn "how to learn". I was not looking for a "private" school, but rather a school that fits my child's learning needs, learning style and personality. My son did a half day trial before applying to the school, and I know right away when I picked him up that this is the right learning environment for him. The teachers are great, the kids are happy. Learning can be fun and creative, The school adapt different tools and use different means to help kids learn. Embrace things around us, discover places in our city, enjoy music and sports, and even better, healthy and balance diet. My son just love the chef! I am very glad that we found the "right fit". Wish Pear Tree can grow and continue beyond elementary school in the near future so I don't have to worry about where to go next!

Hamid Reza Aslani

VERY GOOD BEHAVIOR WITH THE VISITORS.INNOVATIVE SYSTEM. WE HAD THE CHANCE TO GO THERE THIS EEK FOR MY FRIEND'S SON INTERVIEW. WE SAW THEM VERY RESPONSIBLE AND FRIENDLY.GOOD LUCK TO THEM.

Dominic Pantone

Just wanted to say how happy we are with Pear Tree Elementary. As a parent, to see your child actually thrilled to go to school every day (for a change) is a sure sign they are doing something great.

Rebecca Parry

Our son recently started Grade 4 at Pear Tree Elementary & the change in him has been amazing. He went from not wanting to go to school each day to absolutely loving it. He is now happy, positive, engaged & learning so much each day. His previous response to "What did you do at school today?" was always "not much or nothing" & now he doesn't stop talking about all of the things he learnt & all of the interesting things that he did each day. The small class size really works for him, he loves the hour a day of PE & I love the healthy lunch program (nutritious food & no more packing lunch boxes!). I also love the App that they use to provide feedback throughout the day on what the kids have been working on. The teachers are all so warm, passionate & engaging & they use a modern approach to education such as project based learning which really keeps the students interested. Moving to Pear Tree was the best decision that we could have made for our son.

Qin Zhang

Fantastic! It has a very friendly and respectful environment, my daughter Eva started at Peartree in September 2018, she was very shy and speak a little English at that time, but now she is very confident and enjoy everyday in Peartree, moreover she loves every Peartree's staff and students! By the way, Louisa Chen is really amazing!

Penny Chuang

Our daughter attended Pear Tree Elementary since kindergarten. Their project-based learning really showed a different approach compared to traditional education. The teachers, the staff, and the kids work collectively and really make up a warm and welcoming environment. Pear Tree does not just focus on academic results, but rather shaping our kid to be growing in all aspects of life, into becoming a better part of the community. In addition, their hot lunch program provides healthy and various choices everyday, shout out to chef Borja! We are more than satisfied of what our daughter has been able to achieve and learn here. Our second daughter will be graduating pre-school next year, and needless to say, Pear Tree is our one and only choice for her as well!

Sandrine Espie

Our son joined PearTree last year. He is now in grade 3, and our decision to change school for PearTree was the best decision for his socio-emotional and intellectual development. Pear Tree offers project-based learning opportunities. Kids develop various hands-on experiences as well as creative, artistic, engaging, collaborative, and fun projects. The small classes and combined grades enhance leadership and a sense of cooperation and peer support between students. The themes that students worked on every semester address some of the most pressing issues that this generation will need to understand, i.e. exploring their natural environment by going on various field trips to study birds, bees, weather and landforms. Pear Tree curriculum includes daily PE, music classes, french (all the teachers are bright, responsive and engaging). The school has a fantastic chef who cooks hot lunch on site (which exposes students to different flavours, textures, cultures etc.). PearTree's learning environment is challenging (in a positive way), supportive, vibrant, creative. I've seen my child flourish, and I know he will thrive this year thanks to the dedicated, experienced, and professional staff.

Susan McKim

Rude owner

Cailin Broere

We recently moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong where our daughter attended a top international school. We really wanted to keep her level of learning consistent with what she had experienced in HK and hoped to find a school that shared our values and also provided a diverse and global outlook. We found Pear Tree in our search and have been truly impressed. Pear Tree is a small school but its founders are committed to educating the whole child. Social, emotional and dietary health are all considered and nurtured on a daily basis. The PE program and outdoor learning opportunities are fantastic. Borja, the school chef, ensures that my daughter is eating healthy, hot meals and saves me so much time and stress during the week. Picking up my daughter from school and having her excitedly show me the perfect seashell that she found on her morning trip to the beach is really just one of the many aspects that make Pear Tree so special. If you are familiar with the PYP curriculum and its values and principles, I really encourage you to consider Pear Tree in your search. Innovative, enquiry-based learning is alive and well here.

Elisabeth sones

My son is in grade 7 this year at Pear Tree elementary school and he is having a wonderful year: he is very engaged and really loves going to school. The project base learning is helping him to connect learning with real life skills! He is improving his communication skills, his creative and critical thinking as well as his personal development and social responsibility. He has developed independence and responsibility which will help him next year in high school and later in life. His teacher helped him to look at high school options and even to apply. I am very impressed with the quality of teachers and staff. The small class size allows teachers to individualize her/his teaching. Pear Tree’s approach allows students to perform at their full potential in a very caring and warm environment (almost like home!). The music and sport programs are amazing! And the home made daily cook transformed my picky eater boy who is now willing to try and is liking everything! I would recommend this school to anyone!

Lynn Wang

We went to the school when my son was 3 and we really impressed the education environment. Although the school is small and located in an office building, the kids still have plenty of space here and there. what we like the best is the school using most updated social events as study case and make us feel like our son is communicating with the society. very good school and very nice teachers.

Madeleine Burns

I was a student at Pear Tree Elementary for two years. I had just graduated from Pear Tree Elementary only a couple of hours ago, but I just wanted to share my wonderful experience here. The teachers were all very nice and do an excellent job at teaching. My friends that go to Pear Tree Elementary all really love this school. I loved my years here, and I am sad to be at the end of it. I recommend Pear Tree Elementary because it is a wonderful school! :) Madeleine

Hiroko Mukohata Mabee

It has been very positive outcome for my daughter going to Pear Tree. This school provides and builds my daughter’s motivation and confident to challenge new things and meeting new people. Pear Tree education style is very different compare to regular public school which I have found great benefit for my daughter to understand full concept of what she is leaning about. And school uniform is great. We do not have to fight about what she needs to wear everyday. Also, we love Pear Tree provides school healthy lunch and very flexible before and after school care. Their lunch is not typical school cafeteria food which my daughter enjoys. As working mom, those little things like, uniform, lunch, and after care program are very important. And Pear Tree offers and solves them all and they are all helping my daughter.

Tracy Paterson

My daughter attends Pear Tree Elementary and I cannot say enough about the quality of education I know she is now getting. This progressive private school is a wonderful setting for children to learn using the utmost of current technology. Kloe actually loves coming to school every day. Smaller class sizes allow for more enriched learning and the project based approach keeps her stimulated in classroom. I'm also thrilled with the fantastic food program and the involvement they have with cooking in the school.

Qin Luo

It is the best school for us, our oldest child studies in community 3 and she likes everything in this place ,and we hope our second child and youngest child could study at Peartree in near future!

Emily Lin

Space is too small.

Delaram Norani

We decided to look for a private school after the pandemic hit. First of all, they never disclosed the fact that they have a group three certificate which means they are considered a school that doesn't have follow BC's curriculum. I found out about that after I called the FISA. They have hired inexperienced teachers for financial reasons I would say which is not fair to kids considering what they charge for tuition. The co-owner is a very unprofessional person that obviously only cares about money. I sent an email notifying the school that my daughter wouldn't attend PT. Below is his exact response. Very disappointing response from a school that its main goal should be kids' education. "Regardless of your decision, the 1st tuition payment of $5,757 is still due at the end of May, as per your contractual agreement. This can be paid by cheque or e-transfer." The principal listens to your concern, but never really takes action as she believes, the school knows what they are doing and we as parents shouldn't interfere in what happens at school. There were multiple times that we caught mistakes in the report cards that were never caught by the teacher. The teacher was absent many many times for a week sometimes and the French teacher was in charge. The report cards are sugar coated and you can never trust what is being said. There was one time that the teacher marked my daughter for full mark for reading. When I congratulated my daughter for getting a full mark, she told me that she missed two words while reading and shouldn't have received a full mark. By the end of the school year, my 11 year old daughter had no respect for her teacher as she is a very smart child and she could see that the teacher is very incompetent. Overall, a very disappointing experience. I would rather send my child to a public school and hire tutors instead of sending my child to an incompetent school like Pear Tree.

Sheri Cepuran

Pear Tree's teaching approach to educating a child is brilliant. Through their whole child learning, teaching and community engagement approach, my daughter has thrived beautifully and is growing more each day into a well rounded, healthy and conscious minded individual!

Sean Liao

Fantastic K-1 teacher I met at the open house. Passionate and energetic. Paul was very informative and explained the school philosophy well. I can see my daughter thrive at this place. It was exciting to see salmon eggs hatching in a big tank in a K-1 classroom.

Ryan Liu

Pear Tree is an excellent elementary school. Even though, the school is small but it's packed with everything your children need to know. Their directors and teachers are very friendly. Their staff knows every single child's name. I can see that all the students are having fun learning at school.

Ivy Irem Dreger

Our daughter started Pear Tree in September (Grade 2). After 3 years in a very elite and popular co-educational private school, we wanted something less traditional and more creative and innovative for her. She was getting bored and losing her creative spark. Even though she had no academic or emotional issues, she wasn’t very happy and wanted to be challenged. Pear Tree is a breath of fresh air for her because she gets to create new things daily and there is no time for boredom. She gets so much attention thanks to the small class size. Lessons are always connected to real life and incorporate so many different subjects. Project based learning is very beneficial for sparking creativity and mimicking real life work environment. Kids need to work in groups frequently and complete tasks together in a timely manner. All work is always completed and accounted for. You don’t end up with piles of half completed work at the end of the term. Kids are always out and about and go to so many educational and fun field trips. The PE and music programs are amazing. Thanks to her encouraging PE teacher, she participated at a cross country race even though running is not her forte. After only one term she already plays songs with her ukulele! The hot food program is amazing. Their chef prepares everything from scratch and makes very creative, healthy dishes. No more packing lunches and worrying about her veggie consumption! Pear Tree is a very special school. It might look small from outside, but somehow manages to fit a much bigger and more creative world into its space compared to a lot of schools with elaborate campuses. Paul and Alexis put so much effort into creating an outstanding education experience for all. They hire top notch teachers and staff that are so dedicated to their craft. Pear Tree is what 21st century education should be. Our daughter loves her school and never wants to miss a day. We feel so fortunate to be a part of Pear Tree family.

Christina Trainor

Pear Tree Elementary is a parent’s dream come true! The engaging, approachable, highly educated teachers motivate and support each student to work to their true potential: academically, physically and socio-emotionally. Project-based learning with lots of student presentations, hands-on activities and relevant field trips coupled with a daily hour of PE (a wide variety of interesting sports) keep my child keen to return daily to school where “you work hard, but you have a lot of fun doing it!”. Frequent communication through FreshGrade, personal emails and chats makes it easy to keep on top of my child’s progress and challenges, while the healthy, delicious lunch and snacks are a huge time-saver.

Yolanda Richaud

(Translated) My son was happy in his summer course. (Original) Mi hijo fue feliz en su curso de verano.

Line Aune

What an inspiring place Pear Tree is! Our daughter started at Pear Tree Elementary last fall after loosing motivation at her previous school. After just a short while, after school starting, she started to love school again and she doesn't even want to leave at pick-up time. My daughter enjoys being in a class with other grades, where it is most important to excel on your own level. All students are closely followed up by their enthusiastic teacher. The teacher continuously keeps the students eager to learn by using different tools ; visual, arts and crafts, field trips and new technology, as well as using interesting themes as background. And how cool isn't it to have snake or salmon eggs hatching in the classroom? We also love that the school focuses on nutritious food and physical education every day (during last half year they have had martial arts, skating, yoga, climbing, dance class and a lot of different activities outside with Mr M)! All the above makes an excellent foundation for our child and I strongly recommend the school.

faranak mirfakhraie

Very friendly and respectful environment. Children feel at home, doing fun and hands on activities which make them well-engaged and willing to participate. That's what the new curriculum is based on in BC. As a teacher, I believe our new generation needs to learn through communicative, interactive and experiential ways of learning and you can find that in Pear Tree. I would recommend Pear Tree to anyone looking for the new ways of learning, having fun and being productive at the same time.

cora tataru

Pear Tree is that kind of school that my 4th grade son simply loves. He is almost sad when they have a day off or the holiday is coming! They use Project Based Learning, which seems to be much more engaging for the kids and with longer lasting results. PE sessions take place every day, and they have a variety of activities, from plain running, rope skipping and hurdles jumping, to yoga, dance, tennis and ice skating. The lunch and snacks are provided by school, and they really are a healthy choice, making our life easier at home when it's about eating more vegetables! Last but not least, using technology as a support for learning is a part of their daily routine, preparing the kids for the future and helping them to use it for their progress, not only as entertainment. The school environment is very bright, joyful, welcoming, and they also have extremely attractive field trips. Part of the kids in this school come from different countries, creating a mix of international cultures, which I think will help the kids grow up being more tolerant and prepared for a global society. I would recommend Pear Tree to any parent who would like to expose his child to different ways of learning, less memory based.