‘Warmth’, ‘Community Spirit’, ‘Holistic Approach to Learning’: Why Parents Love Canadian International School

Find out why one parent loves Canadian International School in Singapore!

Name: Lyndsey Fleming
Nationality: British
Kids ages: Alice, Grade 3; Jacob, Senior Kindergarten

How did you first hear about Canadian International School?
We first heard about CIS through our relocation agent, who showed us several schools based on our search criteria.

What factors played into your decision to send your child to Canadian International School?
I loved the overall feeling of the school; both the children and teachers seemed so happy and polite. We also felt very welcome — there is a warmth in the school that we felt was missing in the other schools we looked at.

Did you take a tour of the school before making your decision? What were your first impressions?
Yes. CIS is so bright and spacious, with so many great areas to play and learn. I love the pods! Even though the school is big, you really don’t get a feeling of being overwhelmed by its size as it’s divided into distinct sections based on grade level.

How did your children adjust to the school? Did the school take any special measures to help with the settling in process?
Both my children settled very well. My daughter started after the Easter break in April 2014. We were invited to tour the school with her the day before she started and the principal made her feel very welcome as did her new teacher.

What in your opinion are the three greatest strengths of the school?
All the staff are outstanding along with the state of the art facilities. I love the school’s holistic approach to learning and their Kindergarten “learning through play” focus is so subtle — my son doesn’t even know he’s learning about plants and insects when he visits the Outdoor Discovery Centre, which he loves!

How does the school include parents in the community?
The school’s community spirit for parents is wonderful. It’s there if you want to get involved but you don’t feel forced to be part of it. The school has a very proactive PTA that organises regular coffee mornings and events outside the school through CIS friends.

How does the school keep you informed about your child’s progress?
Every week both my children’s teachers write a class blog and email to all the parents in their class. These contain lots of pictures taken throughout the week, which I love looking at, especially with my children who enjoy explaining what is happening in each one. We also attend parent teacher conferences. One without the children and then towards the end of the year the student-led conferences, which are my favourite. I love seeing how proud my children are of their own work and what they have achieved in their year.

What is the number one thing you’d miss if your child transferred to another school?
It’s hard to describe one thing as there are several! I would definitely miss the wonderful community feel as I’ve made many friends through the school.

What kind of child (or family) would you say would be the best fit for this school?
With such a diverse mix of nationalities attending CIS (I think at the last count over 70 nationalities were represented), I’m sure it would appeal to just about everyone.

What extra-curricular activities or out of school programmes does the school offer which you have taken part in?
My daughter swims on the school swimming squad, otherwise known as the Huskies! They attend regular meets both here in Singapore and overseas. There are also an abundance of other curricular activities children can participate in covering the arts, sports and academics.