Parent Student Handbook 2021-2022
The purpose of this handbook is to ensure that all students/parents are familiar with school rules and regulation and policies. Please take the time to read this handbook as it contains critical information that will help you and your child settle into school. Sections included in this handbook are:
Unleashing the potential of every individual so they can own their future.
Engage. Enlighten. Empower.
What will tomorrow look like for today’s student? They will work in jobs that don’t yet exist. They will tackle challenges we don’t yet understand. And they will experience opportunities we can’t yet imagine.
Our job is simple. We equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt and navigate the world as it changes.
We believe those who will thrive in the future are those who can create connections, those with the ability to put things together.
They will connect theory and practice, people and places, collaboration and innovation, intention and action.
We instil the desire to question, to analyse and to explore.
We build the capability to create, to build and to implement.
To connect ideas in ways that push them forward.
To connect skills in ways that drive lifetime development.
To connect with people in ways that build understanding.
To connect to places in ways that will make the world their own.
This is what we empower our students to do.
To connect. To succeed. To thrive. To own the future.
The following learning principles are the fundamental understandings that guide teaching and learning at CIS. They are the beliefs that we see as essential for fostering optimum learning in our classrooms:
As an IB school, we follow the International Baccalaureate from pre-kindergarten to grade 12.
By grade, our programmes are:
1.4.1 International Baccalaureate programmes
"The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world."
(International Baccalaureate Organization 2007)
Building on the inquiry-based IB philosophy, students are encouraged to question, discover and communicate through an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to learning. The combination of highly trained teachers, a challenging, yet flexible curriculum and an individual approach to learning, allows students to develop to their full potential. The end result is a quality education for the international student. The goals and philosophy of the three IB programmes are consistent. The MYP naturally follows the PYP, and it also serves as excellent preparation for the IB DP. Visit ManageBac and My.CIS for schoolwide curriculum information.
1.4.2 Nursery programme
Our nursery programme is PYP inspired and both inquiry and play-based. It focuses on developing foundational social, literacy and numeracy skills, as well as fine and gross motor skills.
1.4.3 CIS Foundation programme
The CIS Foundation programme is designed for students in grades 5 to 8. It is a rigorous one-year programme that aims to swiftly equip each student with the necessary English skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) so that they can successfully meet the expectations of CIS's curriculum.
1.4.4 Who to contact if you have programme or curriculum questions? Please contact your child's teacher(s) if you have questions about our curriculum. You may also contact our Deputy Head of School (Curriculum), Dr Heather Beck, our curriculum coordinators or our Chinese Language and Bilingual School Principal, Huali Xiong.
| Lakeside campus | Tanjong Katong campus |
|---|---|
| PYP coordinators:
Simone Lieschke Yingtao Lang (Chinese-English Bilingual) |
PYP coordinator:
Tonia Whyte Potter-Mal Angela Gao Na (Chinese-English Bilingual) |
| MYP coordinator (grades 7 to 10)
Victor De Melo | |
| IB DP coordinator (grades 11 and 12)
Elsa Baptista |
|
| CIS Foundation programme coordinator Aimee Meditz |
|
1.4.5 The International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile
The Learner Profile is central to all IB Programmes at CIS. These are qualities that we hope will characterise all members of our school community. These attributes are taught and modelled by our teachers and staff, and are central to our evaluation of students’ progress. Visit the IB website for more information about the International Baccalaureate Programmes.
Our school has a long-standing, thoughtful, deliberate and educationally sound process for creating optimal class lists each year. There are a host of factors we consider, information we discuss and data we evaluate in building final class lists.
Because parents cannot be privy to the confidential student information we use in this process, they are not party to the decision about which class their child will be placed in.
Our policy is that we respectfully but consistently decline any and all parental requests to change class configurations or teacher assignments at any stage throughout the year. Learn more about our timelines in this document.
Open Minds programme
Open Minds sees Primary students (grades 1 to 6) spending up to four days over the academic year in a variety of real-world settings. Investigation topics are linked to both our curriculum and the PYP units of inquiry. First-hand experience with artefacts, field experts, and opportunities to go behind the scenes create unique moments of extremely powerful hands-on, minds-on learning.
Please contact your child’s teacher or the Open Minds lead on your campus to learn more.
From junior kindergarten to grade 6, students specialise in French or Chinese, while students in grades 7 to 10 specialise in French, Chinese or Spanish. Students will receive daily lessons (or equivalent) in the language chosen. You can view what is on offer on this page on our website.
As indicated in the school’s terms and conditions of enrolment, parents are expected to commit to their child’s language choice for the entire school year. If parents wish to change their child’s language programme for the subsequent school year, they must notify the school by 1 March.
English language learning
The English Language Learner programme (ELL), offered to students in senior kindergarten (SK) to grade 10, develops a student's English language proficiency needed for academic success in all subject areas. Participation in the English Language Learner (ELL) programme is mandatory, if, after student assessment, CIS is of the view that the student requires support.
Learning Support
Learning support is intended for students who need additional services to help them achieve the learning outcomes of the IB curriculum. Participation in the learning support programme is mandatory, if, after student assessment, CIS is of the view that the student requires support.
Specialists and external service providers conducting classroom observations or external services must do so at the written request of CIS. References and observation reports are strictly confidential and will be sent via the school directly to consultants.
Pastoral care and counselling
Pastoral care and counselling focus on building relationships that recognise the uniqueness of each individual. We incorporate strategies that support and guide each student. Read about our pastoral care and counselling programme.
The CIS library focuses on providing supportive services and programme collaboration. Global information literacy and literature that reflect our multicultural school community are integral to active, authentic life-long learning and inquiry.
Our library staff provide a wide variety of resources that are appropriate for the range of age and language abilities of our students, mindful of the diverse, multicultural population, and support the IB curriculum that is taught in our classrooms. The library is a changing and dynamic place and is an intrinsic part of the busy daily life of the CIS community.
This document contains information about accessing the following library services:
As a Common Sense Digital Citizenship certified school, we educate students to use their devices safely and responsibly. Students must ensure the security of their devices at all times and the school will not accept responsibility for loss or damage to these often expensive items.
Read more about our One to World iPad programme and MacBook requirements on the digital literacy page of our website.
The use of devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops is allowed as long as it supports the curriculum and is aligned with the IB learner profile.
Communication in a school environment is critical, and there are a range of ways we communicate information about our curriculum and programmes, your child’s learning, and school events.
The school calendar can be viewed on My.CIS and includes all school events. What you see on the calendar will be aligned with your child(ren)’s grades. An overview of the key dates for this school year is also archived on the My.CIS dashboard.
What |
What | Where/how? | When? | Why |
Primary | Midweek learning update | via SeeSaw | Midweek | A post that keeps you updated as to what your child has been learning in class during the week. |
Primary | Friday reminders | via My.CIS grade level pages | Friday afternoon | To keep you updated about your child’s classes, key dates and any important class information. |
Primary | Units of inquiry | via ManageBac | 24/7 | So you are fully informed about your child’s units of inquiry, programmes and learning. |
Primary | Conferences | face to face | Three times per year | To understand more about our programme, and your child's progress. |
Secondary | Due work, assessments and curriculum | via ManageBac | 24/7 | So you are fully informed about your child’s programmes and learning. |
Secondary | Only as needed | When we have something to share with you. | ||
Secondary | Conferences | face to face | Three times per year | To understand more about our programme, and your child’s progress. |
There is a range of communications you will receive from the school. The grid below outlines what you receive, how and when. The information is applicable to all parents.
Please contact our communications department if you are not receiving communications.
What | Where/how? | When? | Information |
Week at a Glance (WAG) (school-wide newsletter) | Friday afternoon | Key dates; school-wide, campus-wide and divisional information | |
Parent advisories (stand-alone emails) | as needed | time-sensitive, need to know information | |
Mosaic (stories celebrating life at CIS) |
- print magazine | 10 issues each school year online: 24/7 Biannually | School celebrations, learning updates and student/staff achievements |
School calendar | See the calendar in My.CIS | daily | All school events and key dates |
My.CIS | as needed | School directories, policies and procedures, services information, archived information and access to registration systems | |
SMS alert | delivered to your mobile phone | critical updates | Critical time-sensitive, need to know information |
Homework assignments reinforce new concepts and skills and help build desirable work and study habits. Homework will be assigned according to the age and needs of students. The amount of time that students spend doing homework depends on how much reinforcement is needed, and the grade level. We ask that parents give support and encouragement for their child in developing good work and study habits by:
CIS does not assign homework on holidays or during school breaks. We believe students need a break from academics during this time, too.
To read more about homework expectations for your primary school child, please refer to the relevant programme guidelines below:
Reporting periods for the different grades are as follows:
2.5.1 Conferences
Conferences are an integral part of the reporting process. Three-way conferences provide an opportunity for students, teachers and parents to identify progress to date and to set future goals and directions. At student-led conferences, students from Pre-K to grade 6 present their progress and achievement to their parents. Conference dates are available on the school calendar.
Communication and the partnership between home and school is a crucial part of school life. This partnership is built around the premise of “no surprises”.
Parents are welcome to communicate with the teacher at any time if questions or concerns arise. Please make arrangements with your child’s homeroom teacher/teacher advisor to find a mutually convenient time to meet.
2.5.2 Report cards
Day to day assessments in the classroom are designed to:
The primary purpose of report cards is to communicate to parents on student progress.
Report cards at CIS are issued in digital form only (they are not printed). Report cards for each child can be accessed in the ManageBac “Reports” section.
The cost of report card transcripts is $5 each. If additional transcripts requested need to be posted, parents will be charged postage for the additional copies.
2.5.3 Report cards and attendance requirements
This document outlines the attendance requirements for report cards.
We offer a range of ParentEd sessions (parent workshops and seminars) across the school year. These ParentEd sessions, which are designed to communicate a range of elements of our programme, are advertised in the Week at a Glance newsletter.
As students use agendas only as and when necessary, a notebook that serves as an agenda is available on request. Students may use this agenda to record and plan homework (as appropriate for their age and grade), and maintain and update other important organisational information.
Each year in June, every student receives a copy of the CIS yearbook*. If a student has left and the parent requests a yearbook to be posted to their home address, postage will be payable. The finance department will be able to advise on the cost of postage.
Additional copies of the yearbook can be purchased at S$50.00 from the main office on each campus. Additional copies are only available until sold out.
*CIS is exploring plans to move to a digital yearbook in 2021/2022. If this occurs, postage costs will not apply.
CIS has a central database for all student information. This information is vital to ensure ongoing and prompt correspondence with families.
Change your contact details via My.CIS. Applicable changes will be shared with teachers and other departments.
When a CIS student is required to complete entrance examinations for another school, and parents request that they take the test and be supervised at CIS, the following protocols will apply:
It is important that these tests are kept secure/confidential and mailed/couriered by CIS. Parents should not review the exams before or after completion.
CIS respects the privacy of its students, parents, staff, community members and visitors to its website and campus. Personal data is collected by CIS for the purpose of supporting the operations of the school. All collection, use, disclosure, or processing of data is undertaken in compliance with Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (“PDPA”). View CIS’ personal data protection policy on our website.
If a student’s (grades 4-12 only) parents/legal guardian are unable to deal with CIS for day-to-day matters or reside overseas, then a caregiver above the age of 21, having charge or control of the student during the school year, should be appointed by the parent/legal guardian. Students in grade 3 or below must reside with at least one parent while enrolled at CIS. View the responsibilities of caregivers in English. (You can also view it in Chinese or Korean).
2.12.1 Change in caregiver / caregivers contact details
If at any time a parent changes their child’s caregiver, or if a caregiver’s contact details change, parents must update the school by completing a new caregiver agreement.
A representative is required for the purpose of school communications whenever a parent does not speak English or is not literate in English. The representative must be a responsible adult resident in Singapore and must be literate in English. View the responsibilities of representatives.
2.13.1 Change in representative / representative's contact details
If at any time a parent changes their child’s representative, or if a representative’s contact details change, parents must update the school by completing a new representative form.
Parents and students will be informed of any changes to CIS's admission guidelines, rules, regulations, policies or codes of conduct via an email advisory and/or the weekly Week at a Glance (WAG) newsletter. It is the responsibility of parents, and students as necessary, to read these school communications.
CIS will inform the parents/caregivers within 14 days of any:
Change in the ownership of CIS; and/or
Change in key management such as a change in directors, partners or members of CIS’s management committee who have control or management of CIS, and top management personnel including CEO, principals or officers who are appointed to manage CIS’s day-to-day operations.
CIS, its officers and staff may obtain, hold, use and communicate, on a “need-to-know” basis, confidential information which, in their opinion, is material to the safety and welfare of the student. The student consents to CIS communicating with any other school which the student has attended, or currently attends or which the student should attend, about any matter concerning the student or about payment of fees, whether or not the information being passed on is also held in machine readable form. The confidentiality obligation of the school shall not apply to:
any information which becomes generally known to the public;
any information which is, at the time of disclosure, legally in the possession of the CIS; or
any information which is required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable legal requirement or legal process issued by any court or any competent government authority or rules or regulations or policies of any relevant regulatory body.
CIS adopts a closed loop feedback and complaint management system to gather and address all feedback and/or complaints received from stakeholders (students, parents and external parties) for continuous improvement. View our feedback and complaint management process on our website.
The school also seeks feedback formally from students and parents via surveys. Each year, parents are invited to participate in an annual survey called the “Parent Pulse” while students in grades 4 to 12 are invited to participate in the annual "Student Pulse" survey. The purpose of these surveys is to gather feedback on academic programmes, sporting and arts programmes, extracurricular activities, campus facilities, teachers and staff, etc. This feedback is used in CIS’s ongoing improvement plans.
CIS is a participant of the CPE’s mediation-arbitration scheme under which parties to a dispute are referred for mediation at the Singapore Mediation Centre, and if the dispute is not resolved through mediation, the dispute will be referred for arbitration by an arbitrator appointed by the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. View the procedure for referring a case to mediation on our website.
CIS has full-time nurses on campus who provide first aid, and maintain up-to-date health records for each student. Parents must advise the school of any medical concerns about their child. Parents are always welcome to come by and meet the school nurse in person to express any concerns that they may have about their child’s health.
Our nurses’ contact details are on the health and wellbeing page in My.CIS.
CIS has in place medical insurance for all students. This document outlines full details regarding medical insurance coverage and the claim process.
In Singapore, immunisation against both measles and diphtheria is mandatory under the Infectious Diseases Act. Immunisation against these two diseases is also a CIS condition of enrolment. This Singapore National Childhood Immunisation Schedule outlines what vaccines are needed and when.
With effect from 1 February 2019, it is mandatory that all children aged 12 and below, who were not born in Singapore, must provide evidence of diphtheria and measles vaccinations when applying for long-term residency passes. This page outlines the process that you will need to follow, while this page outlines some frequently asked questions.
Please ensure your contact information is kept up to date, as we need to be able to contact you in an emergency.
In an emergency situation where no parent or caregiver can be reached by telephone, the school may send the student to the nearest hospital or doctor for immediate observation and treatment. Update your contact details here.
There are several students at CIS with life-threatening nut allergies. In order to assure their safety, please do not provide class snacks containing nuts. If you are unsure of the nut content, please alert the teacher.
Parents of students with nut allergies are asked to provide approved snacks for their child in the event of impromptu class celebrations. All primary children are to keep their personal Epipen with their divisional school nurse. Older children are encouraged to carry their personal Epipens for accidental exposure to their allergen.
Whenever possible, medication should be given at home rather than during school hours. Vitamins and supplements should always be taken at home.
Paracetamol (for minor symptoms) can only be administered if there is signed authorisation in the student’s Medical Examination Form/Health Record.
The school nurse is the only school employee authorised to dispense prescription medications to students during the school day. Prescription medications will not be dispensed unless the student’s parent/caregiver has provided the school nurse with a signed oral medication authorisation form.
This form can be obtained from the school nurses or on the health and wellbeing page of My.CIS.
All medication/s must be kept with the respective school nurse except emergency medications (Epipen) - where students have pre-authorization.
Parents of children who require emergency medication (eg Epipen, Zyrtec, Ventolin) will be asked to sign a standing order for use of Epipen form and/or medication administration authorisation form. It is the responsibility of the parent to provide the medication to the school nurse along with the appropriate paperwork.
Teachers may dispense medications to students on field trips and overseas excursions where prior parental permission has been obtained. Exceptions to this policy can only be made with the principal’s approval. Parents are asked to advise the school if their child is taking medication, and if there are any special requirements regarding dosage or diet.
3.9 STUDENT ILLNESS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
If the school nurse determines that a child is too ill to attend class, or has/is suspected to have a communicable disease that could jeopardise the health of other students, she will contact the parent or caregiver. The parent or caregiver will be required to promptly pick up their child from school. Students will only be sent home if the parent or caregiver has been contacted and the student is accompanied home by a designated adult or unaccompanied if requested by the parent (only applicable to secondary students).
All students sent home unaccompanied must be transported home via taxi. No students are allowed to take public transport (bus and/or MRT) on their own when they are unwell. When a child is unwell near the end of the school day, school nurses will determine if the ill child is fit to take the school bus. Parents will need to pick up their ill child if the child is unfit to take the school bus.
To prevent the spread of illness, we ask that you do not send an ill child to school. If your child becomes ill at home with a contagious illness eg measles, chickenpox or Hand Foot and Mouth disease, please inform the school nurse immediately. A doctor’s clearance is required to return to school.
Please check with your respective divisional nurses for more information.
This document outlines the guidelines and school clearance requirements for a range of illnesses.
Parents are to submit the medical certificate to their respective school division office as soon as it is made available. Students must complete their MC before returning back to school and are required to get a “Fit to return” note from the doctor if they have fully recovered and would like to return to campus before their MC expires.
If your child requires crutches upon returning to school, please immediately inform your child’s teacher/s and school nurse.
In most cases, the school will be able to accept students who are using crutches into school if the following points are adhered to. Parents/guardians should do the following before a student comes to school using crutches:
Students who do not adhere to these rules will be sent home until arrangements have been made.
A “medical emergency” is an injury or a condition of acute or sudden onset that poses an immediate threat to a person's life. These include active bleeding, severe or increasing pain or a change in the vital signs of life, such as the level of consciousness or signs of difficulty in breathing. A medical emergency does not include conditions that do not require immediate treatment and for which there is no imminent threat to the patient’s life or limb, pre-existing illnesses or injuries that are stable, and preexisting conditions that give rise to problems of ambulation and mobility. In case of a medical emergency, an ambulance may be called, and the parents/guardian’s will be notified immediately.
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
| 4.1 SECURITY ON CAMPUS |
| 4.2 SCHOOL UNIFORM |
| 4.3 PE UNIFORMS AND HATS |
| 4.4 HOUSE LEAGUE SHIRTS |
| 4.5 HATS |
| 4.6 DRESS/GROOMING CODE |
| 4.7 SCHOOL BUS SERVICE |
| 4.8 SCHOOL CANTEEN |
Security is of the utmost importance to all at CIS, and we aim to provide a safe and secure environment for the entire CIS community. CIS employs 24-hour security guards at both campuses to secure the entrances and perimeter of the school grounds. Find more information about campus security on My.CIS.
Everyone who enters CIS is required to show photo ID to our security personnel with the exception of CIS students in uniform. Additional procedures are in place during COVID - these will be communicated and shared as needed.
With the exception of school designated non-uniform days, all students are expected to wear the school uniform at all times during school hours and when on school field trips. This includes CIS hats or CIS caps.
Teachers/advisors will inform parents when and if exceptions are made.
The school uniform for each division comprises:
Grades | Tops | Bottoms | Hoodies | Shoes |
Kindergarten | Polo shirt | Shorts | Red CIS hoodie* (optional) | Closed toe shoes |
Grades 1-6 | Polo shirt | Shorts/skort | Red CIS hoodie* (optional) | Closed toe shoes |
Grades 5-6 CIS foundation programme students | Polo shirt | Shorts/skort | Red CIS hoodie* (optional) | Closed toe shoes |
Grades 7-12 | Polo shirt | Shorts/skort/pants | Black CIS hoodie* (optional) | Closed toe shoes |
Grades 7-8 CIS Foundation programme students | Polo shirt | Shorts/skort/pant | Black CIS hoodie* (optional) | Closed toe shoes |
* If students choose to wear a hoodie at school, it must be the official CIS hoodie.
School uniforms can be purchased from third party uniform supplier Lim Meng Keng Department Store located at Holland Village. Visit our uniform page for pricing and contact details.
Physical Education (PE) uniforms are worn during PE class. Primary students (grades 1 to 6 only) should wear their PE uniforms to school on PE days. Secondary students change into their PE uniform at school before PE class. These procedures and uniform requirements also apply to students in the CIS foundation programme.
PE uniforms can be purchased from the finance counter (within the main office) on your child’s campus. View our uniform page for pricing and size details.
Grades | Tops | Bottoms | CIS bucket hats / caps | Shoes |
Grade 1 to grade 10* | PE shirt | PE shorts | Cap or bucket hat | Closed toe running shoes |
*Includes CIS foundation programme students.
All students in grades 1 to 6 must purchase a house league shirt, while students in grades 7-10 the purchase is optional. House league shirts are worn to school on house league colour days (primary) or during intramurals (secondary). House membership will be advised by your child’s divisional office. View our uniform page for pricing and size details.
To protect students from the tropical sun, CIS has a “No Hat, Play in the Shade” policy. CIS hats/caps are compulsory, and can be purchased from the finance counter in the main office.
Please read the policy and familiarise yourself with the requirements.
Students are expected to present themselves in a neat manner at all times. The dress code for all students can be viewed here.
The school bus service is operated independently by Yeap Transport Pte. Ltd.
Visit our website for information about:
If your child will not be taking the bus at the regularly scheduled time, please email both the bus office and your child’s classroom teacher.
Sodexo* is the school caterer for canteens at both campuses. Lunch and snacks are included in the school fees for all Kindergarten students, while students in grades 1 to 12 can purchase lunch and/or snacks from the canteen, or may bring a packed lunch from home (please see food safety in section 5.3 for important information).
Learn more about meal pre-ordering (nursery to grade 3 only), the canteen and café (Lakeside only) including menus, hours of operation and contacts on this page on our website or the canteen page on My.CIS.
*NOTE: The Canadian International School cannot be held responsible for damages of any kind arising out of the use of independent service providers. Users of the services of independent service providers agree to indemnify and hold harmless Canadian International School and all its staff members and agents, from all claims, losses, liens, expenses, suits, and attorneys’ fees (“liabilities”) for any damages of any kind, including, without limitation, any special, consequential, incidental or indirect damages, to any person or entity that may in any way arise out of or result from or in connection with the use of the services provided by the third party service providers.
| TABLE OF CONTENT |
|---|
| 5.1 PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) |
| 5.2 VOLUNTEERING |
| 5.3 FOOD SAFETY |
| 5.4 COLLECTION OF MONEY FOR TEACHER GIFTS |
| 5.5 BIRTHDAY PARTY PROTOCOL |
| 5.6 PARENT CHILD COMMUNICATION |
A child’s school life is greatly enriched by a family that is well informed and active in school affairs. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at both campuses host a number of events throughout the year for CIS families and welcome you to get involved in school life.
To learn more, visit the PTA page on My.CIS. You can also email the Tanjong Katong campus PTA at tkpta@cis.edu.sg or the Lakeside campus PTA at lkspta@cis.edu.sg.
In the primary school, parents are invited to volunteer, whether in their own child’s classroom, in other classrooms and in other areas of the school, such as the library, or in support of the programme of inquiry (POI) and co-curricular activities. This can be done on a regular basis or intermittently for special events.
Other supportive activities may include class parties, field trips, celebratory events or productions. Parents who are interested in involvement in the school should inform their child's classroom teacher, the relevant PYP coordinator, vice principal or principal.
All parent volunteers must agree to abide by our parent volunteer policy:
Parents are an integral part of the Open Minds programme as classes engage in learning off-campus. In preparation for the week offsite, interested parents will be invited to an information session which will outline expectations and tips for volunteers. Our goal is to ensure that parents support student learning in the best possible way. Further details about information sessions will be sent out by your child's classroom teacher. Read more about the Open Minds programme on My.CIS.
As children often have food allergies, we ask parents to remind their children that packed lunches should not be shared with friends.
CIS does not condone or encourage the collection of monies for group parent gifts for teachers.
Young children love to celebrate their birthdays with their peers at school. However, so that these celebrations do not interfere with teaching time, the classroom teacher will advise a suitable time and date that food can be shared during a break period (not during class time).
Guidelines for children who would like to celebrate their birthday at school:
Although we prefer that birthday party invitations are distributed outside of school, teachers will distribute paper invitations to students on behalf of parents, but only if the entire class is invited.
If parents need to contact their children during the school day, they must do so via the homeroom teacher or the divisional office (Lakeside) / main office (TK). Please do not phone, text or email your child during the school day.
The school day for all full day students is 8.30am to 3.30pm. Students who do not travel on the bus are advised to be at school by 8.25am. You can view the timetable for the 2021-2022 school year below:
Our offices are open on:
Our finance counter is open on the days indicated below.
| Open | Closed |
Lakeside | Monday, Wednesday & Friday 7.45am to 1pm 2pm to 4.15pm | Tuesday & Thursday |
Tanjong Katong | Tuesday & Thursday 7.45am to 1pm 2pm to 4.15pm | Monday, Wednesday & Friday |
Student arrival and departure information for both campuses:
Campus floor plans and teacher room allocations can be found on the divisional pages in My.CIS.
The average student to teacher ratio at CIS is 11:1. This ratio encompasses all our professional educators; teachers, support staff and administrators. It is not an indication of class size. All classes are staffed to ensure our students enjoy age appropriate optimal learning environments.
English programme
Chinese-English bilingual programme
French-English bilingual programme (Lakeside only)
CIS fosters an environment in which the needs, rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups are respected. Our students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will bring credit to themselves, their families and their school, and adhere to the CIS core values. Read our student code of conduct.
One of the paramount goals of CIS is to foster the growth of ethically responsible students. Our students learn the importance of academic honesty: what it is, why it matters, and what the consequences are for engaging in dishonest behaviour. Our academic honesty policy applies to all students in grades 4 to 12.
Should a student or parent disagree with an awarded grade/level of achievement, the student or parent must first contact the respective teacher directly. This allows the teacher an opportunity to explain the grade/level of achievement and how it was awarded. If there is still a concern about the grade/level of achievement, the student or parent may initiate the academic appeal process by submitting an academic appeal form to the student’s principal within 30 days of the release of results.
View our academic appeal policy.
Lakeside campus
There are approximately 200 car parking spaces onsite. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents can register their In-Vehicle Unit (IU) and obtain a parking decal, either at security or at the main office.
Tanjong Katong campus
There is no parking on campus between 8am and 8.30am, or between 2.45pm and 3.45pm. If you are driving to school and would like to walk your child to their classroom, please park in the public parking lot adjacent to our campus and enter through the pedestrian gate. If you are parking in the school parking lot, you must have a parking decal which can be obtained from the main office or security office.
Students are not permitted on CIS’s premises on non-school days, or to remain on CIS’s premises after dismissal unless they are participating in an after school activity that begins immediately after school. Playgrounds and recreational areas will be closed at the end of the school day.
It is the responsibility of the parent to provide adult supervision if a student (or their siblings) must wait on campus for a later activity.
The only exceptions are when, with the permission of the CEO, Head of School or a school principal, the school grounds are the venue for:
at which at least one staff member, employed directly by the school, is present and supervising the activity.
Students who have not been picked up by the end of dismissal should wait in the main office (Tanjong Katong) or school division office (Lakeside).
Liability
CIS will not be liable for any injury to students or any loss or damage to students’ personal belongings or any unforeseen damages, losses, injuries or circumstances that may result from the students remaining in CIS after school hours or as a result of the presence of students after dismissal or on non-school days outside of the permitted exceptions referred to above.
Students who use bicycles and scooters to school are not allowed to ride them when on campus. Students are encouraged to bring a lock to lock their bikes or scooter up at school. The school is not responsible for the safekeeping of equipment.
Unless a student is participating in a skateboarding or roller skate/rollerblade activity, skateboards, roller skates/blades and roller skates are not allowed on campus at any time during school, after school or on weekends.
Nursery to grade 6 - Lakeside/Tanjong Katong
Former out of country students are welcome to visit CIS and to attend classes*, with permission obtained in advance from the Head of School, principal or vice principal. The most appropriate time for the visit will be determined in collaboration with the teacher and principal. A current CIS student must escort guests, and guests will be required to present identification at the guardhouse and to provide an emergency contact number at the main office.
Grades 7 to 12 - Lakeside
School-aged visitors are not allowed on campus during the academic day or during lunch. If former students want to visit with friends, these students are welcome to come to school at the end of the school day*. Former students or friends of students should notify the principal of a prospective visit. If a former student wishes to visit a teacher, they should email the teacher to arrange an appropriate time. Prospective students can arrange for visits through the admissions office.
*Students who would like to visit during COVID-19 must contact the relevant office in advance to see if a visit is possible and/or what measures are in place.
Students are discouraged from bringing valuable personal property to school, and are reminded that they assume all risk for damage or loss. The school will not make any reimbursement for missing items.
Found items should be placed in the bins located in the primary school play area (Lakeside) and canteen (Tanjong Katong) on the day that they are found. Fragile or expensive items should be turned in at the main office.
Student phone calls are limited to emergencies. Students must have a teacher's permission for calls made during school hours. After hours calls can be made under the supervision of office staff.
The elevators at Lakeside are for parents, staff and deliveries only. Students are not permitted to use the elevator unless it is medically necessary or when they are escorted by an adult. Students who are permitted to use the elevator should carry an official pass, which they can obtain from the nurse, and they should be prepared to show it to staff if requested.
At the Lakeside campus all students in grades 4 to 12 are provided with their own locker, while at TK, students in grades 4-6 will share a locker with another student.
Students are strongly advised to ensure that their valuables are kept in their lockers and that the lockers remain locked at all times. Students must purchase a lock prior to the commencement of the school year.
Students are expected to observe our guidelines regarding electronic portable devices and valuables (eg smartphones, e-books, digital audio players, headphones, etc). Read our electronic equipment policy and Lakeside primary on-campus device use guidelines for further information.
Note: The school is not responsible for any loss of students’ electronic equipment.
CIS shall not be held liable for accidental injury or loss of or damage to property. CIS is not responsible for students’ personal property on CIS campuses or on the way to or from CIS or on any CIS sponsored activity. It is the responsibility of parents/legal guardians to provide any additional comprehensive medical and accident insurance, as well as personal property insurance, for their children and their possessions.
It is mandatory for students in grades 4 to 6 to bring their own iPad to school daily. Students in grades 7 to 12 must have their own MacBook computer at school every day. View our digital literacy page for more information and device recommendations.
Accounts are issued to grades 3 to 12 students to access various school resources including, but not limited to, communication networks, school printers, Google Apps accounts, Hapara (grades 7-12), ManageBac, Seesaw (primary only) and My.CIS.
Email addresses on the school’s email system are assigned to all staff and students from grade 3 and up (grade 3 students are restricted to internal communication only). Email is used extensively for communications and collaboration within the school community.
Students are to ensure that all information provided to CIS pursuant to network use is correct, and to further ensure they update CIS immediately of any changes in their particulars. Students further agree to hold CIS, its employees, agents, associates and affiliates harmless from any and all claims and damages of any nature arising from the student’s use of, or inability to use, the CIS network, including, but not limited to, any claims arising from the unauthorised use of the system to purchase products or services.
Read our policy concerning the use of CIS IT resources and the consequences for students who do not comply. CIS reserves the right to make any necessary modifications to this policy and such changes and/or modifications will be conveyed to students in writing.
EduTrust
Visit the Committee for Private Education’s website for further details on the Private Education Act, the CPE or the EduTrust certification scheme.
CIS was first awarded the four year EduTrust award in August 2012, and again in 2016. Our EduTrust certificate can be viewed on this page of our website.
Administered by the Committee for Private Education under the governance of SkillsFuture Singapore, EduTrust is a voluntary certification scheme that helps to distinguish higher quality educational institutions in Singapore’s private education industry. As a school that is EduTrust certified, we are able to accept international students who require Student Passes from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). You can learn more about the Committee for Private Education, the Private Education Act, or the EduTrust Certification Scheme on the SkillsFuture SG website.
In order for a new student to start school, the student contract must be signed and all required documents must be submitted in full to the admissions department.
The student contract is a legal document that protects and assures the rights and conditions of the student whilst enrolled at a Private Education Institution (PEI).
It is a legal requirement that all students must enter into the student contract, and CIS executes a CIS student contract for every student. This contract is a critical document that helps to minimise future disputes, therefore it is essential that it be completely understood by the student (parents/legal guardians where a student is younger than 18 years of age) prior to enrolment.
CIS signs a student contract (each contract will have a unique number) with the student after a place has been offered to the student, and that place has been accepted by the student (parents/legal guardians where a student is younger than 18 years of age).
Download the sample CIS 2021-2022 student contract.
Once the student contract has been signed, a simpler supplemental contract must be signed on an annual basis.
Supplemental student contracts for existing students who have already signed the original student contract must be signed in Semester 2 at a date specified by the school. If the supplemental contract is not signed by the deadline, and fees are not paid, by the necessary deadline(s), a student’s enrolment for the following school year will not be confirmed.
In addition to signing the student contract, families with students who are accepted to CIS must read and agree to CIS’s terms and conditions of enrolment. These terms and conditions form part of the student contract and parents should ensure they review them as necessary.
CIS is an international school that offers programmes for students from 18 months to approximately 18 years of age. “Courses” is CPE terminology that must be used, and at CIS ‘courses’ are referred to as grades. With the exception of the half-day Nursery, which is a 3-hour programme, all grades are offered on a full time basis with students attending school from Monday to Friday (five days per week).
Visit the FAQ section of our website to find course write ups that include:
With the exception of those enrolled in nursery, kindergarten students must be completely toilet trained and be able to independently look after their own toileting. In the event that a child in PK or above is not fully toilet trained, parents will be asked to keep students at home until this developmental goal is achieved.
Students are expected to attend school at all times unless excused by their parents or caregiver appointed by the parents. View our attendance policy for full details.
Absences
If your child will be absent from school, please email their divisional office and homeroom/advisor teacher.
| Tanjong Katong Primary | Lakeside Primary | Lakeside Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| tkattendance@cis.edu.sg | priattendance@cis.edu.sg | secondaryschool@cis.edu.sg |
CIS is concerned with the wellbeing of all students and recognises that drug use is a serious offence under Singapore law. The banned or controlled substances policy at CIS endeavours to operate within the law of Singapore at all times and protect its students while they are under the care and jurisdiction of the school. Read our policy concerning banned or controlled substances.
Parents/legal guardians grant CIS an irrevocable and perpetual licence to use students’ work, photographs or videos of the student, and other materials for purposes such as publicising or promoting CIS and its students’ accomplishments to internal and external audiences, including in print and online. Parents/legal guardians are also required to complete and sign the IB consent form.
7.10.1 PARENT USE OF STUDENTS’ PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Parents are welcome to post photos or videos of their own children at school events on social media, however due to privacy concerns, posting photos or videos of other people’s children on social media is not allowed. This policy is outlined in clause 9.2 of the terms and conditions of enrolment.
7.10.2 SOCIAL MEDIA DEFINITION
SOCIAL MEDIA refers to any digital medium that allows you to communicate and interact socially. Social media includes but is not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, SnapChat, Whatsapp, WeChat, and blogs.
CIS will allow students to transfer from one grade level (course) to another (where availability of places permits) if the school assesses that the student is more suited academically and emotionally to that grade.
If the student transfers to a new grade level (or from the CIS Foundation programme to the CIS English programme), the student agrees that the transfer shall not be deemed a withdrawal from the school, and the refund policy in the student contract shall not apply. If a student does not agree to be enrolled in the grade level (course) offered by the school and withdraws from the school, all fees paid shall be refunded in accordance with the refund policy set out in clause 2 of the student contract.
In the event of a change of a grade level (course) as mentioned above, a supplemental contract shall be executed between CIS and the parents/legal guardian/student to reflect the change of course and change in fees where applicable. All the other terms and conditions in the student contract shall remain unchanged.
All grade level transfer requests are approved by the Academic Board. The Academic Board will respond to the request within two weeks of receiving the request.
Student acceptance is based on the assumption that the programme offered at CIS is the best available to meet the needs of the student. When, in the judgment of the professional staff, the CIS programme and personnel resources do not adequately meet the needs of the student, a recommendation for termination of the enrolment will be made by the divisional principal, in consultation with the Head of School, if applicable.
This decision may be appealed to management within one week from the day on which such decision is communicated to the student and/or parents.
Any unconsumed tuition fees, and support programme fees (if applicable) will be refunded, however, application and confirmation fees paid at the time of admission are not refundable in the case of counselled withdrawals.
Students who require a student pass from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be assisted by the CIS admissions team. Assistance provided includes initiating the ICA application, providing advice on pass application, and verifying a student’s enrolment and immigration status.
Student Passes are not transferable and expire when the student ceases to be a CIS student.
Student Pass cancellation
Lost or stolen student passes
Read additional requirements for Student Pass holders.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) allows children to attend preschool/kindergarten at international schools in Singapore regardless of their citizenship. However, when a student enters grade 1, MOE approval is required for students of Singaporean nationality, regardless of whether they are single or dual nationality.
This regulation requires the school by law to make an application to the MOE for students who fall into this category. Each year in February, the admissions department will contact SK parents and ask for the following information:
After the information has been submitted, if MOE approval is required, an admissions executive will contact parents directly to walk them through the process.
Please refer to the fees page on our website for detailed information about fees, financial policies and modes of payment.
EduTrust certified PEIs are required to adopt the Fee Protection Scheme (FPS) to protect course fees paid by their students in the event they are unable to continue operating due to insolvency, and/or regulatory closure. The FPS also protects students if the PEI fails to pay penalties or return fees to the students that arise from a judgement made against it by the Singapore courts.
All fees refer to all monies paid by the students to be enrolled in a PEI, excluding the course application fee, confirmation fee, agent commission fee (if applicable), miscellaneous fees (non-compulsory and non-standard fee paid only when necessary or where applicable, for example, excursion, the re-examination fee or charges for credit card payment etc) and GST.
Under the fee insurance scheme, PEIs purchase insurance protection from any one of the Committee for Private Education (CPE) appointed insurance companies for every one of their students, to protect their fees.
PEIs with EduTrust certification are allowed to collect up to twelve months of fees each school year.
CIS has put in place the FPS insurance as its fee protection scheme for all students and will purchase and pay for the insurance on students’ behalf. The FPS insurance offers insured students protection against the following events:
7.17.1 Certificate of insurance
CIS has appointed Lonpac Insurance Bhd to be the FPS insurer for our students. The insurance coverage will be for the tuition fees and support programme fees (if applicable). It does not cover the GST portion of fees paid and the compulsory application and confirmation fees.
Upon payment of the insurance premium, Lonpac Insurance Bhd issues a certificate of insurance to the insured student directly via email. You can view the master insurance certificate on the fees page of the school website.
7.17.2 Claim process
In the event that a student needs to make an FPS claim, the CPE (or any Singapore Government authority) will take charge, inform all affected parties, and organise the claims pay-out if necessary.
Affected students would be advised of the steps that they would need to follow in order to file an FPS claim during the claim process.
Insured students should produce the following in the event of an FPS claim:
The teacher advisor programme at CIS is an integral part of students’ success, designed to give students opportunities to maximise their potential. Being an advisor is an important assignment for every secondary educator.
The goals of the programme are:
The secondary timetable outlines the school day for all students in grades 7 to 12. The schedule for shortened days (eg during conferences) can be viewed here.
The secondary school essential agreements towards assessment outline the procedures that govern assessment practices.
Homework is posted in ManageBac where students and parents can access it (see section 2.4 for further details).
Student services offer activities and services that facilitate the personal, social, academic and career development of students at all grade levels. Read more about our resources and services for secondary students.
The secondary school student success programme helps students on an individual basis to realise success. The learner success team works collaboratively with students, parents and advisors to develop strategies for improvement. Read more about the learner success programme.
SMART period (after lunch) gives students the opportunity to engage in various aspects of student life, such as student leadership, community service, sports, fine arts or student initiated clubs or activities. It also provides extra time for both independent and collaborative student learning as well as remediation and enrichment. Students are encouraged to make responsible choices about activities they will engage in each day. Read more about SMART period.
Examination schedules for secondary students will be posted in the Week at a Glance newsletter (parents) and shared in My.CIS (students).
Students progress through secondary school by demonstrating growth in learning and meeting expected standards of student achievement. The guidelines for each grade are:
Grades 7 to 10 (MYP)
In the MYP students are graded on a scale of 1 to 7. These grades are referred to as points in the promotion requirements.
The maximum points a student can acquire in an academic year in the MYP is 56 (7 points in each of the 8 subjects).
To successfully complete each grade level and be promoted to the next grade level, students in grades 7 to 10 must:
Students who obtain between 28 and 31 total points in their 8 MYP courses, may not automatically proceed to the next grade level. They will be required to attend a conference with the principal (or designee) and parents. Promotion to the next grade level will be at the discretion of the principal.
Students who obtain less than 28 total points in 8 MYP courses will be encouraged to consider alternate educational pathways. This may include repeating the current grade or leaving CIS.
Grade 11 (year 1) promotion guidelines, pathways and graduation requirements
DP year 1 students (grade 11) are promoted to year 2 (grade 12) if they have:
If a year 1 (grade 11) student has less than 24 points in total, the principal or designee will review the student’s file to determine whether they meet the following criteria:
Based on these criteria, the secondary school principal and designee will determine whether the student will:
Academic awards honour a student’s academic achievement and their commitment to progress both academically and in their approaches to learning (ATL’s). The criteria for academic awards can be viewed here.
All students, who meet the requirements of each diploma, will graduate with an IB Diploma and CIS Diploma.
IB Diploma
CIS Diploma The CIS diploma is awarded based on a credit system for all students in grades 9 to 12. Details about the CIS diploma and credit system can be viewed here.
From time to time it may be necessary for the school to initiate, or for students and parents to request, changes to a student’s timetable. Please view our secondary course change policy to learn more about the process.
Students are not allowed to gather or be in places in the school where there is no adult supervision. This includes the parking lot and bus bay, the roof, or elementary play areas during the school day. After school, students should leave the campus unless in a supervised activity or studying in the library.
Textbooks that are used in class are loaned to students during the school year. Students are responsible for each textbook on loan and must pay for damaged or lost books. Report cards will not be released if money is due for a class or library book. Students are required to have stationery that includes pens, pencils, mathematical instruments and lined notepads throughout the year.
It is quite common to use acronyms in business today, and education is no exception. Below is a list of some of the more common acronyms and abbreviations to assist you when reading this handbook, and other communications that you receive from CIS.
CCA | Co Curricular activities |
CIS | Canadian International School |
CPE | Committee for Private Education |
DP | Diploma Programme |
ECA | Extra curricular activity |
ELL | English language learner programme / English language learners |
GLL | Grade learning lead |
IA | Instructional assistant |
IB | International Baccalaureate |
IT | Information technology |
JK | Junior kindergarten |
LS | Learning support |
LKS | Lakeside campus (Nursery to grade 12) |
MOE | Ministry of Education |
MYP | Middle Years Programme |
OMP | Open Minds programme |
ODC | Outdoor discovery centre |
PL | Professional learning |
PE | Physical Education |
PEI | Private Education Institution |
Pre-K | Pre-Kindergarten |
POI | Programme of Inquiry |
PS | Primary school |
PTA | Parent teacher association |
PYP | Primary Years Programme |
SK | Senior kindergarten |
SMART | Students maximising achievement, responsibility and time |
SS | Secondary school |
SST | Single subject teacher |
STEAM | Science, Technology, Environmental Studies, Arts, Math |
TK | Tanjong Katong campus - (Nursery to grade 6) |
UN | Uniting nations |
UOI | Unit of inquiry |
VP | Vice principal |
WAG | Week at a Glance |
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