Academics
OR
Welcome from the Principal
As the Principal of CIST, I feel honoured and privileged to work with a team who are committed to excellence in education. Our team has a clear vision and mission to engage each and every child in their learning journey, providing the support and care they need to reach their full potential in a safe and nurturing environment. I have been with the school since we first opened our doors in 2017, and it has been a joy to witness our students blossom in creativity, academia, independence and more.
We are a community of learners and I look forward to welcoming you and your family into our community.
Teaching and Learning Staff
Our CIST teaching and learning team is comprised of highly qualified, highly motivated and highly dedicated professionals. Our team has a passion for educating the ‘whole child’; providing opportunities, guidance and coaching for our students to reach their full potential academically, socially, emotionally and physically. Through regular collaboration and sharing of best-practice, our committed team continues to provide world-class IB education.
Curriculum
The Ontario curriculum is supplemented with globally recognised mathematics and language programmes, Jolly Phonics & Grammar and White Rose Maths. The transdisciplinary learning is set within the IB PYP framework.
The IB PYP framework allows the Ontario curriculum and supplementary programmes to be combined to form a robust and progressive learning journey for the child. Children in our Early Years programme are invited to explore a variety of subjects through play, providing them with the necessary holistic and academic skills to progress into their Elementary years.
Once a child joins their Elementary classroom, they will be guided through their learning journey using an inquiry-based approach. Our students are encouraged to bolster their self-management, research, communication, social and thinking skills through a variety of ability-appropriate activities and challenges. Students are aided in becoming reflective and critical thinkers as they build an understanding of themselves as lifelong learners and global citizens who recognise their strengths and interests. Through the provision of a broad range of activities and learning opportunities, our students are ready to progress into Secondary years as confident and well-rounded individuals.
In the MYP, students continue to build on the foundation laid in the Elementary years, developing skills through inquiry learning and making connections to six global contexts to create relevant and meaningful connections. They engage in service as action and community projects, exploring their interests and nurturing their passions. Students begin to build credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and move on to highschool as well-rounded individuals with a global perspective, equipped with the skills and awareness to be lifelong learners and responsible global citizens.
In high school, students choose pathways aligned with their interests, gaining experience and exploring diverse possibilities for their learning. They graduate as lifelong learners, embodying a strong understanding of global citizenship. They graduate with a full OSSD accredited by the Ontario Department of Education. With a combination of academic achievements, practical experiences, and a keen awareness of their passions, they are prepared to make informed decisions about their future educational and career pathways.
Assessment at CIST
Assessment at CIST is ongoing, informative and collaborative. Our students are encouraged to understand what they have learned, what they have achieved and what will be their next challenge. Our teaching team uses assessment data to continually adapt their teaching to match individual and class needs, strengths and interests to ensure our students are being challenged and supported in their growth.
Assessment at CIST is used to motivate and engage our students in their own learning journey, data is collected through both formative and summative assessments, following the IB PYP assessment principles:
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular classes are offered in each term and span a 10-week period. Our extracurricular activities allow students to deepen their appreciation and understanding of an existing skill, or explore a new area of interest.
Recent ECAs offered at CIST:
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Cooking
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Outdoor exploration
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Singing and dancing
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Tennis and badminton
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Muay Thai
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Taekwondo
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Storytellin
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Football
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Rugby
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Hockey
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Junior scientists
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Gymnastics
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Thai reading and writing
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Basketball
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Board games
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Anime
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Arts and crafts
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Creative expression
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Ultimate frisbee
Wellbeing and Student support
At CIST we are committed to supporting our students’ wellbeing and positive mental health. All our staff are trained in child safeguarding and collaborate with our onsite Social and Emotional Learning team regularly.
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In-class learning surrounding emotions, challenges and relationships
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Language support offered in TAL and EAL
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Highly trained staff providing pastoral care and support to students and caregivers
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Regular communication with parents and caregivers
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Procedures in place for students who may benefit from additional, tailored support
Parental Engagement
We believe a child needs a whole community of love and support to reach their full potential, therefore we place a lot of importance on building relationships and engagement from our wider community of parents and caregivers. Our parental community can expect:
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Access to the Seesaw application to contact homeroom or specialist teachers directly
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Regular updates on Seesaw regarding in-class learning and activities
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Personal updates on individual areas of progress via Seesaw
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Weekly newsletter
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Three academic reports a year
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Two Parent-Teacher conferences a year
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One student led Parent-Teacher-Student conference a year
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In-school events: e.g. sports day, winter show, market day
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A range of parental workshops
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Inclusion in learning and assessments through in-class visits and communication
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Regularly suggested at-home activities linked to in-class learning