Canadian American School

The Canadian American School uses evidence-based practices to promote social and emotional learning for infants, toddlers, and early learners. Teachers are trained in using the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children, developed by the Center for Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, and follow its guiding principles. The guiding principles include supporting development, individualizing interventions, and applying strategies within natural routines, with attention to cultural and linguistic diversity. The Wellness Program focuses on raising students' self-awareness of abilities, strengths, talents and potentials; teaching strategies to manage one's body, behavior, emotions and relationships; and instilling respect, responsibility, and kindness through age-appropriate lessons and activities. It also offers individualized services for students facing challenges such as academic difficulties, anxiety, behavioral concerns, and students who might engage in self-harm, and connects with institutions that can provide further counseling and psychological assistance, while engaging teachers and staff in trainings to maintain their own well-being. The school also features a House System and After School Clubs as part of Student Life to support peer interaction and social development.

The Canadian American School operates an Exceptional Education Program that integrates Special Education modifications and therapies within the general curriculum and uses an inclusive education model. It collaborates with education professionals and other service providers (developmental pediatricians, school psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, physical therapists, etc.) to complete educational assessments and monitor program plans. A Student Intervention Team reviews records to determine what assessments are needed, followed by a Comprehensive Evaluation by a multidisciplinary team to identify strengths and needs and determine eligibility for services. An Individualized Education Plan is created, detailing present levels of academic performance, goals, accommodations, supplementary aids and services, and placement, with progress monitored through annual reviews or reevaluation. The Continuum of Services comprises Level 1 Full Inclusion, Level 2 Full Inclusion with Special Educator Support, Level 3 Partial Inclusion/Program Modification, and Level 4 Individualized Education Program; fees are determined case-by-case and may include supplementary supports such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Family Counseling, and other interventions.

The Canadian American School offers an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program that provides support for students whose first language is not English. Sheltered Instruction (Content-based ESL) is used to accommodate English Language Learners, with an ELL teacher assigned to evaluate and monitor language proficiency and progress and to develop a service plan in collaboration with classroom teachers. Eligibility begins with enrollment and identification of a non-English first language; initial assessments may include an English Language Proficiency Test for some entrants. Service levels range from Level 1 to Level 3 (newcomer level), with the cost of supplemental services determined by level, and students are reassessed annually and typically participate for one to two years before testing out.

The Wellness Program supports students' mental and emotional well-being with a focus on developing academic, social and emotional well-being. It emphasizes raising students' self-awareness of abilities, strengths and potentials and teaching strategies to manage one's body, behavior, emotions and relationships. It also aims to instill positive behaviors such as respect, responsibility, and kindness through age-appropriate lessons and activities, and provides individualized services for students facing challenges such as academic difficulties, anxiety, behavioral concerns, or self-harm, with connections to external counseling and psychological assistance as needed. Staff and teachers participate in ongoing trainings to maintain their own well-being and effectiveness.

A dedicated Child Safeguarding section appears under Health & Safety within the Student Life area. Publicly available information notes the existence of the Child Safeguarding component, but detailed safeguarding policies are not published on the page.