Counseling

University and Academic Counselling at CIS

Our institution provides comprehensive academic and university counselling services for high school students based on the Ontario Guidance Curriculum, IB guidance training and protocols, and the International School Counsellors’ Association. Our counselling program is designed to guide students through their academic journey, starting in Grades 9 and 10, with career counselling through the Learning Strategies and Careers courses. Our experienced Guidance Counsellors collaborate with classroom teachers to encourage students to think about their post-secondary pathways and assist them in making appropriate choices for their future education.

In Grade 11, students meet with counsellors more frequently for individual academic and university counselling. In grade 12, all students spend at least one period a week with the Secondary Guidance Counsellor. as part of our Community Circles Program. We also offer personalized small group application sessions and individual appointments. Our team works closely with parents, especially in Grades 11 and 12, to ensure students receive the necessary support to achieve their post-secondary goals.

We organize year-round university and academic counselling events for students and families, including lunchtime university visits, university information sessions, and a city-wide university fair, co-hosted with other international schools every September. Additionally, we host our own CISS University and College Fair each October for students in grades 9-12. Our most recent fair featured over 90 universities and colleges from nine countries.

CIS is committed to providing our students with the best academic and university counselling services available. Our experienced team of professionals is dedicated to ensuring that our students are well-equipped to achieve their educational goals and are prepared for success in their post-secondary education.

CIS Counselling team

English Language Learning (ELL)

CIS encourages all students to develop to their full potential, recognizing that children progress at different rates. Teachers provide differentiated programming and learning goals to meet students’ individual needs.

Elementary

  • Grades (Kindergarten - 2)

Our admissions policy allows for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2 to enroll as beginning English language learners. In time and with classroom teacher support, primary students can develop a foundation of early English language acquisition and literacy.

At the end of Grade 2, children are assessed to determine their English Language proficiency in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing according to the Ontario Ministry of Education Steps to English Proficiency (STEP) Framework and MAP and WIDA Testing

This assessment aims to determine that children have the required academic English language comprehension and skills to meet the demands of our rigorous academic program.

  • Grade 3 - 8

Children not meeting the STEP 4 English proficiency requirement or at a CEFR level of B1 must participate in our fee-based After School English as an Additional Language Learning (EAL) program beginning in Grade 4-3.

High School (Grades 9-12)

The CIS high school program is academic and rigorous. New applicants for Grades 9-11, whose English proficiency is assessed below grade level, will not be admitted to CIS.

Learning Services at CIS

At CIS, our Guidance Counselors offer comprehensive programs and services tailored to support all our students' academic, personal, social, and emotional growth and development. We provide annual child protection lessons to all CIS students. Our Counselors offer individual and small group student counselling, classroom lessons, staff professional development, parent workshop programs, and collaborate with families, teachers, administrators, and outside mental health service providers. Mr. Stephen Singh (Secondary Guidance Counsellor) and Ms. Lindsey Williams (Elementary Guidance Counsellor) - LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) are looking after CIS All Grades and Students for their well-being, growth and development.

 

1. About the Library Learning Commons (LLC)

The CIS Library Learning Commons is situated in the central hub of the CIS campus, spanning the 3rd and 4th floors. On the third floor, you'll find a diverse range of collections catering to students from Kindergarten to Intermediate levels, overseen by Ms. Jasmine, our Elementary Librarian, along with the support of Ms. Trieu, our Library Assistant. Moving up to the fourth floor, we house collections tailored for Intermediate through High School students under the guidance of Ms. Claire. Both floors boast collaborative spaces, individual workstations, and inviting reading corners to enhance the learning experience.

2. CIS Library team

3. Library Hours

CIS Elementary Library (3rd floor) - 7:30-16:30

CIS Secondary Library (4th floor) - 8:00-16:00

4. Online Library

Currently, the LLC offers online resources, including Destiny Discover, JSTOR, and Britannica.
If you have any recommendations for any online resource now unavailable, please let us know through the feedback form, email us, or talk to us in person—we'd love to hear from you.

* Please notify the 3rd/4th floor library if subscription(s) have ended on the below resources so they can be renewed ASAP.

Destiny discover
Destiny Discover provides one discovery interface for students and educators to search and access all print and digital resources, including eBooks, audiobooks, and interactive books. Here, you can browse, reserve, and rate all books available at the CIS library!

How to log in:
Step 1: Go to the library webpage (according to your campus)
Step 2: Click ‘Login’ top right corner
Step 3: ‘Sign in with Google’ using your school email address.
NOTE: If an error occurs, please see the librarian.

5. Britannica School

Britannica School/Britannica Encyclopedia is a citable online learning resource trusted by teachers and students. The information is aligned with the school curriculum, updated daily, and spans a range of media, including video, images and audio content. Students at CIS can use this resource for research and general reading.

6. JSTOR

JSTOR provides access to over 12 million journal articles, books, images, and primary sources in 75 disciplines. This online resource helps students and teachers explore a wide range of scholarly content through a powerful research and teaching platform.

7. Vision & Goals

Library Learning Commons (LLC) aims to evolve into a vibrant center for learning, reading, and community engagement within the school.
To achieve this, we have outlined the following strategic initiatives:

  • Creating Welcoming Spaces: We aim to design open and inviting environments in both library spaces, fostering a sense of inclusivity and collaboration.
  • Collection Development: Enhance accessibility and usability, ensuring that resources align with current educational needs and diversify by annually curating new resource lists for acquisition, including various dual-language books, diverse picture books and books featuring neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ characters.
  • Community Engagement: By regularly meeting with classroom teachers, we seek to increase staff and community involvement in the library. We also encourage utilizing the library space for both school and community functions.
  • Supporting Educational Programs: We remain dedicated to supporting the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and the Ontario Curriculum, aligning our initiatives with the educational goals of these frameworks.

Through these initiatives, we aspire to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that resonates with the diverse needs of our students, staff, and community members.

“Promoting Love of Reading”

8. FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions which we have answered. If you still have questions, please contact us in person or through email. We'd love to answer any questions you may have.

The Canadian International School was established and has been developing since 2009.

CIS is the first and only comprehensive school in Ho Chi Minh city to offer the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) program. Students graduating from grade 12 will receive the Canadian Secondary Diploma, or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP).

SCHOLARSHIP EVALUATION CRITERIA

  1. - Students who have achieved awards in prestigious competitions organized from the city level and above.
  2. - Competitions fall within the three areas of Academics, Sports, and Arts.
  3. - Minimum average subject grade of 8.0 or above (or equivalent) in the most recent two academic years.
  4. - Active participation and contribution to community activities.

Login to our library website (Destiny Discover) to locate books and more!

Simply enter a keyword or subject in the search box and click Search if you are looking for a specific item, type in the author’s name or the title.

Yes! Start your search on the library homepage using the Destiny Discover search box or choose a specific database from the Learning Resources list. Once logged in, you will then be given full access to content.

Request Info

Please help us fill out the info section below to get to know you better
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