The mission of the CA school counselors is to provide a comprehensive counseling program that will assist all students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to become effective communicators, responsible and caring world citizens, and lifelong learners. The counseling program is an integral part of CA’s overall program, with a commitment to individual strengths, understanding of multicultural diversity, and social-emotional well being.
Canadian Academy counselors are available to assist students in all aspects of their personal, social, and academic growth. Growing up is not always easy; an international and multicultural setting has its own challenges. Students are invited to visit with any of the counselors to confidentially share their concerns, questions, or problems. In addition to assisting with personal issues, the counselors stand ready to help students with academic and university questions.
Transition Services: The middle school counseling program provides assistance to parents and students in the important transitions from elementary school to middle school and from middle school to high school. The counseling office, in conjunction with other middle school programs, also offers services for those who are transitioning as new or leaving students from our school. These include: an orientation program for new students at the beginning of the school year, a peer helper program for new students arriving during the school year, and sayonara ceremony for those students who are departing for other locations.
Academic Guidance: The counselor is a member of all grade level teams in addition to assisting students with individual academic guidance. Parents are also encouraged to consult with the counselor regarding any concerns that they have regarding the overall academic growth of their child.
Testing: Middle school students take MAPs tests two times a year. Standardized achievement tests are used throughout the United States and in many international schools for admission and placement decisions. Standardized tests for ESOL placement are also available. Individual assessments may be given or referrals made as needed, upon consultation with the Middle School Counselor.
Information Services: The counseling office maintains information on summer school programs throughout the world. Students and parents are invited to explore our library of information. The counseling office also maintains a list of potential tutors for students needing additional academic support. Many high school students and adults are interested in tutoring students in a variety of areas. The counseling office will help the student and parent contact a tutor, but the actual contract is between the tutor and the family; an acceptable fee should be agreed upon before the onset of tutoring.
Other Services: At times, the counselor participates in classroom guidance units to help students develop healthy relationships and lifestyles. Parent education sessions are also conducted to help parents understand and respond to the complex developmental issues that middle school students face. The counseling office also coordinates the advisory program within the middle school.
The High School Counseling Program at Canadian Academy is comprehensive in design and practice. This means counselors work closely with students and families to understand the student's strengths, interest and needs. We know that when students feel physically and emotionally healthy and can create a sense of well-being that they are better prepared to learn.
As Counselors we work to meet the needs of students and families in an ever changing world. We deliver programming aimed to help students explore strengths, interests, possibilities and challenges. We support students through this programming and through individual work. We work collaboratively with teachers, advisors, outside providers and school leaders to address the needs of our community and students. We believe that our role is to suggest, counsel, support and plan. We know that the needs of each student are unique and ever evolving and we are so excited to work with our students in their discovery and planning for their own unique pathways. We have designed this site to help you understand our work with students in Grades 9-12 and to share resources with you. We look forward to our collaboration.
During the second semester of each year, the counselors help students select their courses for the following school year. As a school, we work to accommodate student choice; both the number of classes offered and the master timetable are based upon the individual requests of all students. Course changes made after the timetable has been developed are often impossible to accommodate. During the registration period families have the chance to meet individually with the counselor to discuss their proposed choices, future plans and academic goals.
Once courses have been selected by the students, it is expected that all students will remain in their courses for the entire school year. Although there is an “add/ drop” period of two weeks, this is designed primarily for new students who may have been misplaced in a class. Without exceptional reasons, no course may be added or dropped after the Drop/Add period. A withdrawal occurring after that time is ordinarily noted on the transcript as a failed course.
College advisement is an integral part of our program and is coordinated by the high school counselor. Students work with their Counselors from Grade 9 to begin to explore their own strengths and interests as they prepare for future study and careers. In the fall of Grade 10 students may register to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Test (PSAT) and also begin exploring strengths, interests and career options in more depth. During the Grade 11 year students begin a college counseling program through country-specific presentations, family meetings and Advisory based lessons. Students are invited to university fairs, create a testing plan and begin to draft essays and build a long list of colleges. In Grade 12, students and families continue to work closely with the counselor through whole group sessions and individual meetings to solidify future plans and refine and submit applications. CA is a test center for the Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT). These exams are given several times a year. Students should register online at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register. Students needing to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) should register online at: https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/take/register/.
Our Counselors are available to meet with students or families at any time to discuss academic planning, college and career interests, well-being resources or social and emotional support.