Canadian American school: A unique experience

MANILA, Philippines - Imagine the excitement of discovering a school right in the middle of the central business district of Makati, located in a prestigious condominium complex with top-flight sports facilities, offering a curriculum with a unique international perspective to enable students to achieve their full potential in the interconnected world of the 21st century.

This unique curriculum integrates the latest scientific findings on brain and intelligence research, critical pedagogy inspired by Paolo Freire, language study at the age when a child learns multiple languages naturally and intuitively, exposure to and proper use of technology, and culturally responsive teaching through the use of stimulating learning materials: visuals and manipulatives. These and more are what make Canadian American School (CAS), the latest kid on the block, as it were, of international schools in Metro Manila; a breakthrough concept in the history of education, albeit in progress.

In a world where creativity is beginning to trump intelligence, where cyberspace is becoming as real as earth space, and the world is beginning to be multiculturally and interculturally connected — transforming itself literally into a global village - a more responsive kind of education is needed to adequately prepare our children for this challenging and multi-faceted environment.  And this is what CAS precisely aims to accomplish through its core pedagogic package of skilled mentoring, mindfulness training, foreign language immersion, multicultural values awareness, and technology exposure. Critical thinking replaces rote memory, and education becomes a lived, natural, and hands-on fun experience. Indeed, CAS through its K-8 curriculum is becoming a testament to Robert Fulghum’s famous observation that all one really needs to know is learned in kindergarten. (First 5 rules: Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess.)

Modern living has developed such that the workplace, home and study spaces are becoming integrated into a common space to avoid the long commutes in between. Thus new, modern urban areas are thoughtfully designed to reflect this integration. New subdivisions and residential buildings are wont to advertise that their site is conveniently located near malls, markets, shopping areas, offices, churches, and schools. Condominium buildings and complexes in major cities in the Philippines are also taking this cue, and are designed such that everything one needs will just be an elevator ride away.

Except for schools. CAS is a pioneer in filling this niche by its location in an upscale residential and commercial condominium complex in the central business district of Makati City. Thus for many of its young students, their school will just be literally an elevator ride away, promoting not only convenience, but also safety, security and less exposure to air pollution. As well, it will only be a short drive away from other residential communities in the Makati business district. Indeed, this concept is being put into practice in such prestigious commercial, residential, and mixed-use complexes as the Willis (Sears) Tower in Chicago; the Houston World Trade Center in Texas; Alchemy’s 35XV condo building in Manhattan; Nike’s European Headquarters in Hilversum, Netherlands; Broadway Green, HSBC Bank Canada’s corporate HQ in Vancouver, British Columbia; and in scores of other cities throughout the world.

Unfortunately the shortsightedness of some local bureaucrats in government  agencies causes then to view a separation of work and school, with basic education having no place in a central business district, especially in condo complexes. This hindrance to progress and development is a challenge that CAS and other forward-minded schools are facing today. But Rome was not built in a day, and challenges will be part and parcel of schools in everyday living for institutions like CAS. No matter, CAS is here to stay, grounded in its unique vision of what basic education should be in this challenging, interconnected world.

Come be a part of CAS’s vision for the successful future of our children.