Celebrating 35 years of international education

The Canadian International School (CIS) is celebrating 35 years of international education in Singapore! The school is marking the occasion with a special anniversary event on 14 March – and the public is invited to join in (find all the details below). Meanwhile, as CIS prepares for the future ahead, the team is also reflecting on its story so far. Here, they discuss the milestones they’ve achieved as they grow into a school that embeds STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) into a personalised bilingual curriculum.

International education with personalised pathways

What does it take for a school to nurture generations of global citizens? From its earliest days, we have understood what makes international education succeed: innovative teaching, concept-based learning and personalised pathways that prepare students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

What began as a Canadian prep school in 1990 has since grown into one of Singapore’s most established international IB World schools.

Each step in the school’s 35-year timeline marks a first. CIS established one of the country’s first award-winning bilingual programmes, became the first international school to fully embed STEAM education into daily learning. We launched a purpose-built Outdoor Discovery Centre that reimagined how students engage with the world.

We’re anchored in a strong International Baccalaureate foundation that’s expanded to include Advanced Placement. The school continues to innovate year on year to build an internationally recognised, inquiry-driven, international education.

As CIS celebrates its 35th anniversary, we welcome families on campus for a special celebration built around Heritage, Community and Innovation, each telling a part of the CIS story.

Celebrating a Canadian heritage

In 1990, the Canadian Overseas College opened its doors in a small campus at Toh Tuck with just five students. A year later, the school adopted the name of Canadian International School.

Since then, the school has grown, moved and evolved – from Toh Tuck to Bukit Tinggi, Kampung Bahru and Tanjong Katong, with the whole community now calling Lakeside home.

We don’t offer a Canadian curriculum nor are we defined by an exclusive Canadian community. What makes the school Canadian are the values Canadians are known for. That is a genuine warmth, an openness to others and a natural instinct to connect. These qualities have shaped CIS since day one. They inform how we teach, how we build community, and how we prepare students for the world.

A global generational CIS community

Today, CIS is home to 3,000 students from over 70 nationalities. Over the past 35 years, thousands of students have graduated from CIS to over 500 universities around the world, bringing with them friendships, cultures and shared traditions.

Walk through the halls of CIS and you will feel a sense of belonging. The warmth of a teacher remembering your child’s name and their favourite book. Parents volunteering at the annual Uniting Nations event, sharing stories and dishes from home. The mix of accents on the playground, the laughter echoing in multiple languages, and the friendships that span continents.

For Elizabeth White, Class of 2009 alumni who joined CIS in 1998, her 11- year experience left a lasting impression. When it was time to choose a school for her children, she knew exactly where she wanted them.

“It’s remarkable to see how much CIS has grown since the late 90s, with its expanded facilities, increased student population, and the wide variety of extracurricular activities offered. Despite the significant growth in size and numbers, we never feel that Owen is just another student. The school has managed to maintain its close-knit, community feel, which is something we value so much as a family.”

Innovating for the future through STEAM education

While CIS honours our past, we are also focused on the future. What does tomorrow look like? More global, more digital, more unpredictable. Which means that on top of academics, students need confidence, agility, curiosity and the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn.

The school’s STEAM approach to learning empowers our students with problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking skills essential for today’s fast-changing world. Students explore ideas through inquiry by building prototypes, debating real-world issues, and asking the kind of questions that lead to discovery and action.

Our school is also broadening what future-ready learning looks like through cutting-edge advancements like AI-based learning and innovative teaching methodologies to make learning smarter, more personalised, and engaging.

Our culture of innovation continues to inspire students. CIS student Pengjin C proudly represented Singapore at the World Robotics Finals in the United States, winning runner-up in the World Championship Division. Across campus, students are leading initiatives like the VEX IQ Robotics club and engineering innovative solutions such as a system integrated translator to support our diverse parent community.

The school’s curriculum evolves to offer students new pathways and opportunities to customise their academic direction. In 2025, the school launched the Advanced Pathway for secondary students, providing college-ready courses and the chance to dive into more depth. This international education offering is designed for students ready to accelerate, stretch themselves and explore future fields whether engineering, global studies, design, entrepreneurship or sciences.

Event: Learn more about international education at CIS

On 14 March, join the school’s special anniversary event and explore what makes it international, inclusive and community driven. Discover three immersive zones:

• Heritage: “Celebrating our roots”
• Community: “The heart of CIS”
• Innovation: “Where curiosity comes alive”

From Human Foosball, Water Ninja Courses, Go-Kart Races and Floor is Lava, to giant Tetris, design challenges for STEAM education and live music, there’s something for every age. Refuel with fluffy pancakes, a dash of maple syrup and family-friendly bites as the music plays.

Register your spot for the event at cis.edu.sg.

Canadian International School is at 7 Jurong West Street 41.
6467 1732 | cis.edu.sg

This article about CIS celebrating 35 years of international education in Singapore first appeared in the February 2026 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can buy the latest issue or an annual subscription, or read the digital version free now.

If you enjoyed this, get to know more about CIS from Head of School Dr Allan Weston. Plus, we’ve got a great list of things to do with children in Singapore.

Interested in knowing about editorial options? Email us at sales@expatliving.sg.