The Student Services Department at ISHCMC-American Academy is a collection of specialists and programs that provide additional support for all students at the school. In addition to the broad Tier 1 support that every student receives, we also have robust additional services for students in the following areas: Language Support, Learning Support, Positive Behavioral Support, Social and Emotional Counseling, College & University Counseling, and robust Safeguarding support.
ISHCMC-AA employs counselors with specialty backgrounds in Psychology, Clinical Counseling, and Social Work. We believe there is a strong need to ensure all students understand their personal well-being and have fluency in mental health knowledge. This includes special push-in lessons on important relatable topics like abuse, mental health advocacy, and supporting others who are struggling. Our counselors spend a lot of time in classrooms, developing and running small groups and working with teachers and parents on student support strategies. We offer services in both English and Vietnamese.
Our award-winning Safeguarding Program (Best Safeguarding Program- International School Awards 2022) provides ongoing support in child protection, high-level mental health services, and community/parent outreach. Our school adheres to the highest international standards for Safeguarding and has successfully developed a culture in this area that is second to none. The program received a perfect score in its 2024 Safeguarding audit conducted by an external agency from the UK. Our internal surveying of students and staff consistently identifies Safeguarding as one of our strongest areas and only reinforces our belief that this is a safe and caring place to learn.
ISHCMC-AA is dedicated to supporting language development for all learners. Every teacher at our school has a background in teaching students with developing levels of English. We also employ specialists who create support programs and interventions and guide students using the latest language technology. Our assessment process allows us to see student progress, send reports, and keep families involved in the learning journey. Students at our school tend to develop English language fluency rapidly and after a short time are able to access academic materials needed for success.
ISHCMC-AA believes that behavior is a form of communication. We look at all behavior, positive and negative, to better understand what children need from us. Our Behavior Specialist has introduced the PBIS model to address student behavioral needs. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health. When implemented with fidelity, PBIS improves social-emotional competence, academic success, and school climate.
Students play a larger role in developing and maintaining the well-being support at our school. Student Assistants in our department help create and implement the annual Global Be Well Day, run parent workshops, present for peers on specific wellbeing topics, and even act as keynote speakers at large international events. We believe that the success of any program requires robust student involvement, and these assistants continue to play an important role in our mission.
