Building Harmony in Schools - CISGZ 2026
Building Harmony in Schools
Integrating Social Emotional Learning and Global Citizenship Education
Canadian International School of Guangzhou
Friday–Saturday, November 27–28, 2026
This interactive two-day workshop equips educators to intentionally integrate social emotional learning (SEL) and global citizenship education (GCE) into everyday classroom and school practice. Rooted in relationship and connection development, the workshop focuses on improving school climate and classroom communities.
Participants will explore community-building frameworks, case studies, and lived examples that integrate authentic relationship development, social-emotional and regulation-aware practices, and positive behaviours for learning. They will engage with strategies for aligning classroom culture with school-wide values that foster global citizenship.
This event is designed for school leaders, curriculum leaders, wellbeing leaders, and teachers seeking to create optimal learning environments.
Essential Questions
- How can SEL be meaningfully integrated into daily teaching without adding extra workload?
- How can we foster belonging while maintaining clear expectations during conflict or misunderstanding?
- How can educators facilitate respectful, developmentally appropriate dialogue around cultural differences?
- What high-impact, manageable practices can I implement immediately?
- How can classroom practices align with whole-school priorities?
Over-Arching Goal
By the end of this workshop, participants will leave with tangible tools, practical strategies, and a clear action plan to cultivate socially and emotionally aware learning spaces, enhance student wellbeing, strengthen positive relationships, and embed empathy and compassion to support students’ growth as globally minded citizens.
Workshop Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Apply SEL and relationship-based practices.
- Use positive discipline and restorative approaches.
- Embed global citizenship education into daily practice.
- Create an action plan and toolkit for the immediate and practical integration of workshop learning within their unique school contexts.
Workshop Information & Price
Dates
Friday–Saturday, November 27–28, 2026
Time
8:30 AM–4:00 PM, including lunch and tea breaks
Venue
Canadian International School of Guangzhou
Early-Bird Registration is available until October 30, 2026.
ACAMIS Members
Early-bird price: USD 380 per person
Standard price: USD 480 per person
Non-Members
Early-bird price: USD 500 per person
Standard price: USD 600 per person
Certificate Program
16 hours of professional development will be awarded.
Workshop Preparation
Participants should bring a laptop or tablet for action-planning activities. Participants are also encouraged to bring a current classroom or school-community challenge, along with any existing SEL, wellbeing, behaviour, global citizenship, or service-learning priorities they would like to explore during the workshop.
Program Agenda
The workshop is divided into four modules, two modules will be covered on each day:
Module 1 - Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Relationship-Based Practices in International Schools
Time: 9:00 AM–10:30 AM | 15-minute break | 10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Overview
This module focuses on how educators integrate social emotional learning (SEL), global citizenship education (GCE), and intercultural understanding into daily practice.
Educators begin with self-positioning reflection, examining how identity, culture, and lived experience shape teaching practice and relationships. SEL competencies and regulation-aware practices are explored, supporting educators in establishing emotionally safe environments where students feel seen, respected, and ready to learn.
Module 2 - Positive Discipline and Restorative Approaches: Effective Frameworks for Cultivating Strong Relationships
Time: 1:15 PM–2:45 PM | 15-minute break | 3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Overview
This module focuses on supporting academic success through building strong, trust-based relationships as the foundation for productive and inclusive classrooms.
Participants explore practical strategies to foster belonging, student voice, and engagement through routines such as circles and restorative conflict resolution. These approaches provide educators with practical methods to support positive student dynamics and manage behaviour challenges.
By engaging in empathy development and perspective-taking, the environment contributes to stronger peer connections, positive classroom dynamics, effective harm repair, and improved learning outcomes.
Module 3 - The Globally-Minded Student: Supporting Global Citizenship Education in Daily Practice
Time: 9:00 AM–10:30 AM | 15-minute break | 10:45 AM–12:15 PM
Overview
This module builds on the relational and SEL foundations by focusing on the intentional integration of global citizenship education into daily classroom practice.
Through case studies, storytelling, and collaborative discussion, educators will explore how to foster global competence, ethical thinking, and intercultural understanding across subject areas and grade levels.
Emphasis is placed on supporting students to translate empathy and awareness into meaningful action through engagement with real-world issues, consideration of multiple perspectives, and the development of a sense of responsibility within both local and global contexts.
Module 4 - From Theory to Practice: Creating an Action Plan
Time: 1:15 PM–2:45 PM | 15-minute break | 3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Overview
This final module brings together all elements of the workshop, supporting participants in translating theory into sustainable practice within their unique school contexts.
Educators will design a clear, practical action plan that integrates SEL, positive discipline, and GCE into their daily work, while also considering how these approaches can extend beyond the classroom into wider school culture and community engagement.
Particular attention is given to aligning practices with contextual priorities such as student wellbeing, service learning, and intercultural understanding. At the end of this module, educators will leave with a practical, adaptable action plan and tools for immediate implementation.
Facilitator
Meg Chamberlin
Years of Experience: 20+ years
Qualifications: MA Human Security and Peacebuilding, BEd, BSc
Meg Chamberlin is a global K–12 educator and school leader with over 20 years of experience in public and private schools across five continents. As a principal and professional development facilitator, she specializes in supporting schools to build inclusive, relationship-centred communities through the integration of restorative practices, social emotional learning, and global citizenship education.
Meg holds a Master’s degree in Human Security and Peacebuilding and has lived, worked, and volunteered in over 50 countries. She partners with school communities globally to implement sustainable approaches that strengthen student wellbeing, intercultural understanding, and positive school culture.
Her work emphasizes compassionate conflict resolution through accountability, empathy, and healing, empowering students, staff, and families to contribute to connected and thriving learning environments.
Testimonials
“Meg’s passion, knowledge, and willingness to support made the session engaging. She promised practical strategies and well and truly delivered that.”
— Fundamentals of Restorative Practice participant, IB Global Conference, Singapore 2025
“Meg was outstanding, clear, well-informed and genuinely passionate about the topic and gave us tangible and workable strategies to use in our practice.”
— Fundamentals of Restorative Practice participant, IB Global Conference, Singapore 2025
“Meg is consistently engaging, thoughtful, and well prepared. She creates space for the group to generate ideas that feel authentic and practical for our own context, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach. Meg is also quite intentional about moving us forward, grounding our discussions in key restorative practice principles and ensuring we leave with both clarity and direction. What I appreciate most is Meg’s balance of voice and structure. She honours the lived experiences and professional insights in the room, while also gently challenging us to think more deeply, align our practices, and stay anchored to restorative values.”
— Senior Leader, K–12 Independent School, Vancouver
Recommended Hotels
Aston Hotel (广州阿斯顿服务公寓)
Address: Ecool Building 29, Dongyi Road, beside Panyu IKEA, Panyu District, Guangzhou
Reservation Contact: Mr. Tan
Email: 2691945495@qq.com
Telephone: +86 20 3999 9398
Note: Aston Hotel is approximately a 10–15-minute walk from the host school.
Clifford Suites (广州祈福国际公寓)
Address: 24 Fuhua Street, Panyu District, Guangzhou
Reservation Contact: Mr. Wu
Email: 516544020@qq.com
WeChat and Mobile: 13802743577
Note: Participants should arrange their own transportation to and from the host school.
Sheraton Guangzhou Panyu (广州奥园喜来登酒店)
Address: 46 Wanhui Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou
Reservation Contact: Mr. Kevin Lin
Email: reservations.cansp@sheraton.com
WeChat and Mobile: 18319624642
WeChat and Mobile: 13802743577
Note: Participants should arrange their own transportation to and from the host school.
Host School
Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CIS) is the first Alberta, Canadian accredited, Pre-K to Grade 12, International School that is fully registered in both Canada (Alberta) and China. Authorised to offer the Canadian (Alberta) High School Diploma, the IB Primary Years Program (IB PYP) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, our curricula and programs focus on innovation, creativity and critical thinking skills, best preparing students for the challenges and opportunities they will face as global citizens. A CIS education is a gateway to studying in top-ranked universities in USA and Canada, Europe, Australia, US, Singapore, Hong Kong and more! With 100% of students attending top 100 universities around the world, our academic excellence and holistic approach to education will best prepare your child for the challenges and opportunities they will face as global citizens.
Dean Croy
Head of School
Canadian International School of Guangzhou
Merchant Hill, 122 Dongyi Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China
Refund Policies