Life at SHAPE
Our school is proudly located on the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) base, the strategic command centre for NATO.
Living and learning here is unlike any other posting—it is a front-row seat to history and international cooperation.
This is more than a military base; it is a vibrant, multicultural village.
Your children will walk to school alongside peers from over 30 different nations.
Shape is a vibrant community made of of many NATO countries.
School Council
Our School Council is an integral part of our school’s culture. It is formed of both Canadian and international parents. We recognize that parental involvement is closely linked to increased student performance and that collaboration between parents and school increases school effectiveness.
The School Council endeavors to foster the well-being and effectiveness of the school community through and to enhance student learning through its support our school’s programs.
The Council meets approximately every four weeks to discuss and advise on matters of school affairs. We are fortunate that the Canadian Section’s School Council is active and is an integral part of the school’s culture.
To contact our School Council, email: office@shape-is.com
Childrens Education Management (CEM)
The Canadian school is operated under Children’s Education Managment
Childrens Education Managment supports the educational needs of Canadian Armed Forces families in a variety of situations both inside and outside of Canada.
We strive to ensure children’s education, which is provided without charge in Canada, is compatible when families are posted to one of over 250 locations outside of Canada. Each student is unique. They are children first and connected to the military second. Each new school situation brings a particular set of opportunities, challenges and daunting unknowns. It is tough, regardless of the circumstance and the age of the student to be the “new kid” over and over.
Children’s Education Management programs and services ensure families:
- receive educational compensation and benefits entitlements
- have access to Canadian Armed Forces Overseas schools like AFNORTH and SHAPE International School when posted outside of Canada; and
The Origins and Evolution of SHAPE International School Canadian Section
The French Beginnings (1951–1967)
The history of the school is deeply tied to NATO’s military timeline. On April 2, 1951, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was established in Rocquencourt, France, as the central command structure for NATO. To minimize the disruptive impact of frequent relocations on families, a dedicated “SHAPE School” was opened nearby in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in January 1952.
The Move to Belgium (1967)
A critical turning point occurred in 1966 when France chose to withdraw from NATO’s integrated military structure. Consequently, the military headquarters had to move quickly. By 1967, SHAPE officially relocated to Camp Casteau near Mons, Belgium. Recognizing that a cohesive military community requires stability for its youth, the federated complex of the SHAPE International School (SIS) was formally established at the new Belgian base.
A Federated Educational Model
Rather than imposing a singular curriculum, SIS was developed as a federated complex where multiple distinct national sections operate side by side.
- The Structure: he school features an integrated kindergarten, multiple primary elementary sections, and high school options.
- Governance: While individual nations are responsible for selecting their staff and funding their specific programs, collective policies are overseen by the SHAPE International School Board and supported by an International General Services Unit.
History and Community of the Canadian Section
A Dual-Language Haven
The Canadian Section at SIS was established to deliver educational continuity for families deployed under the Canadian Armed Forces. It stands out on campus as a unique structural hybrid: mirroring Canada’s domestic educational landscape, it operates as two distinct learning environments—one English-speaking and one French-speaking—integrated into a single national section.
Curriculum and Structure
Managed under Children’s Education Management (CEM) services within the Department of National Defence (DND), the Canadian Section ensures that students do not fall behind their peers back home:
- Target Demographic: Catering primarily to children aged 6 to 13 (Grades 1 to 8).
- Academic Standards: Instructors follow the Ontario Provincial Curriculum, ensuring seamless reintegration into Canadian public school systems upon a family’s repatriation.
- Global Student Base: Though designed for Canadians, the section maintains an international footprint, welcoming children from other NATO and Partnership for Peace partner nations stationed at SHAPE.
The 2018 Infrastructure Milestone
For decades, the Canadian Section operated out of original base facilities built in the late 1960s. This changed significantly in October 2018, when the Canadian Department of National Defence officially opened a new, shared school facility built in partnership with the United Kingdom section. This modern facility maximized operational efficiency while creating an integrated learning zone for students across NATO member nations to collaborate.
