Student Guardians

A student guardian is a designated adult based in Canada who is authorized to make decisions on a student’s behalf in situations where a parent or legal guardian cannot be reached or is unable to act due to distance. Guardians serve as a local point of contact for the school in matters relating to health, welfare, and emergency decisions, and provide an additional layer of reassurance for families who entrust their child to our care from thousands of kilometres away. At St. John’s Academy, the wellbeing of every international student is already supported by our dedicated boarding and student services teams; a guardian works alongside that care.

All international students enrolled at St. John’s Academy who do not have a parent or legal guardian residing in Canada are required to have a designated guardian in place prior to beginning their studies. This requirement exists to protect students and to ensure that families always have a clear, reliable point of contact in Canada who can respond quickly and appropriately in any situation that arises.

St. John’s Academy works exclusively with International Student Guardianship Canada to provide guardianship services for our international students. ISGC is a professional organization with deep experience supporting international students and their families at independent schools across Canada, and their team brings a deep understanding of how it feels to live and learn far from home. Our admissions team will provide full details of the ISGC registration process, associated fees, and everything families need to get guardianship in place as part of the international enrollment process. We strongly encourage families to complete this step well in advance of their child’s arrival to ensure a smooth and fully supported start to life at St. John’s Academy.